Quick Start Tennis & the Progressive Court System

What is Quick Start Tennis?

Quick Start Tennis (originally called 36/60') is a competitive play format that features modified equipment and courts to allow kids to actually "play" the game of tennis. The United State Tennis Association (USTA) has modified six different variables: age, court size, net height, ball speed and weight, racket length, and scoring. Now, kids 10 and under can compete and play like the big kids. Click here to learn more about Petersburg Racquet Club's involvement with Quick Start and the USTA.

What is the Progressive Court System?

The PCS at PRC is our own developmental system that features three different size courts and four types of balls. Quick Start Tennis is for competition, league and tournaments. The Progressive Court System is our system of developing players to feed into leagues and tournaments. With the PCS, your child can be serving and rallying within the first few lessons, regardless of age.

The Progressive Court System is broken down into three different phases:

Phase 1:

All players, regardless of age, start on the 36' court with foam balls or larger low compression balls (red ball). The court is 36'x18' and is laid out across a regular court. For competition, this court is limited to kids 8 and under.

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Phase Two:

Players now progress to the 60' court with low compression balls (orange ball). The singles court is 60'x21' and is played inside of a regular court. For doubles, the dimensions are 60'x27,' using the regular court singles lines as the doubles line. For competition, this court is limited to kids 10 and under.

Phase Three:

Stage 3: Regular 78' Court and Regular Ball

The next phase progresses to the regular 78’ court with a “green ball.” This ball bounces 25% less than a regular ball and is used in training only. The green ball is not part of the USTA Quick Start format.
Finally, players will move to a regular, “yellow ball” on the 78’ court. All USTA sanctioned competition for kids 11 and over is played with the regular ball.

Why all these different courts and balls?

Traditionally, tennis has been a difficult game to learn, especially for younger, smaller kids. The ball bounces too high, the court is too large to cover, and kids are forced to use bigger rackets to make up for the strength difference. Now with a smaller court, a slower ball, and appropriate rackets, kids can learn faster than ever before. Instead of contacting the ball above their heads, they can hit the ball at their waist, allowing for a much better stroke. Instead of barely getting to wide balls, they can actually get to the ball and control the direction. This leads to the kids actually using strategy and tactics at a young age.

How do I get started?

Click here to find out about the different classes available.

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