Tennis vs Soft Tennis in Nepal: What's the Difference

You signed up for "tennis" at a club in Lalitpur and walked out confused — the balls were softer, the rackets were lighter, and nobody was hitting kick serves. You weren't in the wrong place. You were playing soft tennis.

Soft tennis is a real sport, popular across Asia, and quietly common in Nepal. Here's how it differs from regular tennis and which one fits your goals.

The 60-second answer

	Tennis	Soft tennis
Ball	Pressurized rubber, fuzzy felt	Soft rubber, hollow
Ball pressure	High, bounces hard	Low, bounces softer
Racket weight	280-330g	200-250g
String tension	45-65 lbs	25-35 lbs
Surface	Hard, clay, grass	Same courts often
Power	High	Lower, requires technique
Injury risk	Higher on shoulder/elbow	Lower
Cost of gear	Rs. 8,000-50,000+	Rs. 4,000-15,000
Common in Nepal	Yes, growing	Yes, in schools and clubs

If you want big serves and crushed forehands, you want tennis. If you want longer rallies, lower injury risk, and a faster learning curve, soft tennis is worth looking at.

Where each is played in Nepal

Tennis in Nepal has a longer history. Most established clubs in Kathmandu and Lalitpur run on hard courts, with a few clay courts at older institutions. Public-access tennis courts exist near Tundikhel, in Patan, and at Bhaisepati.

Soft tennis is more common at schools and community sports programs. It came to Nepal through East Asian sports federations, and it's the format some Nepali junior players first learn before moving to regulation tennis. Several Lalitpur academies teach both, sometimes on the same court at different hours.

A soft tennis ball won't damage a hard court. A regulation tennis ball will eat a soft tennis racket if you hit it hard. Don't mix gear.

The technical differences that actually matter

Ball behavior

A pressurized tennis ball at sea level bounces around 135-145 cm when dropped from 2.5m. In Kathmandu's altitude (1,400m), it bounces higher and travels faster — a real factor if you've only played at lower elevations.

A soft tennis ball is hollow with no internal pressure. It deforms on contact. The same drop test bounces around 70-80 cm. That changes everything about how you set up shots — there's less help from the ball, more from your swing.

Racket weight and string tension

Tennis rackets sit between 280-330g unstrung. Strings tensioned 45-65 lbs. The racket gives you power; the strings give you control.

Soft tennis rackets are 200-250g. Strings 25-35 lbs. The racket is faster through the air, but you generate all the power yourself.

If you have a history of shoulder or elbow pain, soft tennis is gentler. The lower string tension and softer ball reduce shock through the arm.

Scoring

Both use 4-point games (15, 30, 40, game) but soft tennis often uses 0-1-2-3-4 in modern formats and games to 7 in tournament play. Less to memorize.

Cost in Kathmandu and Lalitpur (as of 2026)

Tennis:

• Court rental: Rs. 800-2,500/hr depending on club and time. Members-only courts are cheaper if you can join.
• Lessons: Rs. 800-2,000/hr with a private coach. Group lessons Rs. 400-800/hr.
• Racket (beginner): Rs. 4,000-8,000 for a basic Wilson, Head, or Babolat.
• Strings: Rs. 800-1,500 per restring, 3-4 times a year for regular players.
• Tube of 3 balls: Rs. 600-1,000.

Soft tennis:

• Court rental: same courts, similar rates, often discounted off-peak.
• Lessons: Rs. 500-1,500/hr. Coaches are rarer; ask academies in Lalitpur and Bhaisepati.
• Racket: Rs. 2,500-7,000. Lighter, simpler construction.
• Strings: Rs. 400-800 per restring.
• Ball pack (3-12 balls): Rs. 800-1,500. Lasts longer than tennis balls because there's nothing to depressurize.

Across a year of weekly play, soft tennis runs roughly 30-40% cheaper.

Who should pick which

Pick regulation tennis if:

• You watched Grand Slams growing up and want to play that.
• You're under 40 with no joint issues and want big serves.
• You want a sport with depth — tactics, spins, transitions — that takes 5+ years to plateau.
• You can commit to 2 sessions a week minimum. Tennis rewards consistency hard.

Pick soft tennis if:

• You're returning to sport after years off.
• You have shoulder, elbow, or wrist issues.
• You want longer rallies and less running per point.
• You play with kids or older relatives and want a shared format.
• You're on a tighter budget.

Pick both if:

• You're already enrolled at a club that offers either.
• You want a warm-up sport (soft tennis) and a competitive sport (tennis) in the same week.
• You coach kids and want the full progression.

Where to learn each in Kathmandu and Lalitpur

For tennis lessons: clubs in Lalitpur, Patan, and around Tundikhel run beginner programs starting at Rs. 500-1,000/hr in group format. Our beginner tennis lessons guide for Kathmandu walks through what a first month looks like.

For soft tennis: academies in Bhaisepati, Lalitpur, and some schools run weekend sessions. Coaches are fewer, so book early in the season.

To browse courts that support both: see tennis courts in Kathmandu and tennis courts in Lalitpur.

What to expect at your first session

For either sport:

• Wear non-marking court shoes. Running shoes ruin court surfaces.
• Bring a towel, a 1-liter bottle of water, and a wristband.
• Expect the first 20 minutes to be footwork drills, not hitting. That's normal.
• Don't buy a racket on day one. Use a club racket for two sessions, then decide.

For tennis specifically: expect your arm to be sore for two days after the first session. That's normal. Ice and rest fix it.

For soft tennis: expect to be surprised by how fast the ball comes back. Lower bounce + lighter racket = quicker rallies.

Common mistakes when switching between the two

• Using tennis grip on a soft tennis racket — the handles are different shapes; you'll lose feel.
• Hitting soft tennis balls with tennis-level power — you'll send them into the next court for an hour before you adjust.
• Bringing tennis balls to a soft tennis session — the coach will look at you like you brought a cricket bat to football.
• Expecting the same fitness load — tennis is more sprint-and-stop; soft tennis is steadier movement.

How Maidaan helps

Maidaan lists tennis venues across Kathmandu and Lalitpur — hard court, clay, indoor, outdoor — with hourly rates and instant booking. Filter by your neighborhood and book a 6am slot before work or a Saturday morning slot for lessons. Browse tennis courts on Maidaan.

Book your first court

Test both formats yourself. Browse Maidaan's tennis venues and book a 90-minute slot — bring a friend, try soft tennis the first 45 minutes and tennis the second 45. By the end, you'll know which one is yours.