Tennis App: The Complete Guide to Tennis in Israel

Tennis is one of the oldest and most popular racket sports in the world, and in Israel it has a large community and courts in almost every city. It combines fitness, strategy and a social connection, and it suits every age. In this guide you'll find everything you need to get started: what tennis is, what gear you need, the scoring and rules, tips for beginners, and how to find a court and partners to play with.

So what exactly is tennis?

Tennis is played as singles (1 on 1) or doubles (2 on 2) on a rectangular court divided by a net in the middle. You play with a strung racket and a felt ball. The goal: to return the ball over the net so that your opponent can't return it legally before it bounces twice. It's played on different surfaces (hard, clay or grass), and in Israel hard courts are the most common.

Why you should play tennis

• A sport for life: suitable from a young age all the way through to older age.
• A full-body workout: it combines endurance, strength, agility and coordination.
• A mental challenge: every point is a small tactical battle in its own right.
• Social or competitive: you can play a relaxed game with friends, or a serious, ranked match.

The gear you need to get started

Tennis racket

For beginners, a racket with a larger (more forgiving) head and a medium weight is recommended, making it easier to make clean contact with the ball.

Balls

Standard tennis balls. For beginners and children there are also "slow" balls that make learning easier.

Shoes and clothing

Tennis shoes with good lateral support (important for side-to-side movement) and comfortable sportswear.

Scoring and the rules of tennis (in brief)

• Point scoring: 0, 15, 30, 40, and then you win the game. A 40-40 tie is called "deuce," and you need a two-point lead in a row to take the game.
• Games and sets: a set ends at 6 games (with a margin of 2). If it reaches 6-6, you play a tiebreak. A match is usually decided by winning two sets.
• Serving: overhead, into the diagonal service box, with two attempts.
• In or out: a ball that touches the line counts as "in."

That's the basics, and all the finer points are best learned while playing.

5 tips for beginners

1. Consistency before power: it's better to return ten balls than to smash one out.
2. Footwork: most mistakes start from poor positioning. Move to the ball.
3. Watch the ball: all the way to the moment of contact with the racket, not before.
4. Take a lesson or two: proper technique early on saves you bad habits later.
5. Play against people at your level: a balanced match = faster improvement, less frustration and real fun.

The 5 most common beginner mistakes in tennis

• Wrong grip: the eastern grip for the forehand is the foundation. A wrong grip blocks progress for months.
• Watching the racket instead of the ball: track the ball right up to contact, this is the mistake that hurts consistency the most.
• Too short a swing: beginners "push" the ball. A full motion with follow through gives control and power.
• Standing still: tennis is a footwork game. Small, fast steps matter more than the stroke itself.
• Going for a winner on every point: consistency wins. Return one more ball and the opponent will miss.

How to choose your first tennis racket by budget

• Under 70 dollars: a basic or second hand racket, enough to test whether the sport is for you.
• 70 to 160 dollars: the beginner range. Look for a larger head (100 to 105 square inches) for a forgiving frame, a medium weight (270 to 300 grams) and a slightly head light balance for extra power.
• Over 160 dollars: rackets for advanced players, heavier and more precise, less suitable at the start.

The NTRP rating system: know where you stand

Tennis commonly rates level on the NTRP scale from 1.0 to 7.0. Knowing your level helps you find balanced opponents:

• 1.0 to 2.0: beginners, learning to sustain rallies.
• 2.5 to 3.0: comfortable with the basics, starting to aim and control pace.
• 3.5 to 4.0: consistency, tactics and a confident variety of shots.
• 4.5 and up: advanced, competitive players.

Playing someone close to your level is the fastest way to improve and to enjoy the game.

From beginner to intermediate: what to practice first

The order you practice in decides how fast you improve:

1. A stable, repeatable forehand.
2. A backhand (one or two handed) that holds up under pressure.
3. A safe serve with a high first serve percentage.
4. Volleys and basic net play.
5. Footwork and positioning.

How to find a tennis court and partners to play with in Israel

In Israel there are tennis courts in almost every city and town, both public and private. The real challenge is usually not the court, but finding partners at your level, at a time that works for you.

That's exactly why we built PlayRocket: an app that matches you with partners by skill level and location, shows open matches you can join, and helps you coordinate everything in one place, no more five WhatsApp groups and no endless back-and-forth. And it's not just for tennis: padel, pickleball, badminton, beach tennis, squash, table tennis and volleyball too.

Frequently asked questions about tennis