Racket Sports Articles

Padel is quickly becoming a global sensation, and it’s easy to see why. A mix of tennis and squash played on a smaller court with walls that keep the game fast and unpredictable, it’s easy to learn, social, and seriously fun.

Whether new to racket sports or experienced and looking for something fresh, padel is accessible, exciting, and growing fast - with padel holidays and courts popping up worldwide (including at some of our Beach Clubs), there's never been a better time to get involved. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
 

One of the fastest growing sports, padel is an innovative form of tennis that’s fun, easy to learn and very sociable. Played on a court about a third of the size of a tennis court, groups of mixed ages and abilities can easily play together.

Mark Petchey has carved out a remarkable career in British tennis, making an impact both as a player and as the coach who helped guide Andy Murray to success. He’s teamed up with us to bring you an authentic pro experience on holiday. Mark’s tennis programme runs daily at most beach clubs, where our coaches that he has trained, lead sessions to share his passion and skill. From learning the finer points of your serve to picking up insider tips from one of the UK’s most respected names in the game, there’s no better way to step up your tennis on holiday. Here, we explore Mark’s incredible background and why you should dive into his tailored programme on your next beach club holiday.

Every single one of our Beach Clubs has been designed with Good Energy in mind, and that extends to tennis fanatics and professionals. So whether you want a holiday to practice, relax, recuperate and/or take your game to new places, you’ve come to the right place.

Here’s the lowdown on what our holidays for tennis pros have to offer.

Were you a big Sam Groth fan? Sadly, Australia’s one-time world number 53 has retired now, but before he did he served a ball at a reported 163.4mph at the Buscan Open in South Korea.

That’s Sam’s claim for tennis immortality. And it’s a good one. Serving is such a vital part of tennis at the top level, and it’s probably the part that most part-time players struggle to master.

A Neilson tennis holiday puts you in the perfect places and with the perfect people to get not just a functional serve, but one that will become a potent weapon in your arsenal. A bit like Sam Groth (you know who he is now).

But before you start packing your tennis gear, here are some top tips from us and a handy video from former GB player Mark Petchey, to help improve your serve.

In tennis, there’s nothing better than finishing a rally by pulling off a difficult shot, and for most of us, that means a backhand winner.

A forehand comes pretty naturally. The backhand, however, is out-of-kilter and awkward, just as the phrase “backhanded compliment” suggests. But if you want to step out onto the court with confidence, it’s best to master the art.

Here are our top backhand tips to complete your tennis game.

Let’s kick off our forehand tips with a certified Neilson fact: tennis is an absolute dream.

It doesn’t matter if you’re on the beach or centre court (although you do have to be pretty special to reach the centre court), whacking a tiny ball over a net is incredibly fun. Ask anyone who’s ever tried it. But, as fun as tennis is, it gets even better once you’ve nailed your technique.

What’s your forehand like? If you’re not returning balls with a precise, bullet-like shot, then read on, as we’re going to go through some techniques that’ll turn your forehand into a bread-and-butter-like stroke.

If you’ve already mastered your forehand, read ahead anyway, you just might step it up another level.

Football didn’t quite come home to England in 2018. Tennis though can be counted on to return to one of its British birthplaces every summer, as the world’s best players slide gracefully into London SW19 for “the Championships, Wimbledon” as the world’s oldest tennis tournament is correctly known.

To most of us, it’s plain Wimbledon, a summer ritual that might mean enjoying strawberries and cream in front of the television or being inspired to put down the remote to pick up a racquet. Either way its on- and off-court rituals are a familiar fixture at the peak of world sport.

To players, it is part of the Grand Slam, just one of four Grand Slam tennis tournaments – “the Majors”. These being the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. They were established at the top of the international tennis tree in the 1920s.

With a little practice, players from two years old can discover the joys of the world’s top racket sport. From having a quick knock about on your local court to seeing away strawberries and cream at Wimbledon, tennis brings pleasure to hundreds of people every day.

A tennis holiday is the perfect way to see if tennis is the right activity for you, have loads of fun in the sun and start your love affair with the sport.

If you're planning on starting tennis now or anytime in the future now is a great time to start getting your mind and body prepped to make the most of it. We really must stress: there’s no need to make major changes to your routine!

This article is aimed at those who are really looking to train and improve. Getting just a little fitter will give you more energy and more confidence, helping you get the most from your tennis. To help you get there, we’ve come up with some easy tennis exercises that will get you mentally and physically prepped.

Are you ready to emulate the Williams sisters or the Murray brothers? Your holiday is a great time to work on – or pick up – a tennis game. This summer sport is best enjoyed in the sunshine and you’ll look, feel, and perform like a Wimbledon champ if you shop wisely and pack well for the first serve of the season.

Picture the scene: under a perfect blue sky, a perfect green tennis court awaits, split by gleaming white lines that match the sharp creases of your box-fresh white shorts… and, how do you score again?

Tennis is fantastic fun and fantastically simple at heart. When you start though, the scoring system can feel like it was designed by malicious surrealists. It was probably medieval French courtiers in reality. This guide will help you through from first serve to match point as sweetly and smoothly as strawberries and cream.