While some people use pickleball courts to exercise Fido, jump rope, skateboard or participate in yoga classes, there is actually another court sport that can be played on these courts! 

SPEC Tennis was created to give players seeking a faster paced, more tennis-like game a fun and physically challenging use for all those courts.  Recent stats show that 75% of pickleball players are age 55 and over,  so we know there is a huge audience for alternative, faster paced racquet and paddle sports to physically challenge younger or more athletic players.

In SPEC tennis, rather than immediately moving up toward the kitchen and playing the majority of the points from just behind the kitchen line, you'll utilize the full court, opening up shot selection and strategies more like those in tennis. The kitchen is taken out of the equation and players can serve & volley, play from the baseline, or play aggressively from all court locations throughout the point resulting in longer points and more physical exertion by the players (great cardio workout!).

Both singles and doubles are commonly played in SPEC Tennis, making it easier to find players and get a game going.  It is also a great bridge into and out of the sport of tennis, or simply an alternative to keep things interesting and provide variety for tennis players.  Since Platform Tennis players typically play in the winter months, SPEC tennis offers an alternative game to play in the warmer months using the same paddles for a different game.

Grab your paddle, a low compression tennis ball like the QST60 (or one you've depressurized on your own) and head around the corner to your nearest pickleball court to give it a go!    

Any of our Platform Tennis Paddles can be used for Spec Tennis, making it super easy to get started with a paddle you may already own! Unfortunately, a pickleball paddle is not a suggested paddle for this game.

Read about the differences between the many paddle sports.

Written by Bell Racquet Sports Staff Writer