Leisure sports : Tennis - Equipment, Rules & Holidays Abroad

All good tennis clubs can arrange coaching which you may want to consider if you have not played before or you just want to improve your performance. Many coaches will teach small groups as well as individuals which is a way of keeping training costs to a minimum.

For a complete guide to tennis skills, ways to improve performance, rules and equipment, the BBC site is hard to beat which also provides all the latest tennis news, highlights and features.

The UK based Lawn Tennis Association also provides a wealth of useful information which includes a searchable Find A Club directory of tennis clubs by postcode or town names.

For a downloadable pdf set of tennis rules, visit the International Tennis Federation (ITF) website.

Tennis enthusiasts may want to visit the official website of Wimbledon - The All England Lawn Tennis Club where they can learn all the latest news about Wimbledon, players and arrange to receive newsletters.

Tennis Holidays Abroad have become increasingly popular in recent years. The main benefit of taking holidays abroad is, of course, the weather. In locations such as Spain with over 300 days sunshine a year, the chances of a week's uninterrupted play are high. You can also build into your holidays, visits to places of interest. Usually available are holidays that offer accommodation only, half or full board, one - two hours play per day and coaching if required. Additional playing time can normally be negotiated.

Tennis holidays for individuals, couples or groups. A holiday combining tennis with a range of pamper treatments such as facial, massage, body wrap and body conditioning can also be provided.

Tennis is organised at El Casco Tennis Club, just a short walk from El Sanctuario. Racquets are available to hire but tennis balls must be purchased. Coaching can also be arranged.

Visits to Marbella market or day trips to places of interest such as Mijas Pueblo, Ronda, Granada and Gibraltar can be organised as part of the holiday package. For those who wish to be independent travellers, car hire can be arranged with pick up from Malaga airport.

El Sanctuario, based in Marbella, Spain situated just 200 metres from one of Marbella's finest beaches, 10 minutes from Marbella centre and 30 minutes from Malaga airport. With over 320 days sunshine a year & warm year-round temperatures, El Sanctuario provides a popular alternative to British health farms. Offers 3, 4, 5, 7 nights holidays and specialises in birthday breaks.

Tennis, according to the lawn tennis association, is a game enjoyed by 3 million people in the UK. Its attraction is that it is a game that can be enjoyed by relatively young children as well as young adults, middle-aged and retired people. It is also less strenuous than squash which has an appeal for those who find prefer a less frenetic racquet game. If you are considering taking up tennis for the first time, you will need to purchase suitable equipment. You can usually hire racquets from the tennis club but if you are going to play regularly then it's best to buy your own.

Entry level racquets can be purchased for around £25 with prices going up to around £200 for a top quality racquet. It is best to consider buying at least a middle of the range racquet if you are likely to be using it on a regular basis. Whilst low prices sound attractive, it can be false economy when you are frequently having to replace racquets. Balls can be purchased for around £8 per dozen with discounts for larger quantities. Whilst dress rules are fairly flexible at most tennis clubs, you might want to consider purchasing suitable clothing and shoes. Most suppliers of tennis equipment also sell tennis shorts, skirts, shirts, track suits and shoes.