The Best Racket Sports For Beginners

At the Manor and Ashbury, racket sports provide an enjoyable and lively way to stay active, have fun, and boost your overall health. Whether you’re a beginner eager to explore new activities or a long-term player looking to sharpen your skills, there’s a variety of racket sports to suit different interests and fitness levels. Each sport offers unique benefits, making it easy to find the perfect fit for your goals and preferences.

Tennis is probably one of the most popular ways of entering the world of racket sports. At the Manor & Ashbury Resorts we offer plenty of ways to get involved. You can join one oof our friendly competitions, hire a court to play with family and friends or even book a coaching session with our LTA Tennis Pro.

Short tennis is a specially adapted version of tennis, more suited for beginners, children and those looking for a slower paced racket sport. The court is shorter, the net and rackets smaller and the ball softer – which all helps to slow the speed of the game. You may enjoy short tennis as both singles and doubles.

Badminton is another great choice for all ages and abilities. The aim is to hit the shuttlecock across a raised net on to your opponent’s side. Badminton can be enjoyed as both singles and doubles. The intensity of the game is all decided on how you and your opponent(s) choose to play, which makes it a great option for families. You can slow it down or speed up as wish.

Pickleball brings together the best elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is a fun and exciting game that is suitable for all ages and levels of ability. Pickleball is played on a badminton sized court but uses a net more similar in style to a tennis net. Players use paddles to hit a plastic ball between each other. Why not try a friendly competition , or improve your skills with one of our dedicated coaching breaks.

Check out our 2025 Pickleball Coaching Breaks – Great for all levels of ability

Padel is an innovative form of tennis that’s fun, fast-paced and easy to learn. Played as doubles on a glass-enclosed court, padel can be enjoyed by groups of mixed ages and abilities – great for families and friends looking to spend time together. Hire a court at the Manor & Ashbury today or book one of our coaching breaks.

Check out our 2025 Padel Coaching Breaks – Great for all levels of ability

Table tennis, also widely known as ping-pong, is a popular indoor sport that can be enjoyed by all ages. It requires rapid movement, quick thinking and precision. Take part in a fun competition or book a table to enjoy with your group.