The Difference Between Platform, Paddle and Beach Tennis

In the northeastern regions of the US, people are crazy about platform tennis. There are also paddle tennis enthusiasts from the Midwest down to the west coast, even reaching to Puerto Rico & Europe. These people prefer the all-year-round paddle tennis or beach tennis. The next paragraphs will discuss the difference between the three sports just mentioned.

Platform tennis started circa 1930 by two men looking for a way to play tennis during the winter months. The court is raised from the ground and heated during the winter months and is fenced in by screens. During play the ball can be played off the walls. It is always played in doubles and the winners are the pair who plays the best of three sets. When the serving player is at fault the right to serve goes to the other team.

A platform tennis court measures forty-four feet long by twenty feet wide with the same line lay out as the lawn tennis court. The height of the net is thirty-four inches. The fences are twelve feet high and made of galvanized iron. The paddles are eighteen inches and made of titanium or graphite with holes cut in the face and no strings. The balls used are the same as those in lawn tennis, rubber core with flocking (fuzzy hair). Tennis shoes are recommended, running shoes and cross trainers are contra indicated for this court.

Paddle tennis began as a game for children in 1898. In the year 1959, a man named M. Geller formulated some rules and standards for the game. It can be played in singles or in doubles, & the best of 3 still wins. The scoring for lawn tennis is also followed but the serve is done underhandedly and only once is allowable.

The paddle tennis court measures fifty feet by twenty feet wide with no lanes for doubles. The height of the net is at thirty-one inches. The racquet to be used is the same as that of platform tennis. The ball being used here is a tennis ball with a puncture to deaden it. Recommended shoes are the same as in platform tennis.

Beach tennis is a mix between tennis and beach volleyball. It can be played as tournaments or just for fun. Beach tennis is played in a beach volleyball court, net, and all. The ball is volleyed back & forth between the teams but, like badminton, not allowed to bounce on the court. The size of the court and height of the net is the same as a volleyball court. The paddles & balls are the same as those in paddle tennis. The scoring is the same as lawn tennis. Last of all, no shoes are required.

There are web sites for these types of sports. In these pages you will find links to building platform tennis courts as well as buying platform tennis racquets.

Modern Tennis Clothes Bridge The Gap Between Tradition And Style

There was a time when selecting tennis clothes was quite a simple endeavor; the tradition of wearing tennis whites made the selection process quite streamlined. However, as anyone who follows tennis knows, the days of watching Martina Navratilova or Jimmy Connors take the court wearing all white are long gone, and today's game is one that embraces fashion forward styles and functional fabrics.

Today's best players, like Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, are often seen in apparel that spans the spectrum of color and fashion; not surprisingly, the rest of the tennis world has followed suit.

Today's tennis clothes look great on and off the court, and they are made with performance fabrics that surpass the cottons of the past in nearly every way. Modern polyester fabrics like Coolmax(TM) and Wickaway(TM) are available in a wide range of knits and colors, but it is not their style but their utilitarian qualities that make them so ideal for tennis.

Performance fabrics - like polyester, nylon, and spandex - breathe unlike traditional textiles allowing you to stay cool and dry even during the height of summer. Further, these high tech fabrics hold their shape and color much better than their cotton counterparts, allowing you to look good before, during, and after your match, and their high durability will allow you to continue to look good in the future.

Modern textiles are just one aspect of contemporary tennis clothes; these clothes are fashionable and functional as well. While there is nothing wrong with wearing traditional whites to the court, proper tennis attire now includes bright colors and prints which continue to gain popularity at all levels of the game. Style and form are important considerations when selecting tennis apparel, but one should be careful not to ignore function as well as the traditions of the game.

All tennis players should own a proper warm-up outfit, which is typically a two piece suit consisting of long pants and a long sleeved top. A warm-up outfit helps the athlete stay warm and get loose before a match, and it is also the traditionally preferred attire for arrival at the court. Tradition also holds that warm-up suits should be removed during the actual match unless it happens to be a very cold day.

During a match, men should wear tucked shirts and tennis shorts, although more and more the untucked look is becoming a presence in professional and amateur tennis. Women should wear short sleeved or sleeveless shirts paired with skirts or skorts - shorts that have styling that resembles a traditional skirt.

It is important to note that the traditional tennis attire is still alive and well in some places, particularly at some tennis and country clubs. If you are invited to play as a guest at a club, check with the club or your host in order to be certain that your tennis clothes are appropriate and fitting with their dress code.

No tennis outfit is complete without the ever important accessories. Tennis shoes should be sneaker style, and it is probably best to purchase sneakers that are specifically designed for tennis. Not only will true tennis shoes perform better, they will not have black or dark colored soles which are banned at many courts due to their tendency to leave dark scuffs on the playing surface. Make sure you complement your tennis outfit with fashionable socks as well as things like headbands, hats, or wristbands; all of which will help keep your face and hands dry and ready for action.

Tennis is a game deeply rooted in history and tradition, but with some careful shopping you can successfully span those boundaries by wearing tennis clothes that perform well, look great, and stay true to the traditions of the game.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on tennis clothes.