Racket Sports · OUTC
Real Tennis is a game where subtlety and thought are as valuable as power and fitness.
Real Tennis is a game where subtlety and thought are as valuable as power and fitness. This ancient precursor of tennis is played indoors on a court resembling a Medieval street, complete with sloping roofs, openings (like windows) in the walls and the two sides of the court are not the same shape. You only serve from one end of the court and the main objective is to win the serve, as most point are won from this end. It is a racquet sport, played on a stone floor with a heavy wooden asymetrical racquet and using balls hand-made made by the club Pros. Played by Henry VIII, written about by Shakespeare, and wildly popular in the Middle Ages, this game is now rare. Merton's court was first built in 1595. Real Tennis is inclusive to all genders and levels of experience, and we welcome enquiries from those with a disability regarding the accessibility of Real Tennis.
The club is open to players of all levels of experience, including complete beginners, and welcomes members of the local community. There are opportunities to compete in an annual Varsity against Cambridge, as well as the Inter Universities Tournament.
Half Blues awarded to up to 4 in the Varsity Match team at the discretion of the captain of OUTC. A Discretionary Full Blue may be awarded if a player achieves a handicap of 15 or lower in the season of the Varsity Match.
Half Blues awarded to up to 4 in the Varsity Match team at the discretion of the captain of OUTC. A Discretionary Full Blue may be awarded if a player achieves a handicap of 35 or lower in the season of the Varsity Match.