TENNIS
Study Guide
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aa = Doubles side lines
bb= Singles side lines
cc= Service lines
dd= Base lines
ee= Center Service Line
ff= Service courts
hh= Net
The Court and Rules of the game:
The area in which tennis is played is called a COURT. Across the middle of the court stretched between
two points is a NET. When two people play what is know as “THE SINGLES GAME” the playing area is
bounded on the sides by the “SIDE LINE” and on the ends by the “BASE LINES”. The line down the
center of the court is called the “CENTER SERVICE LINE”. On each side of the net, parallel to it and 21
feet from it are lines called “SERVICE LINES”. The area thus enclosed is called the “SERVICE
COURT”. When four people are play what is know as the “DOUBLES GAME” (two players on each
team) the playing area is widened by the addition of stripes down each side. These stripes are called
“ALLEYS”, and enlarge the playing area but do not affect the service courts. Play in tennis consists of one
player putting the ball in play with what is called the “SERVICE”. Play continues with the ball being hit
back and forth across the net until on player fails to return it into the playing area. A player is allowed two
serves or two tries to hit the ball into the opponents right service court to begin a game. After each point,
service is made into the opposite service court. The serve must be allowed to bounce but after the serve has
been returned the ball can be struck on the fly or after the first bounce. If a player strikes a ball after the
second bounce he loses the point. Any ball landing on the line is GOOD.
Choice of Serve and Side:
The player winning the toss may choose or request his opponent to choose:
A. the right to be server or receiver, in which case the other player shall choose side
B. the side, in which case the other player shall choose the right to be server or receiver
Serving:
The server CANNOT:
A. walk or run in the act of serving
B. step on or across the line until the ball is hit
C. swing his feet over the baseline until the ball is hit
Violations of the above are FOOT FAULTS
Faults:
A serve that hits the net posts and goes into the proper court is a fault. It is a fault if the server swings at
the ball and misses it. It is not a fault if the server tosses a ball, changes his mind, and catches it. A that
fails to land in the proper service court is a fault. The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready. If
the receiver is not ready, he must not attempt to play the ball. If, as the ball is hit, the receiver claims not
ready, it is a let, whether the ball was in or not.
In doubles the server may stand anywhere between the center mark and the doubles sidelines. At the start
of a new set, a pair may chance the order of service from that followed in the proceeding set.
Scoring:
First score point won by a player is called 15, the second point won is called 30, the third is called 40, and
the next point is game. When the score is tied at “40 all” it is called Deuce. A player then must win two
points in succession in order to win the game. The first point won after the deuce is called “advantage”. If
your opponent (the receiver) wins this point it is called “advantage out”. If the player who has the
advantage wins the next point he also wins the game. If the server wins the point after deuce, the point is
called “advantage in”. If the player who has the advantage loses the next point, however the score reverts
to deuce, and once more a player must win two consecutive points to win the game. A “set” in tennis
consists of at least six games. A player who has first won six games wins the set, provided that the
opponent has not won more than four games (6-0, 6-2, 6-4, etc.) A “match” generally is determined by the
best two out of three sets, except the bigger championship matches, which are generally three out of five
sets.
Terms:
Cross-court
Ace
Down the line
Double fault
Groundstroke
Let
Lob
Love
Rally
Smash
Volley
Advantage
Deuce
- a ball driven from one corner to the extreme opposite corner
- a serve so good that the receiver cannot touch it
- a ball driven along the sideline
- two successive faults by service
- stroke used to strike the ball after it has bounced
- a serve that has to be replayed because it hit the bet but was otherwise good
- a ball that has been hit high into the air
- a scoring term indicating nether or zero
- series of strokes made during play (ground strokes of volleys)
- a fast overhead stroke intended to kill the ball by speed and placement
- stroke made by hitting the ball before it has touched the ground
- when either player scores a point after the score was at deuce
- when the score is 40 or any succeeding tie
SCORING:
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The first pint won by a player is 15, the other player has no points, and score is LOVE.
If the same player wins the next point, the score is 30-LOVE.
If the same player wins the third and fourth point, the score is 40-LOVE and finally GAME.
If the other player wins any of the points, the scoring changes. It may go: 15-LOVE, 15-ALL, 1530, 30-ALL, 30-40, GAME
If the game is tied at 40-40, it is called DEUCE. The player that wins the next point has the
ADVANTAGE, often called AD-IN for the server, AD-OUT for the receiver. If the same player
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wins the next point, they win the game. If not, the score goes back to DEUCE. The first player to
win two points in a row after a DEUCE score wins the game.
Call the score of the set (such as 4-3) before you serve the first point of the game.
Call the game score just before serving for each point.
The server’s score is always called first.
The first player to win six games and to be ahead by two games wins a SET
The first player to win two sets wins the match.