What is soft tennis
Soft tennis is tennis played with an inflatable rubber ball weighing about 30 g, half the weight of a tennis ball. It is played with a lighter racket, mostly as doubles, on an ordinary tennis court with the net hung level along its whole length. The sport started in Japan in 1884 and has been played in Europe since 2004.
How soft tennis differs from tennis
A tennis ball weighs about 57 g and is felt-covered. A soft tennis ball weighs 30–31 g, is made of rubber and is inflated. It measures 66 mm across, the same as a tennis ball. Under ISTF rules it bounces to 70–80 cm when dropped from 150 cm, which is lower than a tennis ball.
A 27-inch (686 mm) tennis racket usually weighs over 300 g strung. Soft tennis rackets weigh 210–275 g at 690–700 mm. The aluminium Kenko STR-88 weighs 275 g, the carbon KTR-24 between 210 and 225 g.
The court stays the same, but the net should hang level along its whole length. On a tennis court the net is usually strapped down to the court at the centre. For soft tennis you unhook the strap or prop the net up in the middle so that it is level all the way across.
Points are counted 1, 2, 3, 4, a game is won with four points, and a match is played to 7 or 9 games. The game is mostly doubles. One player of the pair plays at the net, the other on the baseline. Anyone who has played tennis is not starting from zero.
| Feature | Soft tennis | Tennis |
|---|---|---|
| Ball | rubber, 30–31 g, inflated | felt, about 57 g |
| Ball diameter | 66 mm | about 67 mm |
| Bounce from 150 cm | 70–80 cm | higher |
| Racket, strung | 210–275 g | usually over 300 g |
| Net | level along its whole length | strapped down at the centre |
| Scoring | 1, 2, 3, 4 | 15, 30, 40 |
| Match | to 7 or 9 games | sets to 6 games |
Who soft tennis is for
Tennis players and tennis clubs
The court, the net and the footwork are the same; the ball and the racket change. A club that has courts needs only rackets and balls to play soft tennis. We have been playing soft tennis for years and we travel to international tournaments.
Children and parents
Soft tennis is easier for a child to start than tennis. The racket weighs less and the ball is rubber and half the weight of a tennis ball, which makes the sport safer for a child. In tennis children start with soft, low-compression tennis balls on a smaller court. In soft tennis a child gets a soft tennis ball from day one and plays on the full court, the same one adults use. Lessons start at around six years of age. The balls also come in colours, pink, blue and black. With a group of children that is simply more fun.
Clubs and schools
The group set is four rackets, 24 training balls and two pumps, that is one doubles court ready to play. Clubs and schools buy from us on invoice at wholesale prices. Details are on the Partners page.
Where soft tennis comes from
Soft tennis started in Japan in 1884, a few years after tennis arrived there from the West. The International Soft Tennis Federation (ISTF) has existed since 1973, the first world championship was played in 1975, and since 1994 soft tennis has been an official event at the Asian Games. It has been played in Europe since 2004. In Poland competitions are run by PSTA (Polish Soft Tennis Association), our shop's partner, and Polish players compete at international tournaments.
Source: International Soft Tennis Federation (softtennis-istf.com/history).
What to buy to start
For a first session you need a racket, 12 training balls and a pump. We recommend the aluminium STR-88 to start, and the carbon KTR-24 to those who are staying with soft tennis for the long run. The starter set has all of it in one order, cheaper than bought separately.
