Serving up some ‘Spec-tacular’ tennis

“I came up with Spec Tennis in 2016,” Gross explained to the Washington Examiner, “when I was looking for a way to play paddle tennis (Venice Beach version) on pickleball courts. I tried it with my dad, but the equipment we used wasn’t right for the court dimensions so I started trying different paddles and balls until I found the best fit. Later that summer, I invited some tennis friends out to play a tournament to see if others would enjoy playing as much as I did, and that’s how the sport was born.”

Gross argues that there is great value in the sport not just in and of itself, but also as a means of teaching conventional tennis. He argues that “it uses the same strokes and strategies as tennis but in a more favorable learning environment.” Gross adds that “the Spec Tennis paddle has a low power level and the weight of it causes players to hit through the ball and use better biomechanics than they often do with a regular tennis racquet.”

Gross identifies three main appeals to his creation.

First, that “people can enjoy playing it without having to devote time and money to private lessons. Most players are able to rally the ball back and forth within the first 10 minutes of playing.” Second, that “all ages and athletic abilities can have fun playing it. Because the court is small, you don’t have to be fast or fit to play it. On the flip side, for those who are really athletic, the small court makes it more challenging to put the ball away, so you end up with a lot of incredible rallies.” Third, “It can be played anywhere with anyone including (but not limited to) tennis courts, pickleball courts, gym floors. People enjoy playing with their friends, family, kids, even if there is a level disparity.”

To build the sport’s visibility and player base, Gross has partnered with investor Mike Kulwiec. Pushing his favorite tagline, “Spec Tennis, it’s Spectacular!” Kulweic tells the Washington Examiner that “the game is great fun to play and watch. We have a growing number of weekly players across the U.S. Our intent is to make Spec a national and then international sport.”

There are already indications of burgeoning growth. Chris Luca, a Spec “ambassador” in the Boston area, now has 250 players in his group. And Jake Agna, founder of the “Kids on the Ball” program, says, “We average 150-200 kids each day. Our program uses the parameters of Spec tennis, using red dot balls. Our biggest change this year is to play totally with Spec paddles. The improvement that we’ve witnessed in kids of all abilities is truly phenomenal. Kids are learning to control ball speed and are becoming more comfortable and calm at the hitting zone.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

It’s positive to see this kind of dynamism in the sporting industry. The evident enjoyment of Spec players aside, it’s also good news for the nation’s health. The more sporting options that children find fun with, the healthier they’ll be.

And for parents, the appeal of a game that can be played on a tight budget is also Ace!