Starting tennis in Britain can be as simple as finding a suitable beginner session and borrowing a racket. This guide helps adults and parents choose a first lesson, understand junior stages and equipment, and follow the scoring before committing to a longer programme.
Find a session that matches your starting point
Use the LTA’s getting-started page to find courts, lessons and local opportunities. Search near home, school or work, then check the actual session description. A court booking gives you playing space; a coached course gives you instruction. Check whether a social session welcomes complete beginners and whether equipment is provided.
For an adult, look for beginner coaching or an introductory programme such as Tennis Xpress. The LTA describes Xpress as using slower orange and green balls to help newcomers learn. Ask the provider about its current schedule and format; local availability and prices belong to the venue’s listing.
For a child, begin with age, previous experience and what they enjoy. Tell the coach about any access or support needs before attending. Ask about a trial session, collection arrangements and who to contact if plans change. Choose a time and journey that will be manageable each week.
Understand the junior stages
The LTA Youth programme, checked in September 2026, uses five stages. These are a starting point for discussing a lesson group; formal competition eligibility is a separate question for the organizer.
On a narrow screen, scroll the table sideways. Keyboard users can focus it and use the arrow keys.
| Stage | LTA age guide | What it develops |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 4–6 | Movement, balance and coordination through games. |
| Red | 6–8 | Early rallies, volleys, serves and friendly competition. |
| Orange | 8–9 | More tactical choices and developing match play. |
| Green | 9–10 | Playing on a full-size court with a slower ball. |
| Yellow | 10+ | Full-size balls and courts, building an individual game. |
Progress is easier to discuss through observable skills: starting a rally, tracking the ball, recovering for the next shot and enjoying a simple game. Ask the coach what would show readiness for the next stage, and how an older beginner can enter at a suitable level.
Borrow first, then choose equipment that fits
Confirm what the session supplies before buying. A child needs a racket they can control, with a ball suited to the lesson. The LTA’s junior equipment guide gives broad racket-length ranges: 17–23 inches for ages eight and under, 23–25 inches for ages eight to nine, and 25–26 inches for ages nine to ten. Height, strength and comfort help the coach refine the choice.
Red, orange and green balls are designed to be slower than standard yellow balls. They create more time to move, prepare and rally. Ask for the ball used in the class so practice feels familiar. Bring comfortable sports clothing, water and footwear accepted for the venue’s surface. Let the coach check racket suitability during the first session.
Learn enough scoring to enjoy a first game
In a standard advantage game, points go love, 15, 30, 40, game, with the server’s score said first. At 40–40, called deuce, winning the next point gives advantage; winning the following point wins the game. Losing the advantage point returns the score to deuce.
For example, from 30–30 the server wins a point: 40–30. The receiver then wins: deuce. If the receiver wins the next two points, the receiver wins the game. Saying the score before each serve makes disagreements easier to resolve.
A common set format is first to six games with a two-game margin, with a tie-break at 6–6. A standard seven-point tie-break also requires a two-point margin. Junior sessions, short matches and deciding sets can use other formats. The LTA scoring guide explains the standard system and alternatives; ask which version your session uses.
Ask these questions before booking a course
- Does this group suit a complete beginner of this age, and can we try a session?
- Who leads the coaching, and is their LTA accreditation current?
- How many players share the session, and how is practice time organized?
- What equipment, court fees and membership are included in the total cost?
- What happens in rain, absence or cancellation?
- For children, who is the welfare contact and what are the arrival and collection arrangements?
- What should we practise between sessions, and how will progress be discussed?
The LTA’s coaching standards explain accreditation requirements, including relevant safeguarding, first-aid and background checks. Confirm current status through the LTA and the provider. Keep the venue’s contact details with the booking.
Use the first lesson to choose the next step
Afterward, record one thing that went well, one question and the coach’s suggested practice task. Consider whether the player felt welcome, received understandable guidance and wants to return. Those observations are more useful for choosing a beginner programme than promises about producing future champions.
This page retains its original focus on access to British tennis, replacing the 2003 academy announcement with a route into the sport today. To understand how major venues keep play going, explore retractable stadium roofs, including Wimbledon.