Road Tennis

Played on a compact 21x10 ft court painted on streets or other paved surfaces, with an 8-inch high plywood net bisecting the court, the racquet sport of road tennis was born on the streets of Barbados in the 1930s.  Equipment also includes circular wooden paddles and tennis balls modified to have the outside felt removed.  Developed by working-class locals who coupled elements of table tennis and lawn tennis with affordable equipment, the popular game is played in a crouching position to enable quick footwork and offers a total body physical workout.  Games traditionally end at 21 points, and points are scored if the opponent fails to return the ball after one bounce, or hits the ball out of bounds or into the net.   Road tennis has risen from its humble origins to be promoted at the highest levels since its standardisation in the 1970s.