Getting Started
You don't need experience. You don't need to be a member. Just come along.
Thinking about giving tennis a try? Maybe you played a bit years ago and fancy getting back into it. Maybe you've never picked up a racket but always wanted to. Either way — you're very welcome here.
Dundalk Tennis Club is a genuinely friendly, welcoming place. We're not a serious, competitive-only club. We're a community of people who enjoy tennis — at all sorts of levels — and we love having new faces join us.
Getting started couldn't be easier
Try a Coaching Lesson
No membership needed — book a one-off session with Andrew, our resident coach.
Join Social Tennis
Relaxed, informal sessions — you'll be matched with players at a similar level.
Enter a Round Robin
Open to all levels year-round, including complete beginners.
Read on to find out more about each of these, or just get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.
Coaching
No membership required
You don't need to be a club member to book a coaching lesson with Andrew — one-off lessons and full programmes are open to everyone.
Meet Andrew — Our Experienced Coach
Andrew is our resident coach and one of the friendliest faces you'll meet at the club. With years of coaching experience across all age groups and ability levels, Andrew has a fantastic knack for making beginners feel at ease while helping more experienced players sharpen their game.
Importantly, you don't need to be a member to take part in Andrew's coaching sessions. Whether you want to try a one-off lesson or sign up for a full programme, coaching is open to everyone — members and non-members alike.
What to expect
Sessions are relaxed, structured, and always great fun. Andrew runs group lessons for beginners, junior coaching programmes, and individual lessons for those wanting to develop specific areas of their game. Rackets can be borrowed if you don't have your own — just bring comfortable sports clothes and a water bottle.
Get in touch with the club to find out about Andrew's current schedule and upcoming group sessions.
Andrew Shekleton, Head Coach
Social Tennis
Social tennis is one of the most popular ways to enjoy the club. These are informal, relaxed sessions where members and non-members come together to play, meet people, and enjoy the game in a pressure-free environment.
You'll be matched up with other players of a similar level, so you'll always get a good game regardless of your experience. It's a fantastic way to make new friends and become part of the club community.
Check the club calendar or our social media pages for upcoming social tennis dates and times.
Round Robin Tournaments
Our round robin tournaments run throughout the year and are open to players of all levels — from complete beginners to experienced club players. The format means everyone gets to play multiple matches against different opponents, making them a brilliant way to get competitive experience in a friendly setting.
Events are often themed — think Halloween round robins, Christmas socials, and summer evenings — so the atmosphere is always great fun. Players are grouped by ability so you're always competing at the right level.
Keep an eye on the Events section of this website for upcoming round robins and how to sign up.
Common Questions
Not for coaching sessions — rackets can be borrowed from Andrew. For social tennis and round robins, it's best to bring your own if you have one, but ask the club if you don't.
No — Andrew runs group lessons for beginners, junior programmes, and individual lessons for players looking to sharpen specific skills.
Keep an eye on the Events section of this website, or get in touch with the club directly for upcoming dates.
Ready to Get on Court?
Browse our membership options or get in touch with the club to find out more about coaching schedules and upcoming events.
Contact UsWhy Tennis?
Beyond the social side and the fun of it, tennis has some genuinely impressive health benefits. Research consistently shows it's one of the best sports you can pick up — and that's true at any age and any level.
Linked to a longer life
A large study of over 8,500 people published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that tennis players lived an average of 9.7 years longer than sedentary individuals — more than any other sport studied, including cycling, swimming, jogging, and football. Researchers believe the combination of physical activity and social interaction is key.
Easier on your joints than you might think
Many people assume racket sports are tough on the joints, but research tells a different story. The varied movement patterns in tennis — lateral steps, pivots, short sprints — help strengthen the muscles around the knees and hips over time. As a weight-bearing activity, tennis also promotes bone density, which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis as you age.
A natural form of interval training
The stop-start nature of tennis — bursts of effort followed by short recoveries — mirrors high-intensity interval training, which is widely regarded as one of the most effective forms of cardiovascular exercise. Regular play has been shown to improve heart rate, blood pressure, and overall aerobic fitness.
Good for the mind too
Tennis demands constant mental engagement — reading your opponent, selecting shots, adjusting tactics point by point. This combination of physical and cognitive activity has been linked to improved brain function and reduced stress and anxiety. The social element of club tennis adds to this, with research showing that team and social sports deliver even greater mental health benefits than solo exercise.
The Basics: Scoring, Serving & Court Lines
New to tennis? Here's a quick primer on how a game is scored, how serving works, and which lines count as "in" — so you're not lost on your first day at the club.
Scoring
- Points within a game are counted love (0), 15, 30, 40, then game — "love" simply means zero
- If the score reaches 40-40, it's called deuce — from there you need to win by two clear points to take the game
- Win a point at deuce and you have advantage; win the next point too and the game is yours, but lose it and you're back to deuce
- A set is won by the first player or pair to reach 6 games, provided they're ahead by at least 2 (e.g. 6-4); at 6-6 a tiebreak is usually played to decide the set
- Matches are typically played as the best of three sets — first to win two sets wins the match
Serving
- One player serves for an entire game, standing behind the baseline and serving diagonally into the opponent's service box
- Serves alternate sides after every point — starting from the right (the "deuce" court) when the score is even, and from the left (the "advantage" or "ad" court) when it's odd
- You get two attempts to land a legal serve; if both the first and second serve go out or into the net, it's a double fault and the point goes to your opponent
- Who serves next rotates after each game, and in doubles, partners take turns serving so each player serves every second game for their team
In or Out? Singles vs Doubles
- In singles, only the inner sidelines count — the tramlines (or "doubles alleys") running down each side are out of play
- In doubles, the full width of the court is used, including those side tramlines, giving both pairs more room to work with
- The baseline at the back of the court is the same for singles and doubles — anything landing beyond it is out
- The smaller boxes near the net are only used to judge where the serve must land — once the point is underway, shots can land anywhere within the full court in play (singles or doubles width) up to the baseline
What Our Members Say
Cecilia B.Both my child and I have had the pleasure of being coached by Andrew at Dundalk Tennis Club, and we've truly enjoyed the experience. As someone who had never played tennis before, I was a bit nervous at first, but Andrew was incredibly patient and explained everything clearly, which helped me build my confidence step by step. My child has also improved a lot under his guidance, not just in tennis skills but also in self-confidence. Andrew's coaching style is engaging, adaptable and supportive - perfect for players of all ages and levels. We feel very lucky to have such a professional and approachable coach.
Tania O.We joined Dundalk Tennis and Badminton Club after a fantastic summer camp in 2024, and it’s been a great experience ever since. My son now attends weekly training sessions with Andrew, which are not only fun and engaging but also focused on building strong foundational tennis skills. The coaching is excellent, and the environment is both welcoming and encouraging. Highly recommend for anyone looking to get their child into tennis!
Alan F.My son has been attending coaching at Dundalk Tennis Club for the past year, and also used the summer camp service, and the improvement in his confidence and skill level has been incredible. The coaches are friendly, patient, and really know how to make the sessions fun and engaging. It’s a fantastic environment for kids to learn and grow - both on and off the court. We feel lucky to have such a brilliant club in the community.