Spec Tennis Takes Off at Indian River Colony Club in Viera

A new racquet sport is catching on inside the gates of Indian River Colony Club in Viera. Spec Tennis blends tennis and pickleball: it is played with a half-inflated tennis ball and an 18-inch perforated paddle, uses tennis strokes and strategy, and is served underhand on a compact court. It requires far less running than tennis or pickleball, and new players are often enjoying the game within 20 minutes.

Member volunteer Steve Cooley learned about the sport and started coordinating weekly matches for neighbors. Six months later, up to 50 residents were playing, and the response was strong enough that Spec Tennis is now one of the community's official amenities. The club now holds four weekly scheduled group events that almost always fill all three courts, with overflow crowds. Players range in age from their mid-50s through their 80s.

The most popular weekly event is Thursday afternoon's 'Whack and Snack,' where players bring beverages and snacks and linger long after the games end. Cooley credits the sport with creating new friendships that extend well beyond the courts, in a community of nearly 800 homes. The sport's quieter sound is another draw: Spec Tennis produces a sound much like traditional tennis, a neighbor-friendly alternative to pickleball's sharper profile.