The ANZ Tennis Hot Shots (ANZTHS) is Tennis Australia’s official development program designed especially for children. This program is based on a learning-through-play philosophy, and playing the game of tennis is the central feature of each session. Smaller courts, lighter racquets and low compression balls that don’t bounce too high make learning tennis fun and easy for primary school-aged children. The ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Program is divided into 4 stages of development:
Launch Pad Stage (ages 3–5)
- Court size: variable
- Tennis ball: red ball (25% compression)
- Recommended racquet size: 19–23 inches
The Launch Pad Stage introduces children to tennis through games and fun activities. Children learn the basics of tennis, including how to serve and rally, and the lower compression red ball is larger than the standard yellow with a limited bounce.
Red Stage (ages 5–8)
- Court size: 3 m × 8.23 or 6 m × 10.97 m
- Tennis ball: red ball (25% compression)
- Recommended racquet size: 21–23 inches
The Red Stage is for beginning players. The red ball is larger than a standard yellow ball and doesn’t bounce as high, making it a breeze for even the youngest players to hit comfortably. The courts and nets used in the Red Stage are also much smaller than standard courts, so it is easier for the players to cover the court.
Orange Stage (ages 8–10)
- Court size: 6.4 m × 18.29 m
- Tennis ball: orange ball (50% compression)
- Recommended racquet size: 23–25 inches
After mastering the Red Stage, children move on to the Orange Stage, where the ball bounces a little higher and the court is a bit bigger.
Green stage (ages 9+)
- Court size: 10.97 m × 23.78 m (full court)
- Tennis ball: green ball (75% compression)
- Recommended racquet size: 25–27 inches
The ball used in the Green Stage has a greater bounce than the earlier stage balls and children play on a full-size court.