Tennis
Tennis
Wheelchair tennis has a long history in Great Britain with participation numbers growing year on year. It is available to anyone with a physical disability; you don’t have to be a wheelchair user in your everyday life to use this piece of equipment, equally you don’t have to use a chair if you want to play the sport. You can play against and alongside non-disabled players, friends and family; the only change to the game is that wheelchair players are allowed up to two bounces of the ball before returning it.
What are my options to play?
Wheelchair tennis follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis except for the fact you are allowed two bounces of the ball. The sport is available to anyone with a physical disability and you don’t have to be a wheelchair user in everyday life to play wheelchair tennis, the wheelchair is just a piece of equipment to help you enjoy the sport!
What equipment do I need?
To play the sport you will need a racket and balls, (most venues will be able to provide these for you at a small cost). To begin with you can play the sport in a day wheelchair, however you will find it easier in a sports wheelchair which is designed specifically to move around the court quickly and easily. Many venues will have sports wheelchairs you can borrow and if you wish to purchase your own a number of organisations such as The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust and Whizz Kidz can provide financial support with this.
What will it cost me?
The cost of a wheelchair tennis session varies depending on where and when you want to play. It can range from a free taster session to subsidised sessions and courses, to paying for court hire which can cost up to £20 per hour. Most equipment will be available to borrow for free or purchase for a small fee from venues. You are best to contact the venue directly to find out exactly how much a session will cost.
How do I get involved?
To find out more about wheelchair tennis and where to find your nearest venue visit
Disability Tennis Performance Pathway resource guide:
https://www.lta.org.uk/4a000b/siteassets/play/disability-tennis/file/lta-disability-pathway-resource-guide.pdf
Contact Lawn Tennis Association
https://www.lta.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/
