What is SoftTennis?

SoftTennis is a kind of tennis which was developed in Japan based on regular tennis. You can see its history, characteristics and some other pieces of information about soft tennis in the separate sections of this booklet, but its outline is as shown here. SoftTennis is similar to regular tennis and there are many things that are common to both SoftTennis and regular tennis, but there are some differences. The major difference is that much softer rubber balls are used in soft tennis. This is why this tennis is called "SoftTennis".

This causes to have developed unique features in soft tennis, such as lighter and more flexible rackets with lower string compression to fit for the soft balls, and unique techniques and game maneuvering to make the best use of the softness of the ball. You can hit the ball hard with a good and comfortable feeling and will find it easy to control the ball. With a soft ball, light racket, low string compression and reduced speed of the ball after bouncing on the court, everyone, irrespective of sex and age, can enjoy the play of soft tennis. So, our catchword "SoftTennis for Anyone and Everybody" comes.

In a doubles match, which is more popular in soft tennis, you can see breathtaking, varied rallies and destructive net plays. You will also be attracted by exciting and unique game maneuvering and impressive combination/cooperative plays shown by paired players. We assure you that you can enjoy these attractive features of soft tennis not only as a player but also as a spectator of soft tennis.

   

Matches

Singles and doubles matches for men and women and mixed doubles are played, the same as in regular tennis. Singles matches are usually played by a one set, best of seven games system (the player who has won four games first wins the match), and doubles matches by a one set, best of nine games system (the pair who has won five games first wins the match). A game in a match is decided when either player/pair has won four points first. In the case where both players/pairs have won three points each in a game, it is called "deuce" and the game is continued until either of them has won two points continuously, the same as in regular tennis.

     

Competitions

For events of SoftTennis, there are individual and team competitions. Competitions are performed by a tournament and/or a round robin methods, depending on the number of participants. A draw for a competition is usually decided by the competition organizer.

In a team event, all or a combination of singles and/or, doubles and/or mixed doubles matches, which are to be decided by a competition organizer, are competed in a tie, and a team which has won the majority of the matches played wins the tie. You can see these types of competitions typically in the World SoftTennis Championships.

     

Courts and Nets

Courts and nets used for soft tennis are the same as those for regular tennis. Regarding the net height, however, although the net height is the same 1.07m from the court surface as for regular tennis, the center strap to lower the net at the center in regular tennis is not applied for SoftTennis, i.e. the same net height is maintained between the net posts for both singles and doubles matches of soft tennis.

     

Balls

Soft, hollow and light balls (see the specifications below) have developed unique skills, tactics and game maneuvering for SoftTennis. These are quite different from those in regular tennis and have developed SoftTennis as a unique and independent sport.

Specifications of SoftTennis Ball
· Rubber-made, hollow and with air in it.White and yellow are the
  authorized official colors for soft tennis.
· 6.6 cm in diameter and 30 to 31g in weight
· To bounce 70 to 80cm when dropped from the height of 150cm.

To adjust ball's air pressure to meet the above bounce specification, a pump with a blunt-headed pin is used. The pin is inserted into a slit on the designated place of the ball's surface to inflate or deflate the ball.

     

Rackets

Rackets used for SoftTennis are almost of the same shape, length and material as those for regular tennis. Differences are: lighter in weight and more flexible to suit well to hit the softer and lighter balls. Also, strings are of the same material but more flexible and the compression of strung strings is usually lower for the same reason.

     

Basic Skills

Serve
There are basically three types of serves in SoftTennis such as flat, slice and topspin, and the basic serving techniques are almost the same as in regular tennis. In soft tennis, however, there are additional unique types of serves such as underhand-cut and reverse (opposite to slice). To be good at serving provides a good leverage for winning.

Forehand Groundstroke
This is the most basic and important skill. To hit a ball with a so-called "western grip", i.e. with the palm facing the top plate of a racket butt is the most popular and recognized the most advantageous in hitting a ball hard in soft tennis.

Backhand Groundstroke
It is remarkable to hit a ball directing the palm of your hand, instead of its back as you do in regular tennis, to the direction you want to hit the ball to, by rotating your wrist. The same racket face as for the forehand stroke is most often used without adjusting the grip for a quick reaction between forehand and backhand strokes, or you can use the other side of racket face by adjusting the grip. This is the most powerful way to hit the ball and fits for soft tennis. As you can snap a ball in this kind of swing, a double-hand stroke in backhand, which is often seen in regular tennis, is not necessary. Just try to get accustomed to it, then you can be a top level player. This technique is common to all backhand strokes in soft tennis.

Overhead Smash
"Overhead Smash" is the most destructive shot. It is important to hit the ball at a high contact point and swing down a racket sharply.

Standard Volley
"Standard Volley" is to directly hit a ball coming over the net, at a rather high contact point. To hit the ball flat at a place closer to the net to make a good and sharp angle to direct the ball to an open space is important.

Low Volley
This is also "Volley", but you hit a ball at a place away from the net and at a lower contact point. This is a rather defensive skill.

     

Rules of the Game

The rules of the SoftTennis game are provided by the International SoftTennis Federation. There are many parts of the rules which are common to both soft and regular tennis, but there are some differences. Here, you will see the major points of difference.

(Matches) The prevailing systems by which SoftTennis matches are played are, as described earlier, a one set, best of seven games system for singles and a one-set, best of nine games system for doubles. However, you can apply a longer match system such as a three or five set match system as you see in regular tennis.

(Doubles) Systems for serving and changing ends, except for a serving rotation between paired players in a game and the systems for a final game, are basically the same as you see in regular tennis: the server delivers a serve to a diagonally opposite service court, starting from the right side of the center mark (facing the net) and then from the left and the change of servers/receivers takes place every one game and the change of ends occurs after the first game and then every two games after that. In SoftTennis, however, each of paired players in a doubles match serves alternatively for two consecutive points. The change of servers/receivers in a final game takes place every two points and the change of ends occurs after the first two points and then every four points after that.

(Singles) Again, the applicable system for singles, such as court, serve and change of ends, are the same as for regular tennis, except for the systems for a final game and the net height. In a final game, the serve rotates between the two competing players for every two points, not every game as in the normal games, and the change of ends takes place after the first two points and every four points after that. Regarding the net height, the center strap is not applied in a SoftTennis singles match, as mentioned earlier in Courts and Nets.