Soft Tennis
East Asian tennis variant using a soft rubber ball and a lighter racket — huge in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
👥1 per team🌤outdoor
What is Soft Tennis?
Soft tennis was invented in 1880s Japan as an affordable alternative to lawn tennis, using a soft hollow rubber ball. Played on a standard tennis-size court with lighter, more flexible rackets, it is a school and university mainstay in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The World Soft Tennis Championships are held every two years.
Quick facts
Category
Racket & Paddle Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1 per team
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Estimated origin
1880s Japan (as "nan-shiki" tennis, using rubber balls)
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-24.verified