Real Tennis is the precursor to lawn tennis and played on 50 indoor courts worldwide. With unique features like sloping roofs and netted windows, it blends strategy and skill. Players use handmade balls and wooden racquets in a game often described as a mix of tennis and chess – done tennis? done Padel? Maybe it’s time to get Real.
Sport of Kings
Real Tennis can trace its roots back to 12th-century France, where it began as a handball game played in monasteries. Over time, racquets were introduced, and the game gained popularity among European nobility – King Henry VIII was a noted enthusiast.
Real thing
The name “real” (meaning “royal”) distinguishes it from later lawn versions. The game spread through France and Britain, with ornate indoor courts built in royal palaces and private clubs. Today, historic venues like Hampton Court Palace in London and the Royal Tennis Court in Versailles remain active.
Real rules
Real Tennis is played indoors on an asymmetrical court with sloping roofs (penthouses), galleries, and irregular walls. Players can hit the ball off the walls, similar to squash. The game uses a heavier, handmade ball and a smaller, angled wooden racquet.
Scoring is similar to lawn tennis (15, 30, 40), but with added complexities like “chases,” which mark where the ball bounced. Serves must hit a specific penthouse roof, and many shots are played tactically off walls.
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