Platform Tennis

Platform tennis is the best kept secret in outdoor recreation. And we have two courts!

CRC Platform Court Rates at all times are $12/hour

For instruction contact platform pros: Bill Hoffman, Greg Griffey, Mark Woldmoe, Jeff Eaton, or Slater Hogan.

Platform Tessis lesson Rates

• on non-seasonal courts - $54/hour
• on prepaid seasonal courts - $32/hour
  
  Lesson Rates: Pros are paid by the hour and rquire 24 hours to fill vacated lesson spots.

Platform, also called paddle tennis, is a sport that is easy to learn, especially for squash and tennis players, and is suitable for men and women of all ages and abilities. We hope this site will show you some of the fun and excitement that is part of the platform tennis world. We encourage you to give this sport a try and hope to see you ... on the court!

Platform tennis is easy to learn and easy to play. The game is played on a court outdoors with paddles and special balls. It is an ideal fall and winter sport, as the court is designed to be skid-resistant, with heating systems to melt ice and snow. Scoring is the same as in tennis. In fact, all tennis rules apply, except:

• only one serve is allowed in doubles play
• the ball may be played off the twelve-foot high taut-wire screens that enclose the court

Platform tennis is played on a court 30 ' x 60 ' (one quarter the size of a tennis court). A year round sport, platform tennis is played in all climates. In colder climates, the court's heating system melts ice and snow. The platform deck has a slip-resistant surface.

There are several thousand courts nationwide and some internationally. Most courts are located at golf and country clubs. We are lucky to have two of them here at the Carmel Racquet Club.

Playing platform tennis burns approximately 120 to 180 calories for each half hour of active play. From a study done by the Exercise Physiology and Nutrition Lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Who Plays?

Top platform tennis players need speed, quick reaction time, stamina, instinct and a high level of concentration. (Sounds like life training, doesn't it?) The game is just as exciting for less agile players too. And children enjoy the game, as it is easier to learn the basic skills of platform tennis than those of tennis or squash.

GAME-IMPROVING TIPS

HOT TIP OF THE MONTH... "Leaving Tennis Habits on the Tennis Court" by Gary Horvath

Gary Horvath is a USPTA (United States Prosfessional Tennis Association) Master Professional and the President of the PPTA (Professional Platform Tennis Association). He has taught both sports for many years, as a college coach and professional teaching instructor.

Because tennis and platform tennis are similar many tennis players often try to play platform tennis using tennis strokes and tennis strategy. This can often be quite frustrating to them and their partners.

Outside of the handful of major rules-related differences between tennis and platform tennis there are a number of subtle differences between the two sports. Let's begin by looking at just a few of these differences.

The Serve
The serve and volley are considered a unit in platform tennis. The platform tennis toss should be about a foot lower than a tennis toss, slightly more to the right and more in front to make it easier to follow the serve to the net.

First Volley
The first volley in tennis is often hit for a winner or with an offensive intent, while in platform tennis the first volley is aimed for the middle of the backcourt. In platform tennis, 75-80% of the volleys are hit with backhands, while in tennis 55-65% of the volleys are hit with backhands.

Service Return
There are very few opportunities to be offensive in platform tennis. In platform tennis, the first opportunity to be offensive is on the service return. In tennis this opportunity often exists on the serve. These are major differences when establishing your mindset for returning serve. From a technical standpoint, more "high" forehand returns are hit in platform tennis than tennis and more returns are hit with forehands.

Lobs
Unlike tennis lobs are hit more often in platform tennis than in tennis. In platform tennis you are seldom penalized for a short lob to the same extent you are penalized in tennis. There is also more of a premium placed on the proper height of the lob in platform tennis. At times a lower lob is more effective if it forces the opponents to look directly into the sun. Also a high deep lob can move the person off the net three steps while landing in the middle of the backcourt. Topspin lobs are seldom hit in platform tennis. Finally, in platform tennis, appropriately placed lobs can be used to set the ball up to the partner's forehand.

Overheads
Initially tennis players can be frustrated by the premium placed on efficiency and consistency when hitting platform tennis overheads. From a technical standpoint, platform tennis overheads are often hit with more spin and the ball is often hit lower in its trajectory so that it will bounce off the screens with a lower trajectory.

Tactics
The best summary of platform tennis tactics can be attributed to Dan Magee of Denver, Colorado. After attending his first National Championships he said, "I learned a lot. Most importantly I learned that you can hit any shot you want - spin overhead, forehand drive off the wires, big serve - as long as it goes in."

Social
Finally, platform tennis is more social than tennis. The smaller court size and the proximity of the players results in more interaction between the players. This may also be a reason for fewer disputed line calls in platform tennis than in tennis.

Because of the equalizing nature of doubles and the sport it is easier to mix players at varying levels in platform tennis and have fun on and off the court.

Here at the Carmel Racquet Club we have five pros to help you to get started exploring the subtleties of platform tennis: Bill Goffman, Greg Griffey, Mark Woldmoe, Jeff Eaton, and Slater Hogan. Give one of them a call at 844-1177 to schedule a private or group lesson with your friends.