Heriot-Watt University Tennis Club

Tennis  

Introduction & Club History  

Heriot-Watt Tennis is the newest addition to the sports union after completing a very successful year in which we re-booted and found a healthy player base, competing in local events and participating in the yearly Varsity challenge, before breaking away from the recreational sports programme and gaining official club status.  

The club caters to all skill levels, ranging from experienced club players to people who are picking up their very first racket!   We run two skill-based classes twice a week. Beginners tennis which is taken by who two coaches simultaneously to ensure everyone has the best chance to learn, improve and have fun, then we also run a more competitive class for seasoned players.    

What does a typical session involve?  

Training Times

  • Wednesday - 1.30 until 5.30pm
  • Thursday - 5.15 - 7.15pm (Team Only)
  • Saturday - 12.15 until 4.15pm

These times are split depending on your current level. You should speak to the club coach regarding the session you should attend.

Beginners  

Fun warm up and general fitness to increase flexibility and improve on agility, balance, co-ordination and speed .

Groundies: A general introduction to the game and working on the basics of tennis and the foundation of shots and fun competition within the class  

Intermediates/Advanced  

Tennis-specific warm up to improve on ABC’s and prevent injury as well as improve stamina and fitness Development coaching on specific shots Game strategies Competition  

Private coaching  

Our head coach Panayotis Koulovasilopoulos is available for group & individual lessons. These should be booked directly through him.  

Competitions  

Ropey Ladder  

This is an ongoing ladder system which runs through the internet and within the club itself. Players are ranked in order of ability and can challenge players above them whenever they like. The ladder gives players the chance to see where they stand compared to other club members, recording vital statistics to gauge performance and improvements. The ladder is also used as part of selection process for competition and seeding.  

Club Championships  

The Heriot-Watt Tennis Club Championships is an individual competition open only to club members. The tournament is a knockout style and runs at the end of first and second semester. To give every member the chance of success there more than one event run. The number of events in the club championships is dependent on the size of the entry. Players are given a time period in which to organise & play their championship match. There may also be a doubles event depending on interest levels.  

Socials  

Our club has a thriving social side to it and we will be running several tennis social events around our club calendar so that people can make new friends and stay close with each other once we’re off the court!  

How do I join the club?  

Simply sign up for us at the Sports Centre Reception, it's £10 for Student Members or £25 for Non-Student Members. Fee includes club session coaching and equipment hire. You must sign up for a Gym membership to join any sports club at Heriot-Watt. Membership means courts can be booked for your own leisure outside of club hours. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us on Tennis@hw.ac.uk and we will respond to you very shortly.