Tennis Was Originally Played with Bare Hands

The sport we know as tennis has a surprisingly tactile origin, beginning in 12th-century French monasteries not with pristine racquets, but with the simple use of hands. This early version was called "jeu de paume," which translates to "game of the palm." Monks, as an athletic diversion, would strike a ball with their bare hands over a rope strung across a courtyard. This primitive form of the game spread in popularity throughout Europe, eventually being taken up by the nobility and royalty.

The transition away from bare-handed play was a practical one, driven by the discomfort and injuries sustained from hitting early versions of tennis balls, which could be made of materials like wood or leather stuffed with hair. Players began wearing leather gloves for protection, which later evolved into a desire for more effective ways to strike the ball. This led to the introduction of small, solid wooden paddles, or "battoirs." It wasn't until the 16th century that the first strung racquets made their appearance, forever changing the nature of the game and setting it on the path to the modern sport of tennis.