How does soft tennis work?
B · Beginner · Following a match · 1 of 7Soft tennis is played on a tennis court with a soft, white rubber ball. Its rules are written for doubles: two pairs hit the ball over the net in turn, and either player on a side may play it. A game goes to four points and a match is usually seven or nine games, with a final game to seven points.
How it works
- Players: a doubles match has two pairs; singles uses the same rules on a narrower court.
- Hitting: the sides hit the ball in turn; either player of a pair may take it.
- One racket: each player uses one racket for the whole match.
- The serve: from behind the base line into the diagonal service court, with a second serve after a fault.
- The rally: the ball may bounce once on the receiving side, or be volleyed.
- Scoring: games to four points; matches decided by a majority of games.
- The final game: at a level score, one game to seven points decides the match.
- Officials: a chair umpire and a vice umpire, with a referee for appeals.
The glossary has the soft tennis, the ball, the racket, the point and game, the final game and the servers and receivers.
Tricky cases
Must partners take turns to hit the ball?
No. The sides alternate, but either player of a pair may play any ball.
Can a player change rackets during a match?
No. Each player uses one racket throughout, and repairing it during the match is not allowed.
Is soft tennis scored like tennis?
Partly. Games use four points with deuce and advantage, but there are no sets in the usual match, and the deciding game goes to seven.
Is soft tennis an Asian Games sport?
Yes. It has been on the Asian Games programme for several editions.
Why the rule exists
The soft ball is slower and lighter than a tennis ball, so rallies are longer and the game is easier to start. Writing the rules for doubles first reflects how the game is mostly played in Japan and Korea, where it began and grew.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Doubles | The main form; the rules are written for it | ISTF C 16 |
| Singles | Narrower court; serving changes | ISTF S 1 to 5 |
| Tennis | Pressurised felt ball, sets of six games | C |
From the rule book
International Soft Tennis Federation, Technical Rules (web text, site snapshot of 30 January 2024): Rules for Competitions, articles 1, 2, 13 to 19 and 20 to 35. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISTF Technical Rules, published on the federation's website.