Platform Tennis
Platform tennis is a racket sport which is played by a team of doubles. The most prominent factor which makes this game unique is that it can be played outdoors in cold weather. It may be possible that you might not have heard the game’s name, but it s getting popular day by day. Platform tennis actually started back in 1928 when in America, two young men James Cogswell and Fessenden Blanchard planned to pass the winter in a fun way. They ended up creating the platform tennis and it is played around the world to this day.
The platform tennis is played on a special court. The platform tennis court construction is of aluminum. The court is 1/4th the size of a regular tennis court. The deck size can be measured as 60' x 30' in addition to this the in-bounds area is measured as 44' x 20'. The court is enclosed by a 12 foot wall which provided the same fuction as that in a gaem of squash or racquetball.
The court is elevated, and the area under the court is enclosed, this is done to provide heating mechanism. The heating mechanism helps in melting the ice on the court and also makes the court comfortable for the players. Officially the season of the game lasts from fall to winter, but the game can be played throughout the year. Such platform tennis courts plans are made to proved the players comfort during the cold weather and also make the game available throughout the year.
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The game of platform tennis is a double event. Two teams of two player play with each other. The courts are divided a net which is 36 inches high. The rules of the game are somewhat similar to lawn tennis. Only the variation of net serve and playing the ball off the screened wall is different and this is regarded as the best thing of the game.
Another thing which makes this game unique as compared to squash and racquetball is that once the ball is stuck the game follows the same rules as those of lawn tennis. For instance the player serving can hit the ball towards their opponent. The opponents can return the ball once it hits the walls but then the returning players have to hit the ball directly into the opponents’ court without hitting the ball on the wall again.
The equipment of a platform tennis is made with such materials that use aerodynamic holes those are drilled into the head of the racket. The paddles or racket have a length 18 inches. The ball being used is made of spongy rubber which 2.5 in diameter. A flocking material is used in the construction of the ball which avoids it to skid off. The platform tennis shoes are made in such a way that the player wearing them does not loose the grip and may not slip on the court.
There is a lot of information available on the internet and many online clubs which can provide you with the correct guidance on rules and information about this game. The famous one is APTA (American Platform Tennis Association). You can get all the information about the rules and regulations and the events held on platform tennis around the globe from their website. If you live in United States, you can even get their membership and participate in the events organized by APTA around the year.
