Tennis-Rules and Terms

Tennis
Rules &
Terms
Court Area
SINGLES
Match is
played
between 2
players
DOUBLES
Match is
played
between 4
players
Serving
Decided by toss coin or spinning the racket
Winner can decide to serve, receive, or pick a
side of the court
Server starts game serving from the right side of
the court
Reciever starts from the right side of the court
Both will now alternate from the right to left until
the game is completed
Receiver is always diagonal from server
Server score is always said first
Doubles Serving
Team A decides to serve
 A1 serves entire game
After switching sides, B1 serves
A2 serves, switch sides and B2 serves
Now back to A1
Establish which side of court
(right or left) to receive serves
Maintain this relationship the entire SET
Can switch after each set
SERVING
Change sides of the
court when the total
game adds to an ODD
number
( 1, 3, 5, … )
Remember, you do not

have to hit a bad toss on
a serve
 A served ball strikes the
top of the net and falls
INTO the proper service
area – result = re-do the
service attempt
 Court hinder LET
A served ball
lands outside of
the service zone
2 faults per FAULT
service point
SCORING
Score
Won when the
opponent hits into the
net, outside boundary
lines, or does not hit
ball before bouncing
twice
POINT
ACE
A ball that is served so
well the opponent cannot
touch it with their racquet.
AD
Short for Advantage. It is the point
scored after Deuce. If the serving
side scores, it is Ad-in. If the
receiving side scores, it is Ad-out.
ALL
An even score. 30-30 is,
for example, 30-all. 3-3
would be 3-all.
ALLEY
The area between the singles
and doubles sideline on each
side of the court. (The singles
court is made wider for
doubles play by the addition of
the alley.)
APPROACH
The shot hit by a
player just before
coming to the net.
BACKCOURT
the area around the
baseline.
BACKHAND
the stroke used to return
balls hit to the left side of
a right-handed player (or
to the right side of a left-
handed player).
BASELINE
the court’s back line
that runs parallel to the
net and perpendicular
to the sidelines.
DEUCE
A score of 40-all, or 40-40.
(This means the score is tied
and each side has won at least
three points.)
DOUBLE FAULT
the failure of both service
attempts. On a double fault,
the server loses the point.
DROP SHOT
A softly hit ball with lots
of backspin that lands near
the net after crossing it.
FAULT
A served ball that does
not land in the proper
service box.
FOOT FAULT
A fault called against the
server for stepping on or over
the baseline with either foot
during delivery of the serve.
FOREHAND
the stroke used to return balls hit
to the right side of a right-handed
player (or to the left side of a
left-handed player). Forehands
are commonly hit one-handed.
GAME
The part of a set that is completed
when one player or side either wins
four points and is at least two points
ahead of his or her opponent, or who
wins two points in a row after deuce.
FOREHAND
FOREHAND
FOREHAND
FOREHAND
GROUND STROKE
A stroke made after the
ball has bounced; either
a forehand or backhand.
MATCH
The overall contest,
usually decided by the
best two-out-of-three
sets.
NO-AD
A system of scoring a game in
which the first player to win
four points wins the game. If the
score reaches 3-all, the next
point decides the game.
NO MAN’S LAND
A slang term for the area
between the service line
and the baseline.
OUT
A ball landing
outside the boundary
lines of the court.
OVERHEAD
During play, a stroke made
with the racquet above the
head in a motion similar to
that of an overhand serve.
POINT
The smallest unit
of scoring.
RALLY
A series of good hits made
successfully by players. Also, the
practice procedure in which
players hit the ball back and forth
to each other.
RECIEVER
The player who receives
the serve. Also known
as the Returner.
SERVE
Short for Service. It is
the act of putting the ball
into play for each point.
SERVER
The player who
serves.
SERVICE BREAK
A game won by the
player/team
receiving serve.
SET
A scoring unit awarded to a player
who or team that has won: (a) 6 or
more games and has a two-game
lead; or (b) 6 games and the
tiebreak game when played at 6-all.
SLICE
A shot that imparts
backspin on the ball by
hitting the ball with a
high-to-low motion.
SMASH
A hard overhead
shot.
SPIN
The rotation of the
ball. (i.e., “topsin”
or “backspin”)
STROKE
The act of striking
the ball with the
racquet.
TIEBREAK
A system in traditional
tennis used to decide a set
when the score is tied, 6-
all.
VOLLEY
During play, a stroke
made by hitting the ball
before it has touched the
ground.
ASSESSMENT
Identification:
1. A ball that is served so well that’s why the opponent cannot touch it with their
racquet.
2. The area between the singles and doubles side line on each side of the court.
3. The shot hit by a player just before coming to the net.
4. The area around the baseline.
5. The court’s back line that runs parallel to the net and perpendicular to the side
lines.
6. A score of 40-all, or 40-40. (This means the score is tied and each side has won
at least three points.)
7. A match with 4 players, 2 players each team.
8. A served ball that does not land in the proper service box.
9. A fault called against the server for stepping on or over the baseline with either
foot during delivery of the serve.
ANSWER KEY
1. ACE
2. ALLEY
3. APPROACH
4. BACKCOURT
5. BASELINE
6. DEUCE
7. DOUBLES
8. FAULT
9. FOOT FAULT
10.OUT
THANK YOU.

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