If you’re new to the sport of tennis, this guide will teach you the basics. We’ll cover everything from the different types of strokes to how to score a point. So whether you’re looking to pick up a new hobby or just want to understand what’s going on when you watch a match, read on for all you need to know about tennis!
The Basics
Tennis is a two-player game played on a rectangular court. The court is divided in half by a net, and the players take turns hitting a ball back and forth over the net. The aim of the game is to hit the ball in such a way that your opponent cannot return it, or to force your opponent to hit the ball out of bounds.
Players can use any part of their bodies to hit the ball, but most use a racket. A rally is the sequence of shots made by the players before the ball goes out of bounds or a point is scored.
The game can be played as singles (one player per side) or doubles (two players per side).
Scoring
A tennis match is played to the best of three or five sets, depending on the tournament. A set is won by the first player to win six games, with a margin of two games. If the score reaches 6-6, a tie-break is played to determine the winner.
The winner of a tennis match is the first player to win two out of three (or three out of five) sets.
A game is won by the first player to score four points, with a margin of two points. Points are awarded as follows:
0 – Love
1 – 15
2 – 30
3 – 40
4 – Game
If the score reaches 3-3, this is called deuce. The next player to win two points in a row wins the game.
Types of Strokes
There are four main strokes in tennis: the serve, the forehand, the backhand, and the volley.
- The serve is the stroke used to start a point. The player must stand behind the baseline and hit the ball into the opposite court. The ball must bounce before it is hit by the receiver.
- A forehand is hit with the player’s dominant hand, while a backhand is hit with the non-dominant hand. A forehand is generally considered to be a more powerful stroke than a backhand, but it is also more difficult to control.
- A volley is a shot that is hit before the ball bounces. Volleys are often used as surprise shots and can be very effective at winning points.
Strategy
Tennis is as much a game of strategy as it is of skill. Players must decide where to place their shots, when to approach the net, and how to best make use of their strengths and weaknesses.
There are a variety of different playing styles in tennis, but two of the most common are the serve-and-volley style and the baseline style.
Serve-and-volley players look to come to the net as often as possible, using their serve to set up an easy volley. Baseline players stay back and use their groundstrokes to win points.
Tactics can also play a big role in tennis. Players might try to hit the ball to their opponent’s weaker side, or use a spin to make the ball more difficult to control.
Why is tennis scoring so weird
Tennis scoring is weird because in tennis, you can win a game without winning a single point. If your opponent commits a fault (e.g., double faults), or if the ball hits the ground twice before they manage to hit it back over the net, you automatically win the game. This can make for some very confusing matches!
