Wheelchair Tennis
Also known as: wheelchair tennis, wheelchair tennis rules, wheelchair two-bounce rule, two bounces in wheelchair tennis, quad wheelchair tennis, adaptive tennis wheelchair, how does wheelchair tennis work
Wheelchair tennis uses the normal rules of tennis with a few changes. The biggest is the two-bounce rule. You may let the ball bounce twice and must return it before a third bounce. The second bounce may land outside the court. The chair counts as part of your body, and you must keep one buttock on the seat when you hit.
The ITF Rules of Wheelchair Tennis follow the standard rules except for a short list of changes. Same court, same net, same scoring. The two-bounce rule gives players time to push into position.
The wheelchair is treated as part of the body. So if the ball touches the chair, it is as if it touched the player. A player loses the point for letting the ball bounce three times. They also lose it for using their feet or legs to brake or push during play, or for lifting both buttocks off the seat at contact.
The serve has its own rules. The server starts still, then may take one push before hitting the ball. The wheels may only touch the area behind the baseline. If a quad player cannot serve the normal way, the player or a helper may drop the ball and let it bounce first. They must use that method for the whole match.
The chair itself has rules too. Players propel it only with the wheels, and gears and levers that give a mechanical edge are banned. In mixed play with a standing player, the wheelchair player gets two bounces and the standing player gets one.
Tips by skill level
Practise pushing back to the middle after every shot. Recovery matters just as much as it does in standing tennis.
Use the second bounce as a tactical choice, not just a safety net. Taking the ball after one bounce can rush your opponent.
Example
Rosa's opponent drops a short ball wide. Rosa lets it bounce once, then a second time outside the sideline, and still pushes in to flick it back crosscourt before the third bounce.
Why it matters
Wheelchair tennis is a full, competitive sport played under ITF rules. Knowing the rules helps players, partners and coaches play together.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the second bounce must land inside the court
- Using a foot to brake during a rally
- Pushing more than once before striking the serve
Frequently asked questions
How many bounces do you get in wheelchair tennis?
Two. You must return the ball before it bounces a third time, and the second bounce can land outside the court.
Can a wheelchair player play against a standing player?
Yes. The wheelchair player gets two bounces and follows the wheelchair rules, while the standing player gets one bounce and follows the normal rules.
Sources
Related terms
- Tennis ScoringPoints in a tennis game go love (zero), 15, 30, 40, then game, and the server's score is called first. At 40-40, called deuce, a player must win two points in a row to take the game. The first to six games wins the set by two, usually with a tiebreak at 6-6, and matches are best of three or five sets.
- Tennis Court DimensionsA tennis court is 78 feet (23.77 m) long. It is 27 feet (8.23 m) wide for singles and 36 feet (10.97 m) wide for doubles. As a result, each doubles alley adds 4.5 feet. The net is 3 feet (0.914 m) high at the center and 3.5 feet (1.07 m) at the posts. The service lines are 21 feet (6.40 m) from the net.
- Service FaultA serve is a fault if it misses the correct service box or if you swing and miss the toss. It is also a fault if the serve hits the net post, a singles stick, you or your partner before landing. A foot fault is a fault too. Catching a bad toss is not a fault.
- Starting Tennis as an AdultStart with a group clinic or a few lessons with a qualified coach to learn grips, footwork and a simple serve. Use a light racquet with a larger head, and try slower, lower-bouncing balls such as the green-dot ball while you learn. Play little and often, and move into social play or a beginner league once you can keep a rally going.
- Tennis Leagues and TournamentsMost adults start competing through club ladders, flex leagues or team leagues. In the US, USTA League puts adults on teams by NTRP level and age division. Local winners can advance to district, sectional and national championships. Flex leagues let you arrange your own match times. Tournaments come next once you want individual results.
Related guides & benchmarks
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