How a match works, in a minute
How a soft tennis match works
- Soft 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.
- One pair serves for a whole game, the partners taking two points each. The pairs swap serving after every game.
- A pair wins a game by winning four points. At three points each it is deuce, and a pair must then win two points in a row.
- A match is usually seven or nine games, and the first pair to win a majority wins. When the games are level one short of the end, a deciding final game is played.