How to get started playing tennis

Find your local tennis court

You can play tennis anywhere... honestly! 

There are tens of thousands of tennis courts in Great Britain – stretching from parks to clubs, leisure centres and schools – and it’s super simple to book a court near you. 

Using our booking tool you can explore a variety of affordable and even some free tennis courts in your local area and book your next hit at a time and place to suit you.

Book a tennis court

Other ways to play tennis

Away from the court there is still plenty of opportunity to pick up a racket and get involved. Anything can be used as a net – a bench, a table or even your bags.

One of the best opponents you can face is a wall – it never misses a shot. Playing against a wall outside your house, in the park or wherever is a great way to practice your technique. 

If you’re a parent, we have a whole host of Tennis at Home activities you can do with your kids – even in your living room. 

Play Tennis app

Find someone to play tennis with at your local courts with our Play Tennis app.

Play Tennis has everything you need to book tennis courts, join classes and connect with nearby players in your local area.

Its latest Communities feature also allows you to join local groups and meet players who are looking to or already play at your nearest courts. Here you can chat, organise group sessions or find a new partner to play with.

Download the app and search for nearby Communities.

Find out more & download the app

Find people to play tennis matches

If it's more tennis matches you're looking for then joining a Barclays Local Tennis League is a great way to meet new players and compete regularly.

You'll get matched with a group of players at your standard and then you can arrange matches through the chat function in the app.

Find out more & download the app

Once you’ve got your kit sorted, you’ll need a tennis racket and some tennis balls – although if you’re having a coaching session, you can usually borrow these if you need. 

Beginner tennis rackets 

For the best tennis racket for beginners, you don’t need to spend a lot of money – just look for a racket with a large head size (a larger racket head - between 95-110 square inches - will make it easier for you to hit the ball when you’re starting out).   

You can also test different grip sizes to find a racket that’s right for you. Grip sizes range from one to five and to find your correct size follow this step…   

When you wrap your hand around the handle, there should be a one centimetre gap (or the width of your little finger) between your thumb and first finger.  

For more infomation on beginner tennis rackets for you - check out our equipment guide.

Tennis balls 

When it comes to tennis balls, adults play with the yellow pressurised balls you may have seen at Wimbledon and other big tennis tournaments. 

But a top tip for any beginner is to use different coloured tennis balls which are slower, softer and lighter and therefore easier to hit – so you can have longer rallies and learn the sport. They come in red, orange or green (think traffic lights but with red the easiest to hit) and even some of the top pros use them when working on something new or coming back from injury. 

Advantage members can enjoy discounts on Dunlop equipment and Adidas footwear – sign up for free below.

Sign up to Advantage

Reusable bottles

It’s important to keep hydrated and have regular drinks breaks while playing tennis.

Before you head to court make sure you have a reusable bottle that’s full of water and ready to go.

We can all play our part to reduce single use plastic waste.

Tennis kit

When it comes to tennis kit, you can play in whatever you feel most comfortable in. Just remember you will be active – think shorts, tracksuit bottoms, leggings, t-shirts, sweatshirts Keep the jeans and coats at home. 

Whites are for Wimbledon and while we all hope we can get there some day, we want you to bring your unique style to the court - the more colour the better! 

Wearing the right shoes is really important though – having the wrong ones can hurt your feet and cause injury. Wear a comfortable pair of trainers - these will stop you from slipping and getting foot and ankle injuries.  

Check out our kit guide

No, you don't need to own a tennis racket for your first lesson.

Most coaches will have equipment - such as tennis rackets, balls, etc - that you can borrow during your lesson.

If you want to join a Barclays Free Park Tennis session at your local park, everything you need will be provided for you - just sign up for free and bring the energy during your session.

Find a coaching lesson

Search Barclays Free Park Tennis sessions 

If you're just getting started in tennis, it won't take you long to pick up the basics and have fun on court with friends and family.

If you want to speed up your progress, the best thing to do is get a coaching lesson or join a group class. 

Find a tennis coach 

You can start playing tennis at any age - whether you just want to have a hit at the local park, join a group class or play for free at a Barclays Free Park Tennis session.

Discover ways to play tennis

Top tennis tips for beginners

Here are some simple tennis tips for beginners to get started:

• Choose the right racket and grip size for your hand
  
• Focus on consistency over power when hitting the ball
  
• Practise basic strokes: forehand, backhand, and serve
  
• Work on footwork and positioning to stay balanced
  
• Use smaller courts or shorter rallies to build control
  
• Warm up and stretch before playing to prevent injury
  
• Play with others at a similar level to build confidence

Check out the variety of different beginner tennis lessons for adults on offer and book a class near you, or search kids lessons.

Adult tennis classes

Kids tennis lessons

You can also find out more about how to hit forehands, backhands, volleys, serves and more with our tennis tips and techniques hub.

Here you'll find guides from expert LTA coaches on how to improve your tennis skills.

Tennis tips & techniques

Our Tennis Made Easy series gives you simple ways to learn the basics and get out there hitting with friends and family. Here's some tennis tips for beginners.