Tennis Terms
The words of tennis, from the court to the scoring, each in a line.
- BaselineBack boundary line of the court
- Service BoxWhere a serve must land for it to be valid
- Service CourtArea on each side of the net, divided into deuce and ad courts
- Deuce CourtRight-hand service court from the server's perspective
- Ad CourtLeft-hand service court from the server's perspective
- Foot FaultCalled when the server's foot touches the baseline before making contact with the ball
- Double FaultCalled when the server misses both serve attempts; server loses the point
- LetServe that touches the net but still lands in the correct service box
- AceSuccessful serve that bounces 2+ times before the receiver makes contact
- ServerPlayer who delivers the ball to start the point
- ReceiverPlayer who returns the serve
- LoveScore of zero ("15 love" means the server has 15 points and the receiver has none)
- DeuceTied score at 40-40
- Ad / AdvantagePoint after deuce
- Ad InCalled when the server wins the deuce point
- Ad OutCalled when the receiver wins the deuce point
- Break PointDescribes when the receiver is one point away from winning the game on the opponent's serve
- Match PointPoint that, if won, ends the match
- GameUnit of scoring made up of points. A player must win at least four points and lead by two to win a game.
- SetCollection of games. Usually won by the first player to reach six games with a two-game margin (e.g. 6-4).
- MatchContest as a whole. Usually best of three or five sets.
- Game PointPoint that, if won, ends the game
- Set PointPoint that, if won, ends the set
- ForehandStroke hit with the front of the racquet hand facing the ball
- BackhandStroke hit with the back of the racquet hand facing the ball
- VolleyShot hit before the ball bounces, often performed close to the net
- Half VolleyShot hit immediately after the ball bounces but before it reaches the apex of its bounce
- LobHigh, arching shot intended to pass over an opponent
- Drop ShotSoftly-hit ball that barely clears the net and dies quickly
- SmashOverhead shot, usually hit with force
- Approach ShotShot hit while moving toward the net
- Passing ShotShot hit past an opponent who is at the net, typically down
- Down the Line ShotShot hit parallel and close to the sideline, running along the length of the court
- Court-Court ShotShot hit diagonally across the court, from one corner to the opposite corner
- RallySequence of consecutive shots between players
- Unforced ErrorMistake made without significant pressure from the opponent
- WinnerSuccessful shot that bounces 2+ times before it's touched
- TiebreakSpecial, shorter game played to decide a set when the score is 6-6
- AlleyNarrow strips along the sidelines, only used in doubles play
- Center MarkSmall mark at the midpoint of the baseline that divides the deuce and ad sides
- SinglesMatch between two players
- DoublesMatch between two teams, with two players per team
- BagelTerm for a set won without losing a game (e.g. 6-0)
- Drop VolleyCombination of a dropshot and volley; ball is taken out of the air and lands in front of the net
- Point PenaltyWhen a player loses a point due to a rules infraction (touching the net, time violation, foot fault)
- BreadstickTerm for a set won only losing one game (6-1)
- SliceShot hit with backspin/underspin (opposite of topspin), aka Chip/Chop
- TopspinShot hit with forward rotation (opposite of slice)
- FlatShot hit with little/no spin
- Kick ServeServe hit with topspin
- DinkShot hit with little to no pace or spin
- BaselinerPlayers who prefer to hit groundstrokes from the baseline
- Serve-and-volleyAggressive tactic used to rush the net immediately after the serve to hit a volley
- PusherPlayers who prefer longer rallies, shots often hit with little to no pace/spin
- Counter-puncherPlayers who prefer a defensive playstyle, redirecting their opponents pace to win points
- HoldWhen a player wins a game on their serve
- Mini-breakWhen a player wins a point in a tiebreaker on the opponent's serve