Inspired by Wimbledon? Here's How to Start Playing Tennis as an Adult

By Live4Tennis | Published 29th June 2026

It happens every year without fail.

Wimbledon begins, the BBC coverage fills living rooms across the country, and somewhere between the first ace on Centre Court and the third strawberry, something shifts. You find yourself thinking: “I'd love to give that a go”

You're not alone. The so-called "Wimbledon effect" is one of the most well-documented phenomena in British sport, tennis participation spikes every July as hundreds of thousands of people across the UK pick up a racket for the first time, or dust one off after years in the garage.

This year feels particularly exciting. Day one has already delivered defending champion Jannik Sinner back on Centre Court, Novak Djokovic chasing an eighth Wimbledon title, and Emma Raducanu playing on home soil with the crowd right behind her. Jack Draper steps out with Andy Murray in his corner. And Serena Williams! Yes, really is making her singles return.

If you've been watching and feeling that familiar pull, here's what to do about it.

Why This Feeling Is Worth Acting On

Most people who feel inspired by Wimbledon do nothing about it. They enjoy the fortnight, life gets in the way, and by August the racket they almost bought is forgotten.

The ones who do act on it? They almost universally say it's one of the best things they've done, for their fitness, their social life, and honestly their mental health too. Tennis is unusual in that it genuinely suits adults of all ages and abilities, and once you find your feet it becomes something you can play for the rest of your life.

The window of motivation you have right now, while Wimbledon is on, while the feeling is fresh is genuinely worth using. Don't wait until you're "fitter" or "less busy." Those moments rarely come.

What Starting Actually Looks Like

Here's the thing about watching Wimbledon: it can make tennis look impossibly technical. Sinner's forehand, Djokovic's movement, the power and precision at that level, it's easy to think the game is beyond a beginner.

It isn't. Tennis at beginner level is a completely different experience it’s slower, simpler, and surprisingly fun from the very first session.

You'll start with the basics: how to hold a racket, how to hit a gentle forehand, how to get the ball over the net and into the court. You won't be serving at 130mph on day one. You'll be hitting soft feeds from a coach ten feet away, and it'll feel satisfying almost immediately.

Most adults can hold a short rally within a few weeks. Within six to eight weeks of regular lessons, you'll be able to play a casual game with friends and understand the scoring. That's a remarkably short journey from complete beginner to "actually playing tennis."

The Best First Step to Take

Don't buy a racket yet. Don't book a court. The single best first step is to book a beginner lesson or group course.

Here's why that order matters: if you pick up a racket and just start hitting with a friend, you'll almost certainly develop habits like grip, swing, footwork, that are harder to undo later. A good coach will have you building the right foundations from the start, which means you improve much faster and enjoy it much more.

Look for a group beginner course in your area. The LTA runs a programme called Tennis Xpress at venues across the UK, it's a structured six-week course specifically for adult beginners, and it's a great starting point if you're not local to us.

If you're in Dorset, we run beginner and improver sessions throughout the year. Get in touch and we'll find the right session for you.

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What Kit Do You Actually Need?

Very little to start. Here's what matters and what doesn't:

Racket: Wait until after your first session before buying one. Many venues will lend you a racket for your first lesson. Once you're ready to buy, you don't need to spend much, a beginner racket in the £30–60 range is more than enough. Look for a head size of around 100–110 square inches for a bigger sweet spot.

Shoes: Your regular trainers will do for the first few sessions. Once you're playing regularly, a pair of proper tennis shoes is worth getting — they're built for the sideways movement tennis involves.

Everything else: Comfortable sportswear, a water bottle, and nothing else. The balls will be provided.

A Word on the Wimbledon Effect

There's something worth saying here about what makes tennis different from most sports you might take up as an adult.

At Wimbledon right now, you're watching players who have trained full time since childhood. But the version of tennis you'll play at a local club or park court has almost nothing in common with what's happening on Centre Court, except that you're using the same equipment and the same court.

Club tennis is social, relaxed, and played by people of all ages and abilities. It doesn't require a particular level of fitness, a particular body type, or any prior sporting experience. What it does reward is showing up consistently and enjoying the process of getting a little better each week.

The pros make it look effortless. Your first lesson will feel anything but. That gap is completely normal, and it closes faster than you'd expect.

The Wimbledon Fortnight Is Two Weeks Long. Use It.

The tournament runs until 12th July. That's two weeks of BBC coverage, match highlights, and the kind of ambient tennis inspiration that doesn't come around any other time of year.

Use that energy. Book a first lesson this week while the motivation is high. By the time the Men's Final is played, you'll have already taken your first steps on court and that feeling is worth far more than another week watching from the sofa.

We run beginner and improver tennis sessions across Dorset throughout the year. Book a session we'd love to help you get started.