why play spec tennis?

The combination of having the sweet spot of the racquet closer to the hand, the reduced court size, the slower and lower-bouncing ball, and the easier serve technique creates the success that is required to hook participants early on. Players can execute the proper techniques more easily due to more compact swings, less powerful equipment, and the ability to cover the court efficiently.

Four Spec Tennis courts can fit inside one tennis court. Due to the smaller court, the less elapsed time is wasted picking up balls in between shots. Consequently, more total balls are potentially hit per hour than in tennis.

Besides being easy to learn, the sport can be played at almost any age. Also, if desired, both singles and doubles can be a great workout. With more shots within reach, players run for more balls than in tennis. And, it is harder to “end” the point, so rallies last longer.

Spec Tennis is a great sport for all-around fitness. It exercises all the major muscle groups, provides a cardio workout, and improves dexterity, mobility, agility, and balance. Because it involves bursts of faster movement, it serves as a form of interval training as well.

how is it different from pickleball?

From a strategy point, Spec Tennis is different than Pickleball. When playing Spec Tennis, players must take on an “all-court player” and play from the baseline to the net. Comparing it to pickleball, staying back at the baseline against one (singles) or two (doubles) players who are at the net does not work in pickleball because the net player simply needs to volley it or dink it into your “kitchen” area to finish off the point. Due to the lack of bounce, it will be nearly impossible to retrieve the pickleball ball.

This results in one main strategy: reach the No Volley Zone (“kitchen area”) as quickly as possible. In Spec Tennis, you will see some players serve and volley, others will play mainly from the baseline, and some will do a combination of both. In doubles, you will see a lot of one-up-one-back formations, but you may see both players (doubles) playing from the baseline and/or at the net. Playing at the baseline, may not necessarily be a disadvantage when playing players who are at the net.

Spec Tennis offers a more well-rounded mix of strategy concepts. And one that feels more like tennis.

what kind of paddle & ball is required?

For a Spec Tennis paddle to be approved, it must be up to 18’ long, up to 10.5” wide, must have ½” holes, and 0.75” thick. The official ball for tournament play is the Wilson US Open orange dot tennis ball.