An Invitation to Trial Thirty30 Tennis
Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Tennis is going through a period of change, with various new faster formats being tried and tested as an alternative to the use of the traditional scoring method.
We are looking for tennis players, coaches, parents, etc. to help with trialing Thirty30 tennis.
Thirty30 tennis is the innovative alternative shortened scoring method to FAST4 (sets to 4 games, no ads, etc.) and TB10s (Match Tie Break (10 points)) and is used to create shorter more dynamic and exciting matches to help encourage youngsters into tennis and to encourage more competition.
Thirty30 (T30) tennis can be described as the younger sibling of cricket's Twenty20 (T20).
Rules of Thirty30 Tennis
Everything is identical to traditional scoring except:
(1) EVERY game played starts at "30-30" and the score of "Thirty-Thirty" is called out at the start of every game.
(2) If a set reaches 6 games all, a '9 point tie-break' (i.e. first to 5 points, sudden-death at 4-all) is played to decide the winner of the set by 7-6.
The tie-break order of serve is:
A B B A / change of ends / A B B A A ; i.e. a maximum of 9 points.
(3) During a set, players serve alternative games and change ends initially after 2 games, then after every 4 games and at the end of each set.
i.e. during a set, change ends after 2, 6 & 10 games have been played.
Order of serve is: A B / change ends / A B A B / change ends / A B A B / change ends / A B + 9-point tie-break.
(4) For a 1 set match, a '9 point tie-break' is played at 6 games all.
(5) For a best-of-3 sets match, Player A serves first in set 1, Player B serves first in set 2 and Player A serves first in set 3, i.e. A B A.
For a best-of-5 sets match, the order is: A B A B A.
There is no 'tie-break' played at 6 games all in the final set; the final set is won by leading by 2 clear games.
The "No Ad" rule IS NOT USED, i.e. 'normal deuce' is played as per traditional tennis.
The "No Let" rule IS NOT USED, i.e. as per traditional tennis.
We have estimated that one set takes no longer than a 'bite-size' 20 minutes; a best-of-3 sets match can be completed in 40-60 minutes; a best-of-5 sets match in 60-90 minutes.
Options - Trialing Thirty30 Tennis
Thirty30 can be trialed by playing either singles or doubles.
(1) Play a 1-set match (to 7-6) - singles or doubles. This can be completed in 20 minutes.
(2) Play a best-of-3 sets match - singles or doubles. This can be completed in 40-60 minutes.
(3) Play a best-of-5 sets match - singles or doubles. This can be completed in 60-90 minutes.
(4) Play a round-robin group of 4 or 5 or 6 players each playing 1 set (to 7-6) against each other.
(5) Play a 4-player knock out tournament playing best of 3 sets matches. 2 x semi-finals, a 3rd/4th play-off and final. This can be completed in 2 hours using two courts. (i.e. 4 matches of 60 minutes).
(6) Play a 6 players doubles (or 3 players singles) team match with 3 rounds of 2 sets (or 3 sets). This can be completed using three courts in 2 hours (or 3 hours). (i.e. 9 matches of 40 minutes or 9 matches of 60 minutes).
Please feel free to choose which option is most suitable for you, even organise a "Grand Slam" Thirty30 Event where you play best-of-5 set matches (60-90 minutes) or try something different.
Feedback
We will be looking for short feedback - no more than a few sentences - on how the trial has gone, good or bad.
The feedback may include the venue, date, surface, players’ names & ages, photos, the score, the rough time taken to complete each set and any general comments on the format,
e.g. how well did it work, was it fun, improvements, time taken per set, did the best player win, was it fair, comparisons with traditional, FAST4 and Match Tie-Break (10 points) formats, players, coaches & parents views on it, etc.
We will use the feedback to learn more about the Thirty30 scoring format.
We may use some of the feedback received on the website but we will check before posting anything that this is acceptable with you.
For now, we would like as many Thirty30 sets of tennis being played by as many players as possible.
We are great believers that playing as many sets of tennis as possible is essential to the learning, development and enjoyment of tennis and by playing more sets in a shorter time frame, this can only help.
The more often that you try the Thirty30 format, the more familiar you will become with it and you will get accustomed to the games ticking over more quickly.
Have Fun!
Also, we stress that this is for "fun" and can be used as part of the learning process - winning & losing is not critical here - having fun is very important in the development of the player & person.
Remember, there are no ranking points on offer, no pressure, etc. with this, just "having fun" !
Ambition
The ultimate ambition for the new format is to apply to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to get Thirty30 accepted for trialing purposes in a few tournaments in the future.
If there are any questions please let us know.
Also, please spread the word - if there is anyone else you think that might be interested in conducting trials for us or just using it, please let them know or pass on our details to them.
Thirty30 tennis is suitable for all ages (juniors, adults, seniors, ...) and all abilities of player.
Thirty30 tennis is very simple, and the transition from playing traditional tennis to Thirty30 tennis and back again is seamless.
Everything about Thirty30 tennis FEELS, LOOKS and SOUNDS like traditional tennis.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards and thanks,
Mark J Milne, Arbroath, Scotland
Creator of Thirty30 Tennis
Thirty30 tennis - Where EVERY Point REALLY Counts!
Download the following (pdf files) here:
https://www.thirty30tennis.com/scoresheet
https://www.thirty30tennis.com/information-sheet
https://www.thirty30tennis.com/rules
Thirty30 Tennis - The Rules
Thirty30 Tennis - Additional Optional Rules (Thirty30+)
Thirty30 Tennis - Knock Out - 2 to 8 players
Thirty30 Tennis - Compass Draw Knock Out Format
Thirty30 Tennis - Round Robin - 4 players
Thirty30 Tennis - Round Robin - 5 players
Thirty30 Tennis - Round Robin - 6 players
Thirty30 Tennis - Information Sheet (white background)
Thirty30 Tennis - Information Sheet (green background)
Thirty30 Tennis - Have You Tried It Yet?
Thirty30 Tennis - Team Match Score Sheet
Thirty30 Tennis - 5 Player - 2 Courts - Round Robin - 2 Hour Event
Thirty30 Tennis - 6 Player - 3 Courts - Round Robin - 2 Hour Event
Thirty30 Tennis - Fun Tournament
Thirty30 Team Tennis - Mixed Fun Match
