Handicaps

One of the beauties of Real Tennis is the handicapping system, which, allows, within reason, any two players, or four in doubles, to have a competitive match.

In most day-to-day matches, the handicap differences mean that one player, the one with the higher (worse) handicap, starts with an advantage and/or the lower (better) handicap player starts with a disadvantage, in each game.

For example, if the handicap difference is 6, then the higher handicapper will start every game 15-0 up (called "receive 15"), as if they had won the first point, but before a ball has been struck!

As the handicap difference decreases, so does the advantage or disadvantage, with a difference of 1 meaning that the lower handicap player starts every fourth game 0-minus 15 (called "owe quarter 15").

You can read more about the handicapping system by clicking here.