tennis basics
Tennis is a terrific and enjoyable sport to learn to play, but it can be challenging or intimidating because of the sport's seemingly complex rules. Today, we will dive into the details of the sport including rules, scoring and other basics.
Most people learn how to play tennis mechanically first - in other words, how to hold a racquet, how to swing a racquet and how to hit the ball - without knowing things like the format of play, what the lines on the court mean, how to keep score and more. Here we will answer some of the questions that beginner players have:
What Equipment Do I Need?
A tennis racquet (with strings) - various brands and sizes of racquets are available depending on your age, level and physical size.
Tennis sneakers - footwear that is designed specifically for tennis is recommended in order to prevent injuries. Flat-soled sneakers are also sometimes required in order to protect the court surface.
Tennis balls - for adults, yellow tennis balls that come in cans of 3 are widely available. For juniors, transition tennis balls like red, orange and green balls may be used depending on age and level.
A tennis court - note that this isn't a requirement! Often, one can "play" tennis against a backboard or wall, or even on a makeshift court like a driveway.
How Many Players Do I Need?
1, 2 or 4. You can easily practice tennis by yourself with the help of a backboard, wall or other training aids. To play against someone, you just need one other person positioned on the opposite side of the net. This is called singles. Get 3 other people, and you have yourself a doubles game with two players on each side of the net.
What Are the Types of Court Surfaces?
The most well-known court surfaces to play on are grass, clay and hard surfaces. Within these broad categories, there are several types of surfaces. On grass, there are natural grass and artificial grass surfaces. On clay, there are red clay and green clay, or Har-tru, surfaces. On hard, there are cement surfaces, surfaces like decoturf which appear to be cement-like but have a cushion to them, and other harder surfaces (including a firm carpet surface!).
What do the lines and boxes on the court mean?
The tennis court is rectangular-shaped with two sides separated by the net. Players face the net during play. On each side, there is a baseline (the line parallel to the net and furthest away from it). The line parallel to the net between the net and the baseline is the service line. The center line, perpendicular to the net dividing the middle/front portion of the court, creates the two service boxes (where a successful serve must land).
You'll note that there are four lines perpendicular to the net that run the length of the court. These lines create the narrow "doubles alley" with the two inside lines outlining the singles court (the playable area during a singles match) and the two outside lines outlining the doubles court (the playable area during a doubles match).
How do you keep score?
It's possible that the scoring system of our beloved sport is unnecessarily complicated since it isn't numerical in the standard 1, 2, 3, 4 kind of way. Instead, the word "Love" means zero points. So at the very start of a service game, the score is essentially "Love-Love". When a player wins one point, they have "15". Two points is "30". Three points is "40". The fourth point won is "Game".
The exception to this is when each player wins three points in a game - instead of calling it "40-40", it is known as "Deuce". From that time on, a player must win two consecutive points to win "Game". After each Deuce point is won, the score is announced "Ad In" (the server has the advantage) or "Ad Out" (the returner has the advantage). After every "Ad" point, the score will either return to Deuce or go to Game.
When keeping score, it is the server's responsibility to announce the score prior to each point being played. The server's score is always announced first, and then the returner's.
For example, I am serving and have won 2 points. My opponent, the returner, has won 1. Prior to me serving the 4th point of the game, I would call out "30-15".
The standard tennis set is the first to win 6 games. The exception to this is when both players win 5 games each. Then, each player has a chance to win two consecutive games to close out the set 7-5. If the score is tied at 6 games each, then the set is usually (not always) decided by a "tiebreaker".
The tiebreaker usually (not always) is played with the first player to win 7 points as the winner of the tiebreaker, and therefore the set. For more information about the various tiebreaker formats, click here.
Usually (not always), a match is determined by the winner of two out of three sets. There are exceptions to this format, like Grand Slam professional tournaments where the men play the best three out of five sets.
What else about the format of play is important to know?
It is customary to spin a racquet or flip a coin to determine who serves first. The person winning the coin toss or racquet flip has the choice to serve first or receive serve. The person losing the coin toss can choose which side they would like to begin play on.
The person who serves first begins the game. Once the first game is won by the server or returner, the players switch sides of the court. The players continue switching sides every two games until the set is over.
The ball has to land within the boundaries of the court in order for the point to continue.
Note: if a ball lands ON a boundary (line), it is still considered "good" and in play. In fact, if any portion of the ball touches the line, it is considered good.
Players are not allowed to touch the net or net posts, or cross over to an opponents side of the court.
No hitting the ball twice in a row.
If the ball hits or touches a player, that player loses the point.
The ball is not allowed to bounce twice. If a ball bounces twice on your side of the court, you lose the point.
There are a host of other rules, and we'd recommend serious tennis players familiarize themselves with all the intricacies of the game. Click here to see the official "Friend at Court" (the rules and regulations of tennis). When the rules are followed, and good sportsmanship is observed, tennis is a joy to play! We hope this helps you get the start you need in the sport.