Club sessions and playing standards

Club Sessions 

During the height of Covid-19 we were for some time unable to run our usual club sessions, but we ran doubles mix-ins under strict rules which included booking in the Members’ Area.  These sessions proved to be so popular that we are keeping them as well as adding extra drop-in sessions.  

Club Sessions are those times when, at the same time every week, members get together to play, mainly, doubles and mix-in to play with different players after every set.

Playing Level

Click on the links below, under Bookable Club Sessions and Drop-In Club Sessions to find out more about the ability level necessary to attend a particular club session.

Although, if you are receiving coaching, your coach should be able to tell you which club session you should be able to attend, you need to play at a level where you feel comfortable.  We suggest, if you’re not sure, you should try a session at the lower end of your expectations and work your way upwards.

Bookable Club Sessions

You must book a place on these, arrive on time and stay for the full 2 hours.  Click here for details…

Note that none of these sessions are open to Beginners.

Drop-In Club Sessions

These are, as the name implies, more informal sessions than the bookable ones and you can arrive and leave when you like.  Click here for details…

Note that the the Wednesday session is open to Beginners as is the Social session on Tuesdays at 5:30.

whatsapp

Some sessions have WhatsApp groups associated with them so it’s easy to let members know there’s spaces available at a Bookable Club Night or who’ll be attending a Drop-In Session.  Check on the Interactive Tennis Timetable (in the sidebar) when the sessions are and who is the main organiser and ask to join their group.

Club and other Regular Scheduled Sessions

Click on Interactive Tennis Timetable in the side-bar for details of all regularly scheduled sessions.

Click here for the latest times and guidelines for the current adult club sessions.

Ability Guide

Note that this guide is not an official LTA publication but has been compiled from information obtained from documents collected via the LTA web-site and elsewhere.

Note that the LTA are in the process of replacing the GB Rating (GBR) with the International Tennis Number (ITN).

Click for Ability Guide.   Note that the terms Improver and Recreational usually mean the same thing.

Places must be booked in advance via the Members’ Area and selections will then be confirmed on the morning or evening before the event.  Please do not turn up if you have not been selected as you will be turned away. Players are selected on a first come first serve basis usually in multiples of 4 players.  Note that none of these sessions is suitable for beginners.

  • Note that the Committee tries to accommodate the wishes of members, within the constraints of time and 4 courts, but a session for each ability level is the guiding principle.
    • The Friday session is for recreational and higher players and runs from 6pm to 8pm
    • The Thursday 5:30 session is for intermediate players and runs from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
    • The Thursday 7:30 session is for intermediate and advanced players including potential team players and runs from 7:30 to 9:30pm.
    • The Tuesday session is for advanced players and runs from 7pm to 9pm. 
    • In all cases you must commit to the full two hours.
  • Before the session you will have been told by the organiser your starting court, your partner and your opponents.
    • These will take into account each player’s normal playing standard with the best players starting on court 1 and, with 16 players, the least able players on court 4.  However, the organiser may occasionally decide to organise it differently such as a “lucky dip” for starting court & partner.
    • In addition, for the Thursday 7:30 session, the organiser will take into account any pairings for matches at the coming weekend.
  • Play is split into 3 rounds lasting 40 minutes each.  Play 1 set with normal deuce scoring.  If you finish early either carry on or mix in your 4.
    • If you haven’t finished the set after 40 minutes and the scores are level, play a sudden death point
  • At the end of the 40 minutes the winners of the first set played move up a court, the losers move down a court (court 1 is the top court). Winners on the top court stay, as do the losers on the bottom court. If you didn’t finish your set then the pair winning at the time moves up.
  • Pairs then split partners with the pair joining them and you play a second round.
    • Partners are selected by spinning rackets or using common sense to try to get a balanced 4.
  • Exactly the same happens for the third round.

Drop-In club nights are, as the name implies, more informal sessions than the bookable ones and you can arrive and leave when you like.  Those attending organise themselves, changing who plays with whom after most present have completed a set, although there’s often a more senior member present who  will take charge if needed.

We are currently running 2 Drop-In  sessions for all levels from Starter upwards…

  • The Tuesday session has recently been rebranded for All Levels and runs from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.  If you want to sit out and watch, maybe with a drink, you can do that too.  If you’ve arrived early for the 7 o’clock session, you’re also welcome to join in.
  • The Wednesday session is for all levels of player including beginner and usually runs from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.
    • You can expect members attending adult coaching to join in.
  • The Sunday session is for All levels and runs from 3:00 – 5:00pm.

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