How the Game is Played

Generally sets are played to six. If a set reaches five-all, one tie break game is played to decide the set.

Play starts with a player's serve. To serve, the ball must be hit onto the penthouse along the left of the court from the service end. It should hit the penthouse at least once beyond the halfway line and land unless volleyed, on the floor beyond the horizontal black line in a zoned area. The serve may hit the high side wall above the penthouse. Many different kinds of serve can be used from a large area of the service end. The aim is to impart as much spin or cut on the ball as possible and to a good length. In his book "A cut above the rest", Chris Ronaldson, former World Champion and Head Professional at Hampton Court, maintained that he used over fifty different serves.

The server at the service end of the court

The basic scoring system is the same as that used in Lawn Tennis:- love, fifteen, thirty, forty, deuce and advantage, but in real tennis the score of the player who last won a point is called first. Points can be won due to successful ace or "nick" serves, hitting winning openings or forcing an opponent to miss the ball or hit it into the net.

The serve must hit the penthouse beyond the white line

Chases