Indoor Tennis
Also known as: indoor tennis, indoor tennis courts, playing tennis indoors, indoor courts feel faster, indoor tennis lighting, indoor court ceiling
Indoor tennis often feels faster because there is no wind or sun, so the ball comes through clean and true. Many indoor courts are hard courts or carpet, and some carpet is rated fast. Lighting and close backdrops can also make the ball seem quicker.
Playing indoors removes the weather. With no wind, the ball does not slow or drift. With no sun, you never lose the ball on a serve or lob. That makes rallies feel cleaner and quicker than outdoors.
The surface matters too. Indoor courts are often acrylic hard courts or carpet. The ITF places most acrylic courts in the medium pace category. Some carpets are medium and some are fast. Indoor clay exists too, and it plays slower.
Lighting, backdrops and ceilings change the feel. Bright lights and dark walls can make the ball harder or easier to track. The ITF recommends, as a guide, at least 29.6 feet (9.0 m) from the court to the ceiling at the net. Some halls are lower, which limits high lobs. Shorten your swing, serve to targets and use the steady conditions to play first-strike tennis.
Tips by skill level
Hit extra balls in the warm-up to adjust to the pace. Look up to check the ceiling height before you lob.
Use the calm air to serve with more precision. Indoor courts reward a big first serve and quick net play.
Example
In the winter league, the courts are indoor carpet. She shortens her backswing and serves and volleys more. Without wind, her toss stays steady.
Why it matters
Indoor conditions change timing, tactics and lobs. Adjusting early keeps you from rushing in the first set.
Common mistakes
- Taking full outdoor swings on a fast indoor court
- Lobbing high without checking the ceiling
- Ignoring the backdrop when tracking the ball
Frequently asked questions
Why does indoor tennis feel faster?
There is no wind or sun, so the ball comes through clean. Many indoor courts are hard or carpet, and some carpet is rated fast.
How high should an indoor tennis ceiling be?
As a guide, the ITF recommends at least 29.6 feet (9.0 m) from the court to the ceiling, measured at the net.
Sources
Related terms
- Tennis Court SurfacesTennis is mainly played on clay, hard courts and grass, and each plays differently. Clay is the slowest: the ball bounces high, rallies run long and players slide. Hard courts sit in the middle, with a true, predictable bounce. Grass is the fastest, with a low, skidding bounce that rewards big serves and net play.
- ITF Court Pace RatingA court plays fast or slow mainly because of friction and bounce height. A rough surface grips the ball and slows it, and a higher bounce gives more time. The ITF measures this as a Court Pace Rating and sorts courts into five categories, from slow clay to fast grass.
- Playing in the WindIn the wind, play simpler tennis with bigger margins. Aim away from the lines, use more topspin for control and take extra small steps before contact, because the ball moves late. If a gust blows your toss away, catch it and toss again; that is not a fault. With the wind behind you, add spin and skip the drop shot; into the wind, hit deeper and use the drop shot.
- Tennis Ball TypesExtra-duty balls have thicker felt for abrasive hard courts, and regular-duty balls suit clay and indoor courts. Pressurized balls play livelier but lose bounce over time. Pressureless balls keep their bounce longer but feel heavier and firmer, and they suit practice and ball machines. High-altitude balls are made for play above 4,000 feet.
- LobA lob is a high, arcing shot meant to clear a net player's reach. On defense it buys time; on offense, a topspin lob near the baseline can win the point.
Related guides & benchmarks
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