The average point in tennis lasts less than 10 seconds, followed by 25-30 seconds of rest. It’s a game of stops and starts, but mostly stops. A match of 2 hours normally consists of around 30 mins of actual tennis and 90 mins of walking about, bouncing balls, and the occasional argument with the umpire.
There is however an antidote to all this time wasting. Played without pause, Dakete is more fun, less boring, great excercise, and, is likely to help you play better tennis! It was discovered by tennis coach David Kemp that the broken tempo of play too often limited a persons ability to play the game. He saw that thinking of the last point was a distraction from concentrating on the next point. Consequently in 1988, David created a quickfire tennis game he named Dakete. Wasting time was not allowed. Players had to move quicker than a walk.
The shear amount of rallies that could be had in just three minutes (the normal duration of a match) was phenomenal. Even the spectators said that Dakete was like watching the highlights on tv.
The game gets off to an energetic start with opposing players touching the net with rackets. On the call of “GO!” the players race to the opposite ends of the court to win the right to serve. The first ball to land anywhere in court is used to play out the first of many rallies.
Serving is the main difference of Dakete, as all services must be underarm deliveries below the height of the net. There are three service positions - firstly standing on the baseline, secondly standing on the service line, and thirdly standing close to the net. This is known as serving from the “back, middle and front” of the court. The aim of the game is to win as many “Daketes” (the equivalent of a game in tennis) as humanly possible in the allotted time. If you win a rally – you get to serve the next point. When you have served three times consecutively from the back, then the middle, and finally the front you have the chance to win a “Dakete”! If you are lucky enough to win the rally served from the third service position you have won a “Dakete” and to claim it the players must be bold and shout “DAKETE!!” This call of “Dakete” starts the whole process again with players racing for the right to serve.
Every year since 1994, a Dakete Championship is held at locations around England, UK. Players compete in doubles format in round robin draws. The Dakete Champions are honoured with the presentation of Trophies – a hand holding a tennis ball.
Dakete Champions
* 1994 Jonathon Kemp & Laura Taylor (Bruton)
* 1995 Andrew Kemp & Simon Toms (Glastonbury)
* 1996 Tim Brennan & Sara Williams (Norton Fitzwarren)
* 1997 Victor Mayhew & Mida Meyburg (Street)
* 1998 Jullian Thomas & Sally Thomas (Wells)
* 1999 Jane Johnson & Matthew Johnson (Marlow)
* 2000 Andrew Johnson & Matthew Johnson (Marlow)
* 2001 Jonathon Smith & James Kitchen (Clenchwarton)
* 2002 Christopher Davey & Peter Davey (Clenchwarton)
* 2003 Peter King & Carole Millet (Somerton)
* 2004 Jo Lous & Rob Palmer (Taunton)
* 2005 Tim Brennan & Sarah Augustin (Marlow)
Played in the singles format, Dakete provides an intensive cardiovascular workout. Players must move all over the court non-stop to stay in the game. This exercise has been carried out without breaks as a marathon lasting for up to 120 minutes with scores reaching 42 Daketes all. In some instances Dakete can be played as a three aside game.
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