Alright, let’s talk about this “platform tennis,” or whatever they call it. I ain’t no fancy sportsperson, mind you, just an old woman tryin’ to make sense of things. So, if I don’t use all them fancy words, don’t you go gettin’ all high and mighty on me.
First off, they say it’s like tennis, but not quite. You know, tennis, where them fellas in shorts whack a ball back and forth? Yeah, well, this platform thing is kinda like that, but on a smaller yard. They call it a “court,” but it looks more like a big box to me.
What’s this platform thing all about?
Now, this court ain’t just on the ground like normal. It’s up on somethin’ they call a “platform.” Why, you ask? Well, I heard tell it’s so they can put heaters underneath. Heaters! Can you believe it? Playin’ tennis in the winter, warm as toast. These city folk, I tell ya, they think of everything.
And get this, the whole thing’s surrounded by chicken wire, like a big ol’ cage. They say it’s so the ball don’t go flyin’ off everywhere. Smart, I guess, saves ’em from chasin’ balls all over the place. But it also means you can bounce the ball off the walls, like some kinda crazy ping pong game. I seen them doin’ it, hittin’ the ball all crazy angles. Makes my head spin just watchin’.
- It’s smaller than a regular tennis court
- It’s up on a platform with heaters underneath (fancy, huh?)
- It’s got chicken wire all around it
How they play this game?
They use these little paddles, not like them big tennis rackets. And the ball ain’t a regular tennis ball neither. It’s some kinda spongy rubber thing. I guess it makes it easier to bounce off them walls. They say two or four folks can play. Seems like a good way to get some exercise, though I reckon I’d be huffin’ and puffin’ after five minutes. My knees ain’t what they used to be.
Where did this platform tennis come from?
Now, I heard tell this whole thing started way back in the 1920s, up in New York somewhere. Some fellas wanted to play tennis in the winter, so they built this platform thing. Smart cookies, I guess. Never woulda thought of it myself.
Platform tennis vs pickleball and other games
Folks keep talkin’ about somethin’ called “pickleball” too. Sounds like another one of them newfangled games. From what I gather, it’s kinda similar, but without the walls. And they use a different kind of ball, a plastic one with holes. Don’t ask me why, I ain’t got a clue. There’s also somethin’ called POP Tennis. Now this one, I don’t know too much about. It seems like there are a whole lot of games like tennis out there these days.
Is platform tennis a good game?
So, is this platform tennis any good? Well, I reckon it depends on what you like. If you like runnin’ around and hittin’ balls, it might be right up your alley. And if you like bein’ warm in the winter, well, them heaters sure sound nice. Me? I’m happy just watchin’ from the sidelines, thankin’ the Lord I don’t have to chase after no bouncy balls. But hey, to each their own, right?
Where to find more about platform tennis?
If you want to know more, I heard there’s this group called the American Platform Tennis Association, somethin’ like that. And if you’re looking for somethin’ fancy, they even have a Hall of Fame! Who woulda thought a game like this would be so fancy? Oh yeah, and there’s this Fox Meadow Tennis Club website, I think that’s where it all started. They should have some good info if you’re really keen on the subject. But don’t come cryin’ to me if you get all confused. I told you, I ain’t no expert!
So that’s the long and short of it, as best as I can tell. Platform tennis, a game for folks who like to whack balls in a fancy cage. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go make some supper. All this talk about sports has made me hungry.
Tags: [Platform Tennis, Tennis, Sports, Paddle, Winter Sports, History, Rules, Equipment, APTA]
