Let's talk tennis, Real Tennis

I am a Real Tennis convert. I will never, ever be able to watch lawn tennis again without thinking, "Ho hum, what a boring, slow, simplistic game."

My friends took me to the final of the International Real Tennis Professional Association National League 2003-2004 Division One Finals. The games took place at the Royal Tennis Court in Hampton Court, residence of Henry VIII, Bloody Mary, Elizabeth I, and William & Mary. Amongst the players featured in the matches were the third, fourth and fifth ranked players in the world, so the standard was as high as one could expect. The action was extremely intense, and the games were extremely close. What impressed me was the large amount of strategy and quick thinking needed.

Real tennis is scored similar to lawn tennis, and played in a similar (albeit indoor) court. However, there are a few key differences:

Firstly, the court is asymmetrical. One side is the service side, the other is called the 'hazard' side. Both sides offer different advantages and disadvantages.

Secondly, when the ball bounces twice, it's not an automatic point. Instead, it's called a 'chase', and the point where the ball bounces the second time is noted by the referee. Then (but not necessarily immediately), the players will switch sides, and the player who had the ball bounce twice on his side now has a chance to do the same to the other guy. If he can get the ball to bounce twice closer to the back wall then the other guy, then he wins the point. If not, he loses the point. It's like a challenge- for example, HORSE in basketball. Except, instead of making the basket, you try and outdo your opponent.

Thirdly, there are bit of courts (the grille, the dedans, and the winning gallery) where, if you hit the ball into, you get an automatic point.

Those are the basic differences. It's definitely a fantastic game of skill and strategy, requiring lots of fitness and strength as well. The rackets are smaller and the balls a lot harder, which not only makes the ball travel faster than lawn tennis (up to 160 miles an hour) but also makes it much harder to hit- especially since only wooden rackets are allowed. Also, getting hurt by the ball is a real danger. It has a core of cork, like a cricket ball or a baseball, covered in felt, making it look deceptively soft.

I can see why lawn tennis is more popular- it's a simpler, slower game which can be played outdoors, and doesn't require as much effort on the part of the spectators to follow the action, making it much friendlier to the spectators. It's easier to learn, easier to play, and you don't have to be as fit to play it (of course, the top professionals of both sports are all tremendously fit, I'm talking about casual players).

However, the sheer spectacle, challenge and athleticism of real tennis, in my mind, is superior and more enjoyable.