Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Sunday, September 2. 2012

Jeu de paume, and other tennis history


Jeu de paume ("hand-game" or "palm game") was the handball precursor to raquet tennis. Paris' Jeu de Paume Gallery is in an old court.


"Real tennis," or "court tennis" came next. I had fun watching some pros play this on the court at Hampton Court a few years ago. There are a number of Real Tennis courts in the US, including one at the exclusive NY Raquet and Tennis Club on Park Avenue (men only).


Lawn Tennis was invented as a casual outdoor version of the wonderful game. I still prefer playing my tennis indoors: I play much better, and I cannot serve into the sun worth a damn.


Remember the Tennis Court Oath of the French Revolution? I believe that was a Court Tennis court.


Image is Jacques Louis David's Tennis Court Oath. It did not end up well because they were not Americans.

Posted by Bird Dog in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 13:34 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

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Huh - the things you learn when you hang around Maggie's.

I never knew there was a significant difference between the two - always thought they were just played on different surfaces.

Cork balls and some really complicated rules. Kind of like Jai Alai in some ways.

Who knew? :>)
#1 Tom Francis on 2010-09-13 20:31 (Reply)
A little music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8__EwAT8VM&feature=player_embedded
#2 mal on 2010-09-13 23:02 (Reply)
Hmm. I knew that "Court Tennis" was around in Shakespeare's day because in Henry V the newly crowned king receives an insult from the French in the form of a brand new set of tennis balls - making note of his youth, inexperience, and reputation for being a frivolous, sport-loving playboy.

I always figured that was an anachronism inserted by Shakespeare for the sake of a good story, but according to the Wiki* entry for "Real Tennis" aka "Court Tennis", Royal interest in England began with Henry V (reigned 1413–22). . . . It also notes that Henry VIII was an avid player.

So my historical English tennis time window just got expanded by about 150 years.

*Yeah I know Wiki. But the article cites "The Encyclopedia of Tennis" for this. If it's from an encyclopedia, it must be true!!
#3 T.K. Tortch on 2012-09-02 17:51 (Reply)
Oops. Forgot the link:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_tennis#History
#3.1 T.K. Tortch on 2012-09-02 17:56 (Reply)

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