Tennis in Barcelona

About the Group

What is Keep Calm Tuesday Tennis?

A weekly tennis session organised through the Keep Calm community - a not-for-profit community for English speakers in Barcelona. We play every Tuesday evening, book courts via Playtomic, and keep things friendly, social, and inclusive.

Who is this for?

Everyone! The group has a mix of people returning to tennis after years away, padel players trying tennis, and those who've never played properly. You don't need to be good - just willing to give it a go.

What level is the group?

We use four levels - Beginner, Improver, Intermediate, and Advanced - and split courts by level when numbers allow. The group has grown significantly and now regularly fills 3-4 courts. On a typical evening you'll find:

• Beginner/Improver courts: getting back into tennis, short rallies, double faults, good banter
• Intermediate courts: consistent serve and groundstrokes, proper sets
• Advanced courts: ex-competitive or club-level players

The organiser assigns courts based on your stated level before the game.

See What level am I? below for full descriptions.

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The Weekly Session

When do you play?

Every Tuesday evening for 90 minutes at Barcelona Pro Tennis Academy (Up Cornellà).

Court time is sometime between 19:00 and 22:00 depending on availability. The exact slot is confirmed when the matchups are posted (the week of the session) - check the court post, not the sign-up form.

We meet at Plaça Espanya approximately 45 minutes before court time and travel to the venue together. It's a short train ride from there - a good chance to get to know people before you play.

How long is the session?

90 minutes is our standard. That's enough time for 2 sets of doubles. 60-minute sessions feel a bit short, especially when you've travelled to get there.

What format do you play?

Doubles (2v2) for the regular Tuesday session. It's more social, better value for money, and easier to accommodate different skill levels. Singles can be organised separately through the group if there's interest.

How much does it cost?

~€8-10 per person for 90 minutes at our main venue (Up Cornellà):

• Quick court: ~€7.80 per person
• Clay court: ~€10 per person

Cost is split equally between 4 players per court and paid through Playtomic.

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Joining a Session

How do I join the weekly session?

1. Watch for the sign-up form posted on Wednesday 18:00 - it covers the Tuesday two weeks away
2. Sign up at keepcalm.fit/tuesday-tennis and pick your level (Beginner / Improver / Intermediate / Advanced)
3. React to the post so we can see you're in (form sign-ups don't show as activity)
4. The form closes Monday 22:00; during the following week the organiser builds the courts by level
5. Court posts are shared in the group with you tagged the week of the session - accept your Playtomic invite and pay your share
6. Meet at Plaça Espanya ~45 minutes before court time
7. Show up on Tuesday!

Missed the form? Just post in the group saying you want to play and your level - the organiser will add you to the pool if there's space.

I just joined the group - how do I sign up for the next session?

If the form has already closed for that session, just post in the group saying you want to play and your level - the organiser will add you to the matchup list if space allows, or you'll catch the next form on Wednesday.

Can I join if I haven't played in years?

Absolutely. Most of the regular players are in exactly that position. Just be honest about your level so you get matched appropriately.

Can I bring a friend?

Yes! The more the merrier. If you want to bring someone, just mention it in the group and they can join your court. They'll need a Playtomic account to pay their share.

What level am I?

Pick the level that honestly describes where you are right now - not where you used to be or hope to be.

Beginner

• Never or barely played tennis
• Still learning how to rally, serve, and score
• Perfect for: starting from scratch, building confidence

Improver

• Played before but rusty, or just getting back into it after a long break
• Can get the ball over the net and hold a rally, but technique and consistency are works in progress
• Expect: short rallies, double faults, improving match by match
• This is where most of our regular Tuesday players currently sit

Intermediate

• Regular player with solid fundamentals
• Consistent serve and groundstrokes, good court awareness, understands tactics
• Can play competitive sets and hold their own in a doubles match

Advanced

• Competitive or ex-competitive player with strong technique
• High level of consistency, tactical play, and shot variety
• Has played at club or tournament level

Not sure? Default to Improver - it's easier to move up than to feel out of your depth in the wrong court.

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Booking & Playtomic

Do I need a Playtomic account?

Yes. Our primary venue (Up Cornellà) uses Playtomic for all bookings. It's free to create an account.

How to set up Playtomic:

1. Download the app: app.playtomic.com
2. Sign up with email or social media
3. Add your name and a profile photo (helps the booker identify you)

How does the booking work?

One person (the booker) books the court on Playtomic and shares the link in the WhatsApp group. Everyone else clicks the link and joins.

How to join a shared Playtomic court:

1. The booker posts a link like https://app.playtomic.io/t/XXXXX
2. Tap the link (or open it in the Playtomic app)
3. Join the match and pay your share

How to share a court if you're the booker:

1. Book the court on Playtomic
2. Tap the share icon (top right)
3. Tap "Share externally"
4. Post the link in the WhatsApp group and tag your 3 players

How does the weekly sign-up cycle work?

We use a Google Form, the same way Sunday Padel does, and run ~2 weeks ahead so courts can be secured in good time. The form opens Wednesday 18:00 for the Tuesday two weeks away and is pinned for ~4 days, with a reminder on Friday. It closes the following Monday 22:00 (a final call goes out that evening). During the next week the organiser builds the courts by level and posts the games, and bookers reserve on Playtomic. The session is played the following Tuesday. Evening slots are popular, so bookers grab their court as soon as the games go out. Places are first come, first served, capped at 48 players a week - if we hit the cap you'll go straight onto a waiting list and move up in order as spots open.

What is the cancellation policy?

At Up Cornellà: you can cancel for a €0.50 fee up until 10:00 on the day of the match. If you cancel after that window, you may still owe your share - see the group rules for details.

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Venues & Getting There

Where do you usually play?

Our main venue is Barcelona Pro Tennis Academy (Up Cornellà) in Cornellà de Llobregat. We book the clay courts (Tierra Batida) here when available.

We also use CN Montjuïc for sessions closer to the city centre - it's on Playtomic and has good evening availability.

Eurofitness Vall d'Hebron is occasionally used but tricky to organise for larger groups (60-minute slots only, 24-48h booking window).

See Venues for full details on all venues.

Is Cornellà far?

About 40 minutes from the city centre by public transport:

• L3 (green line) from Plaça Catalunya or Passeig de Gràcia → Espanya
• Then L8, S8, or R5 from Espanya → Cornellà-Riera station (right next to the club)

It's a comfortable seated train - much nicer than a standing metro through the city. Most players find it worth it for the reliable 7-day booking window and 90-minute courts.

Do I have to travel alone?

No! We meet as a group at Plaça Espanya approximately 45 minutes before the court booking. From there everyone travels to Up Cornellà together on the L8/S3. It's a great chance to meet people before you play.

What about Vall d'Hebron?

Much closer - L3 (green line) stops right nearby. But courts are 60 minutes only and the booking window is just 24-48 hours, so it's harder to organise in advance for a group. When numbers are good enough for 3 courts, it becomes impractical.

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Equipment

Do I need to bring a racket?

Bring your own if you have one. Rental rackets may be available at the venue but it's not guaranteed - always check in the group if you need to borrow one. Regular players sometimes have a spare.

What about tennis balls?

Important: do not use padel balls for tennis! They're a different size and weight - trust us, we learned this the hard way. Coordinate ball supply in the group chat before the session. One or two cans is enough for a 90-minute doubles game.

Do I need specific shoes?

Sports shoes are fine and no venue has been strict about this. Court shoes (tennis shoes) are better on clay to avoid slipping, but most players manage without them.

What should I wear?

Any comfortable sports clothes. Clay courts can leave orange dust on shoes and clothes - worth knowing before you turn up in white.

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Equipment Shopping

What racket should I buy as a beginner?

Start cheap and work up from there:

• Try rental first - a few sessions to make sure you enjoy it
• Decathlon: Good beginner rackets for €40-80. The lightweight options are good for starting out
• Second-hand: Decathlon (look for the second-hand section at L'Illa Diagonal) and local tennis shops sometimes have good used rackets
• Tennis Point (map) lets you borrow rackets to trial before buying - very useful

On racket weight:

• Beginners: 260-280g (unstrung) is a reasonable starting range
• Strings add ~17g on average
• A 280g unstrung racket becomes ~295-300g once strung
• Lighter = easier on arm and wrist; heavier = more power but tiring over long sessions
• You can always add weight to a racket later, but you can't make it lighter - buy at the lighter end and adjust

Old rackets with broken strings: Check in the group - members sometimes give away old frames. At Decathlon, restringing costs €10-15, so you can end up with a decent racket cheaply.

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Weather & Cancellations

What happens if it rains?

Indoor/covered courts are available at Up Cornellà (the quick courts are covered). Clay courts at Up are outdoor - if rain is expected, the booker may opt for the quick court instead.

Games are on unless officially cancelled by an organiser. Don't assume cancellation based on the weather forecast - wait for official word in the group.

What if I can't make it after voting?

Let the group know as early as possible - give at least 5 days notice if you can. You're part of a 4-person court, so your absence affects 3 other people. Try to find a replacement rather than just announcing you're out.

See Group Rules for the full cancellation policy.

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Other Sessions & Social Play

Can I organise a game at a different time or venue?

Yes! The Tuesday session is the official Keep Calm game, but you can post in the group anytime to find hitting partners, book a casual court at the weekend, or organise a session at a venue closer to your area. The group has members from across Barcelona with different availability - just put it out there.

Do you play on weekends?

Not as an organised group session, but members self-organise weekend games regularly - post in the group if you're looking for partners. CEM Olimpia (CET10 Olimpia) and CN Montjuïc are popular choices for informal weekend sessions.

Is there a beginners session?

Not a dedicated beginners session currently, but beginner-level courts run as part of the Tuesday session as the group has grown. If you're a beginner, just say so when you sign up - you'll be put in a court with players at a similar level.