How is soft tennis singles different from doubles?
I · Intermediate · Conduct, officials and events · 5 of 6Singles uses the doubles rules on a court 8.23 metres wide, bounded by the service sidelines extended to the base lines. The players serve whole games in turn, from the right court then the left. In the final game each serves two points in turn. A singles match is seven games in principle.
How it works
- Court: 23.77 m by 8.23 m.
- Sidelines: the service sidelines and their extensions to the base lines.
- Serving: each player serves a whole game, alternating right and left courts.
- Swap: the serve passes to the other player after each game.
- Final game: each player serves two points in turn, starting with the player whose turn it is.
- Match: seven games in principle.
- Everything else: as in doubles.
The glossary has the singles (soft tennis), the court, the lines, the serve, the final game and the number of games.
Tricky cases
A singles ball lands between the singles and doubles sidelines. In?
No. In singles that area is out.
Does a singles player serve two points then hand over?
No. Outside the final game, each player serves a whole game.
Are singles matches always seven games?
Seven in principle; the competition guide may set another length.
Do singles players change ends after odd games?
Yes. That follows the doubles rule.
Why the rule exists
Singles reuses the doubles rules so that one book covers both. The narrower court balances a single player against the full width.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Court width | 8.23 m | ISTF S 2 |
| Serving | Whole games in turn | ISTF S 4 |
| Match length | Seven games | ISTF S 5 |
From the rule book
International Soft Tennis Federation, Technical Rules (web text, site snapshot of 30 January 2024): singles rules 1 to 5; Rules for Competitions, article 32.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISTF Technical Rules, published on the federation's website.