Beach tennis games are very exciting. Beach volleyball players enjoy it most because it involves hitting the ball over a net. It is played on a sand court, just like volleyball. Today will learn about how to play beach tennis.
Similarly, tennis players also enjoy these games because the game features hitting a depressurized ball using rackets, and the game has a scoring system like tennis.
The game is famous for its highly aerobic cardio workout that doesn’t impact the knees and joints of the player but provides an intense workout that is very beneficial for his heart health and weight management.
Engaging the maximum body muscles provides the players with a healthy body and increased muscle mass. This means that rather than just a game, it’s a blend of sports plus fitness that offers huge fun.
Today, the game is played in over 50 countries, including Brazil, Spain, Italy, and France, which are tier countries. In this guide, we will explore how to play tennis on the Beach.
How To Play Beach Tennis
Explore what beach tennis is, how to play beach tennis, what the rules are, and how the game’s ranking system works.
Beach Tennis Equipment
Tennis Beach Rackets
Rackets beach tennis are also known as paddle bats or paddles, which lack strings. The paddle beach tennis comes in various types of material, including fiberglass, carbon, or Kelver, and the players choose according to their taste.
Each type has a different weight and balance. If you choose fiberglass, you will get higher accuracy. The fiberglass is not too rigid.
It is elastic and provides a soft touch, but on the other hand, carbon or kevlar paddles are quite rigid. In that way, they offer more control and power.
Tennis Beach Ball (Stage 2 Low Compression Orange Balls)
These balls are specially designed for beginners because low-compression balls are more accessible to hit and control, but expert players do not prefer playing with these low-compression balls.
These ball’s orange color makes them easily detectable on the beach. Expert players usually prefer hot tennis balls. These balls are exposed to high temperatures, which increase their bounce rate.
Because these balls move quicker, only those who are very fit and healthy can play. With hot balls, the game requires more agility from the player.
Beach Tennis Court Size and Dimensions
The standard beach tennis court dimensions are 16m in length and 8m in width. This size allows players to quickly move around while playing the game, boosting their enjoyment and recreation.
Net Height
The net height in beach tennis varies gender-wise. It is 1.8 meters for the men, while for the women’s court, the net size is 1.7 meters. This height difference is based on the average height difference between players of both humans.
Rules of Beach Tennis
Basic Rules:
- Scoring system: The game uses tennis-style scoring ranging from 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, and then the game. When both teams reach 40, the team with the next point wins the beach tennis game.
- Ball Handling: Players must hit the ball before it touches the sand. If the ball hits the sand, you lose the point.
- Serving: You can serve to any player on the other side. Both underarm and overarm serves are allowed. You get only one serve attempt.
Professional Beach Tennis:
- The ITF Beach Tennis World Tour is the main professional competition. It holds more than 300 tournaments across 37 countries.
- The biggest events are the ITF Beach Tennis World Championships and World Cup. There are also championships in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
- Top players in the sport include Andre Baran from Brazil, Michele Cappelletti from Italy, Nicolas Gianotti from France, and Mattia Spoto from Italy.
How to Play Tennis on The Beach?
Game Setup
- Court Setup and Positioning: We have already discussed the court dimensions in the above sections. Beach tennis positioning is very similar to beach volleyball. Each team can position itself on one half of the court.
- Team Formation (Doubles or Singles): Doubles are the most common format of beach tennis, with two players on each team. Singles are also played, but rarely, especially when some beginners try to practice. In singles, there will be one player on each side.
Playing the Game
To play beach tennis effectively, you first have to understand its serving techniques, return the service, and win a point.
- Serving techniques: There are two types of serves, including underarm serve and overarm serve. Beginners or intermediates should choose underarm serves because they are more controlled. Experts should choose the overarm serve, where the ball is hit from above the head rather than below the waist. Overarm serves are more powerful than underarm serves.
- Returning the Serve: Any team member can return a serve, but the ball should not touch the ground until it hits. Players can use any part of the racket to make a return.
- Winning a Point: If the ball hits the B team’s court’s ground, team A wins a point. Similarly, if any team, e.g., team A, hits the ball into the net or is out of bounds, team B wins a point.
Beach Tennis Rankings
Rankings System:
Beach Tennis has an official unique ranking system. Players must compete in sanctioned tournaments to earn ranking points, and more points are given to the players in bigger tournaments.
The International Federation of Beach Tennis considers each player’s best eight tournaments from the last 18 months and decides their ranking position.
Best Players:
- Andre Baran is the top player from Brazil. He wins most of his matches and holds the highest ranking.
- Michele Cappelletti from Italy is the second-best player. He is famous for his powerful shots and smart game planning.
- Nicolas Gianotti represents France at the top level. He moves fast on the sand and hits very accurate shots.
- Mattia Spoto from Italy always performs well in tournaments. His consistent play keeps him in the top rankings.
Top Teams:
- The Brazilian team of Diaz and Müller works perfectly together, winning many big tournaments without losing.
- Another strong partnership is Cappelletti and Baran. This Italian-Brazilian team has won many important matches, and their different playing styles make them hard to beat.
Final Analysis
That’s how to play beach tennis. Beach tennis games are perfect for those who want to improve their health and pay for the games.
The game is not hardcore or tough, but it still provides an intense workout while keeping you in a good mood, calm, and fresh. Most importantly, the game has no specific age limit, so everyone can play it by following simple rules and utilizing their passion.
Interestingly, the player gets the pleasure of sun, sea, and sand along with very impactful sports for his mental health and physical well-being.
