Written By
Jesse Gotlib
As independent tennis professionals, many of us are facing the same challenges: limited court availability, growing pickleball demand, and the pressure to get beginners rallying quickly or risk losing them.
Several years ago, I was introduced to Spec Tennis. At first, I viewed it as an alternative racquet sport — interesting, but not central to my coaching philosophy. What I didn’t realize at the time was that Spec Tennis would become one of the most valuable tools I’ve used to grow my tennis business, expand partnerships and introduce more people to traditional tennis.
Getting Players Rallying Faster
One of the biggest advantages of Spec Tennis is how quickly players can rally. The smaller court, lower compression ball and simplified equipment remove many of the early technical barriers that frustrate beginners — especially kids.
In my intro programs, players were rallying on day one. Confidence rose quickly and participation stayed high. Importantly, this didn’t pull players away from tennis — it created demand for it. Many families wanted their kids to “move up” to full tennis once they had success and fun early.
A Tool for Parks and Recreation Partnerships
Spec Tennis opened doors with local town parks and recreation departments. Because it fits on multi-use spaces and requires minimal infrastructure, towns were willing to pilot new programs that might have been hesitant to commit to full tennis court time.
These partnerships led to “Intro to Tennis” classes that blended Spec Tennis with traditional tennis fundamentals. From there, I expanded into additional parks and towns, building a wider footprint for my coaching business.
End-of-Season Competition Without the Pressure
I also began using Spec Tennis as an end-of-season, entry-level tournament format. For newer players, it provided competition without the intimidation of full-court tennis, particularly the pressure of serving and double faults. This kept players engaged longer and gave them a positive first competitive experience.
Beyond Parks: Schools and Colleges
As my experience grew, I presented on Spec Tennis at professional conferences, including MAHPERD, highlighting its potential as a physical education and intramural sport. Today, Spec Tennis has been implemented at institutions such as MIT and Shady Hill School, further reinforcing its value as an accessible and inclusive entry point to racket sports.
Strengthening — Not Replacing — Tennis
I want to be clear: Spec Tennis did not replace tennis in my programs. It strengthened them. It became a bridge — helping beginners succeed faster, keeping programs full and ultimately leading more players into traditional tennis pathways.
Now, as I get a bit older, I also enjoy playing Spec Tennis myself. It’s fast-paced, social and a great workout. With more pickleball courts being built nationwide, Spec Tennis offers tennis professionals another way to stay relevant, creative and connected to their communities.
For tennis pros willing to see alternative formats not as threats but as tools, Spec Tennis can be a powerful addition to a modern coaching toolkit.
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