What you need to play soft tennis
A soft tennis racket, balls with a pump and a tennis court. Tennis balls will not do, because a soft tennis ball is rubber, inflated and weighs 30–31 g instead of about 57 g. A soft tennis racket weighs 210–275 g, a strung tennis racket usually over 300 g.
Which soft tennis racket to start with
For a first session we recommend the aluminium Kenko STR-88. It weighs 275 g, comes with permanent factory strings and an overgrip on the handle, and is ready for the court out of the box. It costs less than the carbon frame and is all you need to start and to play at a club.
The carbon Kenko KTR-24 weighs 210–225 g, has replaceable strings and a choice of grip, the thinner G2 for women and juniors or the thicker G3 for men. It is the racket for players who are staying with soft tennis. Both rackets suit both positions, at the net and on the baseline. The numbers are compared in how to choose a soft tennis racket, and the racket finder picks a model in four questions.
How many balls to buy to start
A box of 12 Kenko Standard training balls. They have the same 30–31 g weight and the same 66 mm diameter as tournament balls, and a beginner will not feel the difference. White is the colour played at PSTA events, yellow is easier to see indoors and on a light court. The TSOW-V tournament balls are for matches and advanced players.
The balls have a valve, so you need the Kenko needle pump. Pressure holds for a few weeks, then you top the ball up the way you inflate a volleyball. Ball types and inflation have their own guide, soft tennis balls.
Where to play soft tennis
On an ordinary tennis court. The court dimensions are the same. The net should hang level along its whole length. On a tennis court it is usually strapped down at the centre, so before play you unhook the strap or prop the net up in the middle.
How scoring works in soft tennis
Points are counted 1, 2, 3, 4. The side that first reaches 4 points wins the game, and a match is played to 7 or 9 games, with no sets. There are two serves, overhand as in tennis or underhand, the rules do not prescribe a technique. Play is mostly doubles, one player at the net and one on the baseline. The full rules, with the final game and faults, are on the soft tennis rules page.
Who to play with
Doubles, so a match needs four people. In Poland competitions are run by PSTA, the Polish Soft Tennis Association, our shop's partner. PSTA players train at clubs in Poland and compete at international tournaments. A tennis club that has courts needs only rackets and balls to play soft tennis.
What to buy to start
For one person, the STR-88, a box of 12 Standard balls and a pump. For two, the starter set with black rackets, which has two STR-88s, 12 balls and a pump, cheaper than bought separately. For four, the group set with four KTR-24s, 24 balls and two pumps, that is one doubles court ready to play.
Rackets, balls and a pump in one order
See starter sets