The Birth of a Homegrown Sport

Road Tennis was born out of necessity in the 1930s when residents of Barbados’ parishes like St. Michael wanted to play tennis but had no grass courts available. Taking matters into their own hands, they marked out playing areas on the island’s roads and replaced traditional tennis balls wit

h ones made from old socks or cloth tightly wound up and wrapped.

The makeshift “courts” were smaller than traditional tennis courts, and players used wood rackets crafted by hand to whack the homemade balls back and forth. Rules emerged organically, with the objective being to clear the “net” marked by two parallel lines – one for serving and one as the central net line.

From Backstreet Pastime to National Sport

What started as an improvisational game gradually evolved into a codified sport complete with official rules, equipment standards, and even national championships by the 1960s. The Barbados Road Tennis Association helped promote and grow the sport across the island nation.

Today, regulated Road Tennis courts are a common sight across Barbados, with the surface typically being asphalt or concrete. The rackets are now made of basswood, with the balls using a rubber core wrapped tightly in cloth or tape. The Court sizes are twenty-one (21) feet in length and ten (10) feet in width bounded by two (2) baselines and two (2) side lines, making for a fast-paced and furious game.

While still relatively unknown globally, Road Tennis has quite a passionate following in Barbados, with the sport even being exhibited at past Caribbean Games. The quick reflexes, spins, and artful stroke play make it a hugely entertaining spectacle for fans.

So, if you ever find yourself in Barbados, be sure to catch a game of the unique and thrilling indigenous sport of Road Tennis. Who knows, you might even be inspired to join the islanders in bringing this hidden gem of a racket sport into the international spotlight!