A Guide to Tennis Terms

Tennis is full of terminology that can seem daunting at first but quickly becomes second nature once you see it in use. With just a few key terms under your belt, you’ll feel more comfortable when conversing about tennis. Familiarize yourself with these terms and you’ll soon be talking like a pro!

Scoring:

in tennis sounds a bit different in tennis than in other sports. Here is a quick rundown of tennis points and what they are called:

• Love: This term has nothing to do with romance but rather refers to zero points scored in a game. “Love-all” means that each player has scored 0 points in the game. As one of the most oft-used terms on the court, understanding what love means should be your first step towards mastering tennis lingo.
• 15: First point
• 30: Second point
• 40: Third point
• Game: Fourth point
• All: stated after the number when a score is tied, except when the score is Deuce
• Deuce: A tied score of 40-40
• Ad-In: The server needs one more point to win
• Ad-Out: The receiver needs one more point to win

Serve: A serve starts each point, and it can be either forehand or backhand depending on the position of the server’s body at the time of contact with the ball. It must cross over or land within an imaginary box located diagonally across from where it was served from, otherwise, it will be deemed a fault or an out-serve respectively.

Ace: An ace is a serve that is not touched by the receiving player and therefore results in an immediate point for the server. This term can also refer to any shot hit directly past an opponent without them being able to return it.

Let: A let is a serve that hits the net but still goes over into the correct service box. The point must then be replayed with no penalty given to either player.

Fault: Any serve that fails to land within an appropriate area or does not clear over or touch any part of its designated box will be deemed a fault and result in another attempt at serving being given to the server until they make a successful serve.

Double Fault: A double fault occurs when a player fails to make two consecutive serves within the boundaries of their respective service boxes, resulting in an immediate point for their opponent.

Foot Fault: A foot fault occurs when a player steps over the baseline before hitting their serve, resulting in an immediate point for their opponent.

Break Point: If a player’s opponent is serving and they are able to score one more point, it will result in them breaking their opponent’s serve and possibly winning the game. This point is referred to as break point.

Bagel: This term refers to winning a set 6-0 (or 6 points without losing any). It comes from its resemblance to an actual bagel — shaped like a zero!

Breadstick: This term refers to winning a set 6-1 (or 6 points while only allowing one point). It comes from its resemblance to an actual breadstick—something long and thin!

Baseline: The imaginary line at either end of the court is known as a baseline. Players must remain behind this line while serving. Going beyond it results in a foot fault being called.

Volley: A volley is when you hit the ball before it bounces on your side of the court. This allows you to take control of your opponent’s return and gives you more time to set up your next shot.

Forehand/Backhand: These are two very commonly used strokes in tennis. A forehand stroke is hit with your dominant hand on your dominant side (eg right hand on the right side) while backhand strokes are hit with your opposite hand on your opposite side (eg left hand on the left side).

Lob: An overhead shot with lots of spin so that it arcs high into the air and lands deep into the opponent’s court.

Dropshot: A lighter hit of the ball that barely clears the net and lands close to your opponent’s baseline making it difficult for them to reach it in time.

Cross Court/Down The Line: These terms refer to directionality; cross-court shots go across from one side of the court to another while down-the-line shots travel along parallel lines near each sideline marking out where shots should land if they are going over correctly.

Deep: When someone says “deep” they are referring to shots that have been hit far enough back into their opponent’s court that they cannot reach them easily or quickly enough, often resulting in points being won by whoever played that particular shot successfully.

Whether you’re new to tennis or just looking for some clarification on basic tennis terms, this glossary should provide the information needed to understand these important terms. Not only will these words help improve communication between players during matches but also give newbies insight into what makes up this fantastic sport!