As Singaporeans look for more activities to participate in due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, tennis has been garnering attention as a new sport to learn. This year’s Singapore Tennis 2021 Open tickets sold out 500 tickets within a day. Like most racket sports, the game can be played between 2 or 4 people which makes it an ideal small group activity with friends for a healthy and fun time.
Invented in France during the 11th century, the sport was named tennis because players who were about to serve used to shout the French word “Tenez!” (which means “Here it comes!”). As one of the 35 Olympic sport, tennis is a popular game enjoyed by millions globally.
While popular, the learning curve for tennis can be steep for most without proper guidance. Here is a price guide, inclusive of equipment, lessons, and court rentals, to kickstart our tennis journey
Cost of Tennis Equipment
As an equipment-based sport, getting a racket is essential for us to continue playing or practicing the sport independently. The equipment to invest in would depend on the level of interest that we would have. For those of us who are just trying out and are unsure about the longevity of our hobby, Decathlon could be a place to source a bargain on tennis equipment (or any sports for the matter). Listed below are some of the essential items we would need to play tennis.
| Items | Price Range | |
| Junior | Adult | |
| Tennis Balls | $6 ~ $9 for 4 balls | |
| Racket | $19 ~ $59 | $15 ~ $110 |
| Shoes | $15 ~ $50 | $25 ~ $60 |
| Total | $40 ~ $118 | $46 ~ $179 |
Listed above are the basic equipment required to participate in a class or play a game with friends. The gear for children can cost from $40 to a reasonable $118 and adult equipment can range between $46 to $179.
Other than going to Decathlon, dedicated tennis beginners can invest in the competition-level equipment from brands such as Wilson, HEAD, Prince, and Dunlop. Rackets from these brands usually start from $100 and go up to $300 and onwards.
Where To Go for Lessons And How Much Does It Cost?
After getting the necessary equipment, it is time to hit the court and practice the game. As a game beloved by many for its technicalities and techniques, it is not an easy game to pick up. Most beginners might find themselves using the wrong techniques (such as using the same hold for badminton) which could result in injuries. For any sport, it would be good to start off with a solid foundation in skills and techniques.
In Singapore, there are 3 different types of coaching sessions one can find on the market – tennis academies, private groups, and private one-to-one. Usually, children tend to start off with an academy that provides them structured lessons as well as a good social interaction platform. On the other hand, adults with less flexible schedules might prefer to use the private coaches to accommodate their timing and pay a higher price for convenience. Depending on the level of commitment to learning, it would take about 6 to 8 months to progress past the beginner phase.
The table below shows the expected price points these lessons could start from.
| Types of Lessons | Junior Hourly Rate | Adult Hourly Rate | Free Court |
| Academy | ~$11 | ~$20 | Yes |
| Private Group | ~$20 | ~$40 | Depends |
| Private One-to-one | ~$40 | ~$50 | Depends |
Tennis Academies – Singapore Tennis Association (STA)
Currently, in Singapore, there are many tennis academies (schools), including international academies, that provide tennis coaching sessions. For this article, we would be focusing on the major local tennis institution – Singapore Tennis Association (STA), that have lessons on a regular basis.
As with most sports in Singapore, there is an official association to support the standard and growth of the sport. STA provides lessons for almost all ages (above 4-years old). The rates are accurate as of this time of the article.
| Junior | Total Fees per Quarter (3 months) |
Hourly Rate | Deposit |
| Once a week | $285.00 | $11.88 | $89.00 |
| Twice a week | $570.00 | $11.88 | $178.00 |
| Thrice a week | $768.00 | $10.67 | $239.00 |
Junior classes are hosted regularly with lessons located over 9 different locations. Normally, lessons are held on weekday evenings or weekend mornings and evenings. Currently, there are COVID-19 safe-distancing measures in place to limit the number of students in each session. Parents are recommended to check with STA and their schedule before signing up.
| Adults | Total Fees per Module (2 months) |
Hourly Rate | Deposit |
| 8 Lessons (5/6pax) |
$308.20 | $19.26 | Full amount payable within 2 weeks |
| 6 Lessons (4pax) |
$25.68 |
Adult classes are not as regular as junior classes due to lower demand. Held at either Kallang during weekday evenings or St Wilfred during weekend evenings, classes need to meet a minimum number of students sign-up for the course to commence. Each beginner module lasts for about 2 months, and in total there are 3 beginner modules to complete before progressing to intermediate modules. Do check the schedule and the STA website before signing up.
Private Group Lessons
If the academies’ timings and locations are not favourable, it would also be possible to engage private coaches to organise group sessions with friends and family. Another advantage for private groups is that the minimum number of people to start a group just needs to be more than one. Finding a private coach is much easier these days through online portals, such as Carousell or Instagram.
Often, we can get a better per pax rate if there are more students. For example, if there are only 2 students, per pax hourly rate will be $70 but if there are 4 students, per pax hourly rate can drop to $40. Below is the average range private coaches will charge depending on their experience and credentials.
| Type | Hourly Rate (Per pax) | Pax |
| Junior | $20 ~ $40 | 2 ~ 4pax |
| Adults | $40 ~ $70 |
Unlike academies, most private coaches do not provide free tennis courts for lessons. Students are advised to book their own courts or request for a venue from the coach which will be charged separately. Check-in with your private coaches for the court booking arrangements.
Private One-On-One Lessons
Lastly, if you would prefer to engage a tennis coach for a one-on-one session for maximum guidance, the price would be considerably higher in comparison to academies and group sessions. However, this arrangement would ensure that the lessons and learning pace are tailored to you for an optimal learning experience.
Below is the price range we would expect coaches to charge per hour. Once again, the rates are dependent on the coaches’ experience and credentials. For the court booking charges, do check in with your coach for the arrangement and cost.
| Type | Hourly Rate |
| Junior | $40 ~ $60 |
| Adults | $50 ~ $90 |
Court Booking Fee
Unless you are living in a condominium or are a member of clubs that include tennis facilities, most tennis courts are chargeable and are not free to public.
Luckily in Singapore, there is ActiveSG which provides a wide range of sports facilities for rent. In total, there are 10 locations with tennis courts and among those, 2 locations – kallang and farrer park have tennis walls too.
The prices are listed below and these locations can also be booked using ActiveSG credits. Do note that these bookings are non-refundable and you are recommended to book at least 1 week in advance to avoid disappointment.
Source: ActiveSG
Other than using ActiveSG, there are other locations that provides tennis court bookings but they come with a higher price tag. These locations are OnePeopleAssocaition (OnePA) Tampines Hub CC, hotels, and clubs.
Read Also: ActiveSG Membership: What Is It And What Can You Use It For?
Tennis is a fun sport to pick up and it comes at a relatively affordable entry cost. If we choose to pick up tennis by completing the beginner modules with STA, inclusive of equipment, the cost of entry for a beginner is about $970 over the course of 6 months. Afterward, we would be ready to join our friends for a game and have an extra choice of activities to do while hanging out in the future.
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