Rackets

Rackets originated as a pastime for the inmates of two London debtors’ prisons in the 18th century. The game was rapidly taken up by the public schools and moved to Eton in the 19th century. The school now has two of the finest courts in the country which were built in 1902. Rackets is thought by many to be the fastest racket ball sport in the world. The game is played as either a singles or doubles match in an enclosed court. The players’ rackets are made of wood, and the ball is small and hard, allowing high speeds and considerable spin to be generated. A player can only score points while serving – 15 points being needed to win a game.

Rackets is played at Eton during the Michaelmas and Lent halves. The College employs a full-time rackets professional, Mr Peter Brake, who is responsible for coaching the game and arranging fixtures with other schools. The Eton rackets team comprises players from all age groups and fixtures are played in both the winter halves. Boys are also entered for the Public Schools Championships held twice a year at Queen’s Club in London. Overseas rackets tours are arranged every few years. In October 2004 a group of twelve boys enjoyed a trip to the clubs in Detroit, Montreal, New York and Tuxedo Park.

Our most recent trip was a combined rackets and real tennis weekend in October 2006 to the Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club, and in October 2008 a group of boys are returning to the United States to visit three more clubs. Eton has been successful at the Public Schools Championships many times in recent years. In 1996 four Etonian rackets players played each other in the semi-finals of the Foster Cup – the Public Schools Under-18 Singles Championship. Eton’s First Pair won the prestigious first pair doubles championship in April 2004. In the singles championship in December 2006 Will Hopton won the Foster Cup – Eton’s first win in this event since 1996.

The UK rackets website can be found at www.rackets.co.uk.

Click here for details of this half’s fixtures.