A Complete Guide to Tennis Terminology | Scoring, Shots & Rules Explained

If you’ve ever watched a tennis match, you’ll note that there is a lot of technical terminology used. Finding the correct definition of some phrases can be challenging, particularly for a novice.

There are some words in tennis terminology that every player and spectator should be familiar with before hitting the court. Knowing and comprehending this common tennis jargon can undoubtedly make you feel more at ease and ready when you walk up to the line, even though it might not immediately help you win the game. Because of this, we’ve created a definitive list of tennis terminology, which includes all the vocabulary, slang, and concepts you need to be aware of.

Why Learn Tennis Terms?

There are several reasons why learning tennis terminology is beneficial. Here are some of the primary reasons:

You Play Tennis

If you play tennis, you should be able to communicate with other players in their native language both on and off the court. The more acquainted you are, the more at ease you will feel in the discussion, making it simpler to relate to your peers.

You’re Learning Tennis

When you learn tennis, your coach will use specific terms and phrases. It will be simpler for you to understand their instruction if you are more familiar with the words they employ.

For instance, if you know the words, you will understand your instructor when they advise you to hold a continental grip or to keep out of no man’s land.

You Enjoy Watching Tennis

Learning tennis terminology is really beneficial if you’re a fan of the game and enjoy watching matches on television or going to tournaments. Your degree of enjoyment will rise as a result of making it easier for you to follow along.

The Ultimate Tennis Terminology List

The list below contains nearly all of the tennis terminology and vocabulary you’ll encounter in the tennis world, from watching tournaments on television to playing the game yourself. Instead of using an alphabetical sequence, we have arranged the terms according to their role in the game.

The Basics

• Tennis Ball: That’s the yellow, fuzzy object you hit from side to side across the court. Not all tennis balls are created equal, but unless you’re playing very competitive tennis, you generally won’t notice much of a difference between them.

• Tennis Racket: That is what you use to hit the ball. Once more, not every tennis racquet is created equal. Each player’s age and technical skill level will determine which tennis racket is best for them. Professional tennis players, for instance, use heavier rackets that have more force, whereas kids begin with smaller ones.

• Strings: The strings are what make up a tennis racket’s hitting-surface. Strings are categorized as crossings (horizontal) and mains (vertical). Not every string is the same, to reiterate. The ball spins differently according to the string’s composition, pattern, and tension, which can result in varying degrees of power and control.

• Court: That is the surface on which you will play. Don’t call it a pitch, please. A court is in session!

• Grip: In tennis, a player’s grip refers to how they hold the racket. Techniques and methods for hitting the ball vary depending on the grip. Although there are more varieties of tennis grips, the continental, eastern, and semi-western grips are the most widely used.

• Singles Tennis: A tennis match between two players, one on each side of the net.

• Doubles tennis: A tennis match with four players, two on each team. The doubles alleys form a part of the court when doubles are played.

Tennis Scoring Terminology

• Point: In tennis, a point is the smallest scoring unit. A serve initiates each point, which finishes when the ball either bounces twice or fails to bounce on the correct side of the court.

• Game: In tennis, a “game” is a series of points in which one player serves. Winning at least four points—or sometimes more if a “deuce” score is achieved—wins a game.

• Deuce: Deuce is a word that replaces “40-all” (40-40). Calling “Deuce” makes it easier to tell the difference between “30-all” and “40-all,” which can sound quite similar.

• Set: A player must be at least two games ahead of his/her opponent after winning six games. A “tie break” is typically used to determine the set if the score is 6-6.

• Tie Break: If a set scores 6-6, a tie break is utilized to determine the winner. The first player to get seven points, two points ahead of their opponent, wins a tiebreak. The serve is switched after the opening point and then every two points during a tiebreak. The tiebreak is played to eight if the score is 6–6, and so on.  

• Championship Tie Break: A longer variant of the standard tie break that lasts 10 points as opposed to 7. In professional doubles tennis, “Championship Tie Breaks” are frequently utilized in lieu of a third deciding set. In club tennis, this method of cutting matches short is becoming more and more widespread.

• Match: Only at men’s Grand Slam competitions and Davis Cup matches are tennis matches played to either the best of three or best of five sets.

• Straight Sets: The player who wins a match without dropping a set is given a straight sets victory. It will be a 2-0 victory in best-of-three set matchups.

• Love: A zero or “nil” score is referred to as “love.” “15-love,” “Six Games to Love,” and “Two Sets to Love” are examples of points, games, and sets that fall under this category.

• All: When two players or teams have an even score, it is referred to as “all.”

• Advantage: The point that comes after a “Deuce” score. They will call “advantage in” if the player serving has an advantage and “advantage out” if the person receiving the advantage.

• Deciding Point: When no-advantage scoring is applied, a deciding point is played. Stated differently, a game is decided by a single point rather than by advantage score. At the club level, this scoring method is growing in popularity and is frequently utilized in professional doubles tennis.

• Fault: When the server misses the serve or makes a foot fault, it results in a failed serve.

• Foot Fault: A foot fault happens when a player steps on the line during the service motion. Although they are regrettably frequently observed in club-level tennis, foot errors are not extremely common in professional tennis.

• Double Fault: When a server experiences two consecutive faults, the point is forfeited.

• Let: A replayed point in which the score remains unchanged. A serve that strikes the net cord before bouncing into the proper service box is typically referred to as a let. Because a distraction, like a ball rolling over from another court, interrupts the point, a let-in club tennis can also frequently result in a replayed point.

• Hold of Serve: This refers to winning a game of serve. Since serving typically enables the player to take control of the point from the first shot, it is frequently believed that the server will “hold their service games” in tennis.

• Break of Serve: Often referred to as “breaking,” this occurs when the returner defeats the opponent in the service game.

• Break Point: The receiver has the opportunity to break their opponent’s serve at a breakpoint.

• Bagel: A slang phrase used to describe a 6-0 set score.

• Bread Stick: A slang word for a 6-1 result in a set.

The Court

• Surface: This is the sort of tennis court on which you play. Hard courts, grass, clay, asphalt, and AstroTurf (artificial grass) are some of the varieties. Wood and carpet are among those that are no longer in use.

• Net: The net separates the court’s two sides. It is 3 feet (0.91 m) tall in the middle and 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) tall at the net posts.

• Forecourt: This is the court’s front area. It is made up of the space between the net and the service line. The two service boxes are inside it.

• Service Line: A line located 21 feet from the net that runs parallel to it. It delineates the depth of the service boxes and separates the forecourt and backcourt.

• Service Boxes: These are two boxes in the forecourt that serve as target places for the serve. On the Deuce side and the Advantage side of the net, respectively, are two service boxes.

• Backcourt: The section of the court between the baseline and the service line.

• Baseline: The baseline is the furthest parallel line to the net. Here, players execute a serve to begin a point.

• Centre Mark: A little mark in the center of the baseline that separates the rear of the court into the Deuce and Ad courts. In essence, it is an extension of the line that separates the two service boxes from the forecourt.

• Deuce Court: In the event of a deuce score, a player will serve to this side of the court. For every player, it is the right side of the court.

• Ad Court: When there is a score advantage, a player will serve to this side of the court. For every player, it is the left side of the court.

• Tramlines: These are the lengthy 4 ft 6″ boxes on either side of the singles court. Since they are only utilized in doubles tennis and are regarded as out in singles, they are frequently known as the “doubles alleys.”

• No Man’s Land: This is a slang phrase for the area of the court between the service line and baseline. Since it is the hardest area on the court to play from, it is known as “No Man’s Land” and is avoided whenever possible throughout a point.

Tennis Shots

• Forehand: This is the shot you take from your dominant side. The right side of your body will be struck by your forehand if you are right-handed.

• Backhand: This is the shot you make from the non-dominant side. This will be on your left side if you are right-handed. The one-handed and two-handed backhands are the two variations of the backhand.

• Serve: This stroke is used to begin each point in a tennis match. It’s regarded as one of the most crucial shots in tennis and one of the hardest to perfect. Although underarm serves are getting more and more common, overarm serves are still the norm.

• Ace: An ace is a direct serve where the receiver’s racket cannot make contact with the ball.

• Return: When a receiver gives back an opponent’s serve. 

• Approach: The player’s groundstroke just prior to volleying into the net.

• Volley: A volley is a shot from the net in which a player returns the ball without allowing it to bounce on their side of the court.

• Half-Volley: A specialty shot that falls in between a groundstroke and a volley. The goal of a half volley is to strike the ball just after it has bounced.

• Topspin: When a tennis ball is hit low to high, it rotates forward.

• Backspin / Slice: Refers to the backward rotation of a tennis ball induced by hitting high to low.

• Dropshot: A specialty shot in which a slice spin is used to hit a very short ball that is unlikely to be returned by the opponent.

• Lob: A lob is a shot in which the ball is hit over a player at the net, usually significantly higher than a conventional groundstroke. One shot that works very well against smaller players is the lob.

• Overhead/Smash: A shot that is hit above the head and is executed very similarly to a serve. Usually, a winning shot, an overhead, or a smash is struck from the net.

• Tweener: A tennis player’s specialty shot in which they strike the ball between their legs.

Tactics & Strategy

• Rally: Usually describes a series of consecutive shots made by both players.

• Crosscourt: A shot that is played diagonally across the court is called a crosscourt. It is frequently employed in extended point rallies.

• Down the line: A shot that is played parallel to one of the sidelines is referred to as a down-the-line. Down-the-line shots are frequently more challenging to execute and are frequently seen as aggressive strokes.

• Inside-out forehand: When a player hits a forehand cross-court by running around their backhand.

• Inside-in Forehand: When a player hits a forehand down the line after running around their backhand.

• Neutralize the rally: This is a strategy for resuming the rally and regaining control of the point when the player is pushed far off the court and into a defensive stance. It usually entails keeping the ball deep where the opponent cannot strike and striking a little higher than normal.

• Forced Error: When a player makes a shot so well that it compels their opponent to make a mistake.

• Unforced Error: When a player makes a mistake that isn’t essential.

• Passing Shot: This is a shot used to pass a player who is near the net. Although a lob can also be regarded as a passing shot, they are typically standard forehands or backhands.

• Serve & Volley: This tennis strategy entails serving and sprinting as fast as you can to the net for a volley. When used well, the serve and volley strategy can shorten points and win them before the opposition has a chance to join the rally. On grass courts, it’s a common strategy.

• Chip & Charge: A strategy employed by athletes who would rather be at the net than the baseline. In order to force your opponent to make a passing shot, you must hit a deep slice shot and push your way into the goal.

• Counterpuncher: A player who prefers to stay behind the baseline and play defensive tennis, allowing his opponent to gain control of the point.

• Moonball: A colloquial phrase for a deep, high shot used to drive the opponent back on the court and throw off their rhythm during a point.

• Poach: In doubles tennis, poaching is a strategy where the net player crosses over at the net to “poach” the ball and hit a shot meant for their partner.

Tournaments & Professional Events

• ATP: The Association of Tennis Players (ATP) is the governing organization of the men’s tennis tour.

• ITF: The International Tennis Federation is in charge of managing ITF Futures and Challenger events and is the global regulatory body for competitive tennis.

• WTA: The Women’s Tennis Association is the governing organization of the women’s tennis tour.

• Grand Slam: The Grand Slam refers to the world’s four most prestigious tournaments: the Australian Open (hard courts), the French Open / Roland Garros (clay), the Wimbledon Championships (grass), and the US Open (hard courts).

• Masters Event: The second most prestigious type of tournament on the professional tennis circuit, Masters 1000 events are also known as Masters events.

• Seeded Player: A seeded player is a player who has been ranked in a tournament. In the early stages of a tournament, being a seeded player typically offers the benefit of a favorable draw. The size of the draw determines how many participants are seeded at an event.

• Qualifier: A player who advanced via qualifying rounds to the event’s main draw.

• Wildcard: A player who receives a “wildcard” enters the tournament’s main draw right away and is not required to participate in the qualifying rounds. Although they must first qualify due to their rating, players who have exceptional potential are granted wildcards.

• Lucky Looser: When another player abruptly withdraws from an event, a player who lost in the final qualifying round is given a spot in the main draw.

• Walk-over: A player whose opponent has withdrawn or is unable to play is given a walk-over.

• Warning: A player may receive a warning from the umpire for a number of reasons, but the most frequent ones are a time violation, a racket abuse warning (breaking a racket), or an unsportsmanlike misbehavior warning (using foul language).

• Time violation: When a player takes longer than the allotted interval between points—typically 20 to 25 seconds, depending on the event—they are given a warning and are subject to a violation.

• Protected Ranking: A player can utilize their pre-injury average ranking while they are returning from an injury thanks to protected ranking. When a player falls in the rankings after missing a lot of time on the tour, this can be quite beneficial. Where their present ranking would prevent them from entering main draws, a protected rating enables them to do so.

Career Slam and Golden Slam

• Career Slam: This occurs when a player wins the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, the four Grand Slam events, at any time throughout their career. It demonstrates the player’s adaptability and ability to perform well on various surfaces.

• Golden Slam: This is even more difficult. A player must win all four Grand Slam competitions and an Olympic gold medal in the same year in order to complete the Golden Slam. Only once, in 1988, did Steffi Graf accomplish this.

Common Tennis Jargon

Like every other sport, tennis has its own unique jargon that may be initially perplexing but gives the game a lot of personality and enjoyment.

Typical tennis jargon includes the following terms:

• Pusher: A player with little spin or force who consistently returns shots.
• Treeing: Performing above and above expectations.
• Tweener: A visually striking image that is frequently a crowd-pleaser.
• Junk ball: An erratic shot with very little spin or speed.
• Paint the lines: Hitting shots that barely stay within the court boundaries, demonstrating excellent precision.
• Safinate racket: Breaking a racket in frustration is named after Marat Safin, who was well-known for this.

Wrapping Up 

So, one thing is for sure: the tennis language is rich and varied.

From the basic strokes and shots that form the foundation of the game to the detailed scoring system that controls the rhythm of the match, every term is important. The different areas of the court, the high-pressure moments in key matches, and the prestige of the Grand Slam tournaments all add to the unique story of the sport.

Whether you’re new to watching tennis or already familiar with the sport, understanding these terms can enhance your enjoyment.

Make use of this jargon to participate in tennis discussions and better follow the game. It will increase your appreciation and heighten the thrill of watching the game.

Frequently Asked Questions