Real Tennis

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.

Our Club | Oxford University Real Tennis Club

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.