Also known as royal tennis or tennis in Great Britain, is the predecessor of most other popular  racket games: squash, badminton, and lawn tennis. It is played with lopsided rackets and solid balls in an elaborate enclosed court. Like lawn tennis the court is divided by a net, although in real tennis the net is higher at the sides drooping down low at the middle. Probably developed in France and originally played with the hands, hence the French name jeu de paume, is currently played in only 5 countries. With 27 courts, England has by far the largest number of the 46 or so courts in use worldwide. The Tennis & Rackets Association, founded in 1907 at The Queen’s Club, is the governing body of the sport. The game receives royal patronage from HRH The Earl of Wessex.
    There are no standard dimensions for the court, but the following are recommended by the Tennis & Rackets Association: overall length 110' and overall width 39'. The penthouse width 7' 6", its lower edge height 7' and its upper edge height 10' 6". Height of the playline 18' and height of building at the eaves 30'. The net is 5' at the sides and 3' at the middle. Scoring proceeds as love, 15, 30, 40 and game, probably derived from a sexagesimal monetary system that was convenient for betting purposes. A set is won by the first to reach 6 games. Although there are numerous constituents (rules and features of the court), the complexity of the game is often exaggerated. However, the system of chases is an essential difference from other modern games. A key element of the game, which it shares with squash (but not lawn tennis), is playing the ball to good “length” - that is, so that the ball’s second bounce would/does occur near the end (penthouse) or back wall of the court. Applying cut to the ball also helps to this end. Good length relates to chases which primarily occur when the ball bounces a second time. A good chase is made on an opponent’s side if it is near the end wall, while a poorer chase is near the net - the lines on the floor acting as a means to mark and remember the chases made (e.g. “chase 1 yard” or “chase 6 yards”). The areas where chases can be made are different on the two sides of the court, and chases also occur when the ball enters the side galleries (except for the 'winning' gallery). When two chases are made, or if there is one chase and game point is reached, then players change ends and the chase(s) are played off. Since service is made from one end of the court, the playing off of chases is the only mechanism by which change of service occurs - giving chases great tactical importance.
    The Royal Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace, where tennis has been played almost uninterrupted since King Henry VIII first built a court there, is regarded as the centre of real tennis, if not its 'home'. This reputation is despite more matches of significance being played at The Queen’s Club, and despite the fact that Falkland Palace in Scotland has the oldest court still in use. There was a revival of the game in the late 19th century and again in the late 20th century through to the present. The current revival (since 1990) has resulted in full memberships at clubs, the building of 6 new courts and the restoration of at least 3 others. The balls continue to be handmade and covers stitched on by club professionals in a manner little different from the 15th century, although there have been recent attempts to mass produce a standard ball.
    There are numerous important UK championship events, such as the Amateur Singles (Queen’s Club Cup), the MCC Gold and Silver Racquet Cups, and the British Open. A number of important international events, such as the Bathurst Cup, are also sometimes held in England. Notable English players of recent times are Howard Angus (World Champion 1976-1981), Chris Ronaldson (World Champion 1981-1987) and Julian Snow (Amateur Champion 1987-1989 and 1991- present). Wayne Davies (Australia) has been World Champion (1987-1994) or contender (from 1983-2000, except 1998).

References:
Aberdare, Lord, The Willis Faber Book of Tennis & Rackets (London: Quiller Press, 1998)
Cox, J.C., Strutt’s Sports and Pastimes of the People of England (London: Methuen & Co., 1903).
Gillmeister, H., Tennis A Cultural History (London: Leicester University Press, 1997)
Ronaldson, Chris, Tennis - A Cut Above the Rest (4th edition) (Oxford: Ronaldson Publications, 1999)

Website:
http://www.realtennisonline.com/rto/index.aspx

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