Tennis Glossary of Terms
First published on 9-09-2009. Bookmark & share
by Randy Lynn Rutledge - a previously certified USPTA Tennis Teaching Professional
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
A Tennis Glossary of Terms
A Tennis Glossary of Terms
Absolutes of tennis - There are three basic absolutes in tennis: Breathing, vision ( or another method of knowing where the ball is ), and footwork ( or another form of mobility ).
See: Breathe, See the Ball Better, Take Everything Early
Ace – (tennis serve) an ace is a successful tennis service in which the tennis ball is not touched by the receiver’s racquet.
Action – (tennis ball spin) to put action on the ball means to apply spin to the tennis ball.
See: Tennis Ball Spin Fixes
Ad in – (tennis score) ad-in is the score called in a game of tennis if the server wins the point following a score of deuce (40 to 40).
To continue, the server serves into the ad court. If the server wins the point after a score call of ad-in, then the server
has won that game; however, if the receiver wins the point following a score call of ad-in, then the score returns
to 40-40 (deuce).
See ITF: Rules of Tennis: 5.Score In A Game (a. Standard game)
Ad out – (tennis score) ad-out is the score called in a game of tennis if the receiver wins the point following a score of deuce (40 to 40).
To continue, the server serves into the ad court. If the receiver wins the point after a score call of ad-out, then the
receiver has won that game; however, if the server wins the point following a score call of ad-out, then the score
returns to 40-40 (deuce).
See ITF: Rules of Tennis: 5.Score In A Game (a. Standard game)
Advantage – (tennis score) having just won the last point after the score was at 40-40 (deuce), the advantage is an earned opportunity to win the game by winning the next point.
The player or team with the advantage is at game point.
See ITF: Rules of Tennis: 5.Score In A Game (a. Standard game)
Ad service box - (part of a tennis court) The ad (advantage) service boxes are the service boxes in front of the net, to the left of the center service line, and diagonally from one another across the net, when either half of a tennis court ( separated by the net ) is viewed from its baseline.
Note: The second point of a regular game of tennis is served into the ad service box. |
All – (tennis score) tennis players call the score in a game or set by saying "all" when the game score or the set score is the same for each player or team.
Example 1): Two points won by each player or team is a game score of 30-30 (30-each) or 30-all.
Example 2): Two games won by each player or team is a set score of 2-2 (2-each) or 2-all.
Example 3): Two sets won by each player or team is a match score of 2-2 (2-each) or 2-all.
All-court player – a tennis player possessing a wide enough variety of stroke and hit execution techniques, footwork patterns, and playing strategies to allow comfortably play from any area of the tennis court.
Ant-Doping – a drug testing program which applies to all ATP, WTA, and ITF tennis events.
See: ITF Anti-Doping
AO - Australian Open - a Grand Slam tennis tournament held in January.
See: Australian Open
See: Grand Slam History - Reference Book
Approach shot – any tennis stroke or hit which allows a tennis player an opportunity to move into a volleying position near the net.
ATP – Association of Tennis Professionals (men).
See: ATP World Tour website for ATP news, tournament schedules, scores and stats, player information, rankings,
news, photos, videos, etc.; there is a link to the WTA website (women).
Australian Open - a Grand Slam tennis tournament held in January.
See: Australian Open
See: Grand Slam History - Reference Book
Backcourt – (part of a tennis court) the large singles play area bounded on four sides by the service line, the baseline, and the two singles sidelines; the large doubles play area bounded on four sides by the service line, the baseline, and the two doubles sidelines.
Ground strokes and half-volleys are common strokes from this area. |
Backhand – a stroke using either one or two hands on the side of the body where the dominant shoulder is closest to the net during the tennis racket take-back.
Backspin – a backward rotation caused by brushing downward with the tennis racket against the back portion of the tennis ball.
Back-swing – any combination of backward moving functional variables (shape, length, height, direction, racquet gripping style, and racket head speed) of a tennis racket which a tennis player uses to prepare for the forward moving portion of a tennis stroke.
Ball person – usually a boy or girl charged with the duty of retrieving out-of-play tennis balls during tennis tournament matches.
It is the duty of a ball person to supply a serving player or team with tennis balls during a tennis tournament.
Ball toss - (tennis service) the act of throwing a tennis ball into the path of a tennis service motion.
See: Ball Toss Fix for the Serve Functional Tennis Ball Toss Variations Fix Your Tennis Serve Tennis Serve Sequence Photos Serving Wrist Flexion or Snap |
Baseline player – a tennis player who is most comfortable playing most strokes or hits from the baseline.
Beach Tennis – a version of tennis that is similar to playing beach volleyball, except that a paddle is used to hit a tennis ball.
See: BEACH TENNIS on the ITF TENNIS website.
Bevel the racket face - (tennis racket manipulation) the racket face is the hitting surface of the tennis racket which faces the tennis ball for contact. Racket face beveling is manipulating the tennis racket to re-position the aim of the racket face.
See: Fix Netted Tennis Errors
Fix Long Tennis Errors
Fix Wide Tennis Errors
Fix Tennis Errors on the Ball
Four Racquet Parts for Fixing Tennis Errors
Basic Tennis Error Over-Correction
Corrective Tennis Methodology
Block – the act of returning a stroke or hit by meeting the tennis ball with very little racket take-back or follow through. A blocked stroke or hit uses the existing speed of a tennis ball to redirect it back into the court of an opponent.
Block Volley – a volley during which little or no action, speed, or spin is added to the ball. The tennis racket is used to block the ball and change the direction the tennis ball travels.
Break of service – (tennis service) a service game which is won by the receiving player or team.
Break point – (tennis service) a break point is a game point which allows the receiver to win a game by winning the point.
Examples of break point scores: 0-40, 15-40, and 30-40.
Note: The second number (of the above examples: 0-40, 15-40, and 30-40) represents the game points of the receiving
player or team.
Bye - when a tennis player is allowed to bypass the first round of a tennis tournament.
Top seeded players often receive byes if there are fewer players than needed to fill up the first round slots in a
tournament draw.
Call – the call is an announcement of whether a ball landed in-bounds or out-of-bounds at the end of a tennis point.
This call is made by a tennis official during a professional tennis tournament. Players or teams make boundary calls
and service let (net) calls for tennis balls on their side of the net when no officiating team is available.
Center mark – (part of a tennis court) the service center-mark at the midway point of the baseline is drawn even with the middle line of the service boxes.
The server must stand to the left or to the right of the service center-mark to deliver a service attempt into an opposite service box. The server must not touch the center-mark before the tennis ball is contacted. |
Center service line - (part of a tennis court) the center service line is a common boundary line for the right and left service courts, which runs perpendicular to the net.
Challenge – (questioning a boundary call) a challenge has been made when a tennis player asks for a review of a boundary call made by a line judge or an umpire in tournaments equipped with video play-back.
Change of sides – (tennis score) players change sides of the court on odd numbered games in a set.
Chip – a chip is an under-spin blocking motion used to hit a tennis ball.
Chip and charge – using an under-spin blocking motion to block the tennis ball and then aggressively moving forward to take advantage of an anticipated weak response which must be hit up because of the chip’s under-spin.
Chop – an extreme slice executed very low on the tennis ball to create enough spin to stop the ball’s forward motion upon bouncing in the opponent’s court because the ball begins to spin back toward the net during the time it is in contact with the court surface.
Closed stance – (tennis footwork) a tennis stroke or hit execution stance with both feet very close to being parallel to the flight of the approaching tennis ball.
Coaching – a tennis teacher encourages, enlightens, advances the skills of a tennis player, and exposes the player to information for further study.
See and explore Coaching on the ITF Tennis website.
Complete tennis player – A complete player feels comfortable executing any kind of stroke from any part of a tennis court.
This player skillfully uses and reacts to speed, touch, and spin. Mental toughness and mindfulness of the present
moment are normal for a complete tennis player.
See: Tennis Player Skills Fixed
Continental grip – (tennis racket gripping method) a basic grip for serving, volleying, applying slice, and handling low balls.
See: Grip Locator for a Right Handed Forehand
Grip Locator for a Left Handed Forehand
Corrective Tennis Methodology – a method of using corrections and over-corrections to fix your tennis errors.
See: Corrective Tennis Methodology
Court – Scroll down to see Tennis court
Cross-court – a cross-court refers to a tennis stroke or hit which travels across the court at an angle (diagonally) to take it closer to the opposite sideline from the sideline where the edge of your tennis racket was facing at the string-to-ball contact point.
Deep – deep refers to a tennis ball which lands close to the opponent's baseline and inside the court area.
Deuce – (tennis score) a word to represent a tied score in a game. Initially, when players or teams both have 3 points (40-40) and each time the score in a game is tied, thereafter.
See ITF: Rules of Tennis: 5.Score In A Game (a. Standard game)
Deuce service box - the deuce service boxes are the service boxes in front of the net, to the right of the center service line, and diagonally from one another across the net, when either half of a tennis court (separated by the net) is viewed from its baseline.
Note: The first point of a regular game of tennis is served into the deuce service court. |
Dink ball – the result of taking speed off of the tennis ball (feathering the ball) by relaxing the grip on the racket with all fingers except for the thumb and the middle finger. Feathering allows the racket to absorb much of the speed from the string-to-ball contact. The resulting shot, a dink ball, lands very close to the net in the forecourt.
Double fault – (tennis service) the server fails two attempts to successfully serve the tennis ball within the bounds of the appropriate service box.
Note: A successful serve goes over the net (without touching) and lands within the boundary lines of the appropriate
service box. A serve which touches the net and lands within the boundary lines of the appropriate service box is called a let. A let must be replayed.
Double hit – deliberately carrying or catching a tennis ball which is in play causes a player to lose that point; however, accidentally striking the tennis ball twice during the execution of a single stroke is a legal action, as long as it does not involve a deliberate catch or carry.
See: ITF Rules of Tennis - Rule 24. PLAYER LOSES POINT - f.
Doubles – using the doubles alleys and two teams of two players each to play a tennis match.
Doubles alley – (part of a tennis court) the narrow strip of tennis court on the outside of the singles sidelines which is only used for doubles play (teams of two players).
Down the line – a stroke or hit which is aimed relatively straight forward and crosses over the high portion of the tennis net. The line specified is the singles or the doubles sideline.
Drag Volley – a volley executed with a slightly beveled racket face and some degree of downward brush across the backside of the tennis ball to cause backward rotation of the tennis ball for the purpose of controlling the travel of its flight and the height of its bounce.
Drive – a low and relatively flat stroke which is struck with speed sufficient to pass a net player and/or cause an outright winner.
Drop shot – a type of tennis hit used by a player who takes advantage of the fact that the play area on either side of the net has four corners; The ideal strategy is to attempt to use minimal net clearance and court depth so that the ball bounces twice before the opponent can get to it.
The ball usually must peak on the side of the tennis court of the player who executes a drop shot.
Drop volley – a volley using minimal net clearance and court depth so that the ball bounces twice before the opponent can get to it.
The drop volley or dink ball can be accomplished by allowing the ball to hit the strings while using a soft grip
( feathering the ball ).
Early contact – too early contact is made when the string-to-ball contact happen sooner than planned.
The tip of the tennis racket gets to the tennis ball before the butt of the racket. The shoulders were not turned far enough away from the target. See: Breathe, See the Ball Better, Take Everything Early |
Earned point – a shot decided by skill instead of error.
The point is won due to the skill of a player instead of having been lost due to the lack of skill of an opponent.
Eastern Backhand Grip - (tennis racket gripping method) This is a basic backhand grip used by all-court tennis players.
See: Grip Locator for a Right Handed Forehand
Grip Locator for a Left Handed Forehand
Eastern Grip – (tennis racket gripping method) This is a basic forehand grip used by all-court tennis players.
See: Grip Locator for a Right Handed Forehand
Grip Locator for a Left Handed Forehand
Error – a shot which does not clear the net or does not land within the appropriate boundary lines of the tennis court.
Exhibition Match – Fun tennis matches which are played for entertainment and for the purpose of raising money for causes.
Fault – (tennis serving error) A tennis service attempt which does not cause the tennis ball to both clear the net and land within the boundary lines of the service box is a service fault.
Feathering the ball – to take speed off of the tennis ball by relaxing the grip on the racket with all fingers except for the thumb and the middle finger.
Feathering allows the racket to absorb much of the speed from the string-to-ball contact. The result is that the ball
lands very close to the net (a dink or a drop shot) in the forecourt.
Fifteen – (tennis score) the first point won by a player or team in a game of tennis (also called five).
- The first point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called five (5) or fifteen (15).
- The second point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called thirty (30).
- The third point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called forty (40).
First service – (tennis service) the first of the two service attempts allowed for each point.
Five – (tennis score) the first point won by any player or team in a game of tennis (also called fifteen).
- The first point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called five (5) or fifteen (15).
- The second point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called thirty (30).
- The third point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called forty (40).
Flat – a stroke or hit with relatively no spin.
Flat service – (tennis service) a relatively flat serve is delivered with almost no spin.
The lack of spin and the lower net clearance allows greater speed. A flat serve is a lower percentage shot than a serve
with spin or slice.
See: Fix Your Tennis Serve
Tennis Serve Sequence Photos
Ball Toss Fix for the Serve
Serving Wrist Flexion or Snap
Flow - the act of playing tennis in the present moment, without having to think to make it happen. Becoming one with the present moment.
See: Fix Your Tennis Flow
Focus - Focus is enacting a selective process as to how, who, what, where, when or how you will give your attention.
See: Fix Visual Input to Your Tennis Mind
Follow through – the portion of a stroke or hit which follows the string-to-ball contact.
The height of the follow through determines how much spin can be imparted to the tennis ball. The length of the
follow through is determined by racket head speed.
Foot fault – (tennis serving error) a foot fault occurs when either of a server's feet touches the baseline, the center mark, or any portion of the court area before the racket strings contact the tennis ball.
Footwork - footwork or mobility involves setting up the shoulders to present the tennis racket to the tennis ball.
See: Breathe, See the Ball Better, Take Everything Early
Forced error – an error made by a tennis player because his or her opponent stroked or hit the tennis ball in a manner which made a response too difficult to execute.
Forecourt – (part of a tennis court) the area of the tennis court between the service line (long serve boundary) and the net, from which a volley is a common method of striking the ball.
Forehand – a stroke where the dominant shoulder is farthest from the net during the tennis racket take-back.
Forty – (tennis score) the third point won by any player or team in a game of tennis.
- The first point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called five (5) or fifteen (15).
- The second point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called thirty (30).
- The third point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called forty (40).
Frame – refers to a tennis racket without strings. To strike the ball with the frame is to "frame" the ball.
Frame shot – a tennis stroke or hit which results in only the frame contacting the ball; this is counted as a good shot if it lands within the bounds of the court.
French Open - a Grand Slam tennis tournament held in May.
See: Roland-Garros - French Open
See: Grand Slam History - Reference Book
See: Roland-Garros - French Open
See: Grand Slam History - Reference Book
Functional Variation - (as it applies to tennis) is the act of making a necessary and purposeful change away from a habitual manner of execution for any or all progressive parts of a tennis stroke or hit or any or all tennis habits for the applied purpose of meeting the needs of the moment due to some unexpected or unusual action which has happened or is happening in the present moment during the tennis play of a point, game, set, or match. It is the act of making an adjustment to any tennis variable of a tennis stroke or hit to achieve a desired or necessary outcome.
See: Functional Tennis Variation
Game – a game is one of a minimum of six units of a set in a tennis match.
- The first point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called five (5) or fifteen (15).
- The second point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called thirty (30).
- The third point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called forty (40).
time the score in a game score is the same, the score is called deuce.
Note: A game is one of a minimum of six units of a set.
See ITF: Rules of Tennis: 5.Score In A Game (a. Standard game)
Game point – (tennis score) a point where the score is such that winning the next point means winning the game for a tennis player or team.
See ITF: Rules of Tennis: 5.Score In A Game (a. Standard game)
Golden Slam – the accomplishment of a tennis player winning Wimbledon, the US Open, the Australian Open, the French Open, and winning Olympic gold medal for tennis all in the same year.
See: Grand Slam History - Reference Book.
Grand Slam – Winning all four Grand Slam Tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open) within the same tennis season, or the same calendar year.
See: Grand Slam History - Reference Book
Grips - (racquet grip methods) Grips by Bevel Identification Numbers (right handed forehand)
Bevel 1: Eastern Backhand - This is a basic backhand grip used by all-court tennis players.
Bevel 2: Continental Grip - This is a basic service grip; it is also used for volleys, slice, and low balls.
Bevel 3: Eastern Grip - This is a basic forehand grip used by all-court tennis players.
Bevel 4: Semi-Western Grip - This grip is used to hit high bouncing balls with topspin.
Bevel 5: Full Western Grip - This grip is rarely used.
Bevel 8: Semi-Western Backhand - This grip is used to hit high bouncing balls with topspin.
See: Grip Locator for a Right Handed Forehand
Grip Locator for a Left Handed Forehand
Groundstroke – stroking the tennis ball after it has bounced off of the court surface using a full or partial racket take-back and follow through.
Half court – a midway portion of the tennis court in the general vicinity of the long boundary for the service boxes.
Half volley – a low volley-type groundstroke in which the string-to-ball contact is made immediately after the ball rebounds off of the court surface while the ball is still below the player’s normal strike zone.
Hard court – tennis court surfaces like asphalt or concrete.
Head – (section of a tennis racket) the part of a tennis racket frame which is designed to hold a certain string pattern design.
Hindrance - (ITF Rule 26. Hindrance) - A hindrance is a deliberate act by an opponent, during a point, especially during the time period after one player has successfully struck the ball and before the opposing player gets a fair opportunity to respond.
NOTE: A HINDRANCE call example can be seen in the second set, with 3 games each and ADVANTAGE to Serena
Williams during the final match of the 2015 Australian Open. Maria Sharapova was awarded the point due to a
hindrance made by Serena Williams. Serena yelled after striking the ball, but before Sharapova had a fair chance to
respond to the ball.
See ITF Rules of Tennis, 26. HINDRANCE.
Hold of service – (tennis service) a service game which is won by the server.
Hopman Cup – a mixed team international tennis competition held annually.
See the Hopman Cup website for more.
Human anatomy - See: Human Anatomy: Learn All About the Human Body at InnerBody.com
Human body and mind - a tennis player has a better chance to play good tennis when consideration is given to the needs of the body and mind.
See: Human Body Maps at Healthline.com
I-formation – a tactic used in doubles in which both the server and his or her net person are on the same side
( left or right ) of the tennis court; the intent is to take away the easy cross-court return of service.
In ball – a ball which lands within the bounds of the tennis court, also called good or in play.
In the zone - A tennis player is said to be "In the zone" when all conditions (mental clarity, fitness, high energy level, good health, and positive expectations) allow the player to mentally and physically flow with the tennis action of the present moment.
See: Fix Your Tennis Flow
Fix Visual Input to Your Tennis Mind
Fix Your Mental and Physical Tennis
Fix Listening Skills to Enhance Tennis Learning
When a Tennis Champion Loses the Number One Spot
Fix Your Tennis on a Bad Tennis Day
Conscious and Subconscious Tennis Roles
Fix Tennis Confidence
Fix Your Tennis Belief System
Your Tennis Zone Fix
The Tennis Zone Described
Tennis Dancing
Tennis Player Skills Fixed
Inside-in – a player runs around the tennis ball to use the forehand instead of the backhand, or the backhand instead of the forehand.
The intention is to make early string-to-ball contact and hit the ball down the line.
Inside-out – a player runs around the tennis ball to use the forehand instead of the backhand, or the backhand instead of the forehand.
The intention is to make a later string-to-ball contact and hit the ball crosscourt.
International Tennis Federation (ITF) – the ITF is the governing body of tennis.
Visit the International Tennis Federation website for the Rules of Tennis, information about professional tournament
players, the tournament schedules for all professional player categories, and more.
See: The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations: Members )
International Tennis Hall of Fame – The International Tennis Hall of Fame preserves the history of tennis.
Visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame website.
Jam – (a kind of tennis service) aiming a serve, stroke, or hit at a player’s body so that they cannot get far enough away from the tennis ball to extend their arm and make a forceful stroke or hit.
Kick serve – (tennis service) serving the tennis ball using a toss which is farther back so that a lower brushing motion can be applied to the tennis ball to cause the ball to bounce higher or at sharper angles off of the court surface.
Left service box - (also called the ad service box ) - the left service boxes are the service boxes in front of the net, to the left of the center service line, and diagonally from one another across the net, when either half of a tennis court (separated by the net) is viewed from its baseline.
Note: The second point of a regular game of tennis is served into the left service court. |
Let – (tennis service) a let occurs when the tennis ball hits the top of the net, in any manner, and then lands within the bounds of the correct service box.
A let is also called in various other cases when a point or portion of a point must be replayed, within the rules of
tennis; an example of when a let is called and the point is replayed would be when a tennis ball from one tennis court
enters into the space that is considered the playing area of an adjoining tennis court.
Line judge – a person working a tennis match in an official capacity for the purpose of calling a tennis ball out of bounds.
When players disagree about whether a ball is in or out it is the line judge who makes the final call. A line judge can be
over-ruled by a tennis match umpire.
Lob – a stroke or hit designed to send the tennis ball on a high flight over an opponent’s reach and then on to land deep in the opponent’s court.
An offensive lob is low and is intended to be just out of reach of the opponent. A defensive lob is high enough to gain
time for the tennis player executing this type of lob.
Long ball – (a basic tennis error) a tennis ball which travels beyond the length of the tennis court boundary, the baseline.
See: Fix Long Tennis Errors
Love – (tennis score) means that the player whose score is called as “love” actually has no points in the game being called.
Love game – (tennis score) a game won by a player whose opponent scores no points.
Lucky loser – the tennis player with the highest ranking is picked from the qualifying round losers, due to the withdrawal of a scheduled player, and put back into a tennis tournament draw to fill the empty spot.
Match – (tennis score) a certain number of sets played to decide a winner in a tennis contest of mental and physical skills.
See: ITF Rules of Tennis: Rule7. SCORE IN A MATCH
See: ATP and WTA Tennis Match Playlist
Match point – (tennis score) when the score is in favor of a player who will win the tennis match if he or she wins the point which is about to be played.
Men's Circuit – the International Tennis Federation Men's Circuit allows men to play in tournaments at the entry level of Professional Tennis.
See the MEN'S CIRCUIT on the ITF TENNIS website.
Mental toughness – a tennis player's belief system decides his or her mental toughness in the sport of tennis. Mentally tough tennis players KNOW they can endure the mental and physical struggles of tennis.
See: MENTAL TOUGHNESS FIXES
Mis-hit – any stroke or hit which is so poorly judged that the string-to-ball contact misses the sweet-spot of the tennis racket strings.
Mixed doubles – one male tennis player and one female tennis player make up each team in mixed doubles play.
Net – the net (part of a tennis net assembly) is used to divide the tennis court into two equal playing areas called courts. A netting material is attached at two poles with a net cable. The net marks a minimum height for all strokes and hits.
The pole attachment is at a height of 3 feet and 6 inches. The net is suspended between the two net poles and pulled down to a height of 3 feet in the middle by a vertical center net strap which attaches to an anchor embedded into the court surface.
Net ball - (a basic tennis error) a tennis ball which hits the net and not go over it.
See: Fix Netted Tennis Errors |
Net cable - (part of the tennis net assembly) the net cable passes through the net band to suspend the net between to two net poles.
See ITF : Rules of Tennis - Rule 1 The Court
Net poles - two poles are used to suspend a net cable which passes through the net band located at the top of the tennis net. The tennis net separates the tennis court into two halves. One of the poles houses a height adjustment assembly.
Net strap - (part of the tennis net assembly) this heavy-duty cloth strap has rings of metal on both ends which hook it to an embedded anchor below the surface of the court to adjust the center of the net to height of 3 feet.
Net touch – (a tennis error) touching the net with any part of the body, clothing, or a racket thing, while the tennis ball is "live" or in play, results in a loss of the point for the offending player.
See ITF : Rules of Tennis Rule 24g
No-man’s land – an area in front of the baseline and behind the service line where no tennis player should be caught waiting for a tennis ball. Tennis play in this area can be difficult because many tennis balls have just struck the surface and have not risen high enough for a good stroke to be easily made.
Non-dominant hand - is the hand not touching the tennis racket at the string-to-ball contact stage of a
one-handed forehand groundstroke.
See: Non-dominant Hand and Arm Fixes
Officiating – the jobs performed by on-court tennis officials to ensure that the rules of tennis are followed.
See OFFICIATING at the International Tennis Federation website.
Open stance – (tennis footwork) an execution stance for a tennis stroke or hit having one foot ahead of the other causing the feet to be perpendicular, to some degree, to the flight of the approaching tennis ball.
Out ball – (a tennis error) a tennis ball that travels outside of the tennis court, wide or long, without touching any part of the court or any part of any line that bounds the playing area of the tennis court.
For a service this would be a ball that travels outside of the service box, wide or long, without touching any part of the court within the service box or any part of any line that bounds the service box.
See: Fix Long Tennis Errors
Fix Wide Tennis Errors
Overhead – a stroke used to return a lob or high ball; the starting position for an overhead is the back-scratch position, which is basically the same as the bottom of the power-loop for the service motion.
Over-reaching the net – (tennis error) the act of any tennis player making string-to-ball with an approaching tennis ball before it crosses over the net. This means crossing over the top with the tennis racket to contact the ball on the opponent's side. This is an illegal action in tennis.
See ITF : Rules of Tennis Rule 24h
EXCEPTION TO THE RULE: The only time that reaching over the net to strike a tennis ball is allowed is after the ball has already landed in your own court area and then it is carried back over the net by wind or by the action of spin.
Overrule – The chair umpire can overrule a mistaken call made by a line umpire.
The overrule call is based on a difference of opinion and/or visual perception about how a tennis fact happened.
The chair umpire views the tennis ball and boundary lines from a position of elevation during the tennis match.
See: ITF - Rules of Tennis - Rule: 28 Role Of Court Officials (APPENDIX VI)
Passing shot – a stroke or hit which passes a person who is positioned at the net or approaching the net.
Poach – a play in doubles requiring that the net person move toward the service box center line to intercept a stroke or hit which is going to his or her team mate.
Preparation - follows recovery footwork and uses footwork to position the shoulders in a manner which allows the tennis racket to be presented properly to the tennis ball for execution of a tennis stroke.
See: Breathe, See the Ball Better, Take Everything Early
Watch Your Tennis Opponent Prepare and Execute
Preparation footwork – preparation footwork moves the shoulders of a tennis player into an good position from which to execute a tennis stroke.
Progressions - refers to the parts of a stroke, in order, from start to finish.
The progressions of a stroke includes normal breathing, visualizing a flight path, preparation and execution footwork to position the shoulders, and all tennis racket manipulations from the ready position, take-back to a desired height, forward movement of the tennis racket to the string-to-ball point of contact and on to a functional follow through.
See: Functional Variations of Tennis Teaching Styles
Functional Tennis Variation
Put-away – a stroke or hit which can obviously be executed in such a manner so as to end a point or rally.
Quick-serve – (a method of tennis serving) Intentionally or unintentionally serving a tennis ball before the receiver is fully ready to receive the served tennis ball.
Racket – a racket is an stringed implement used in the sport of tennis to strike a ball.
The frame of the racket consists of an oval head portion which houses an interlaced pattern of uniform-tension strings, a throat area is designed to allow a certain amount of flex, and a handle between the throat and the gripping area. Multiple grip sizes are available to match the hand size of racket users.
See ITF : Rules of Tennis: Rule 4. THE RACKET
See Tennis racket - in this glossary
Rally – a rally is the act of hitting tennis strokes back and forth during a practice session or in a match.
Ready position – a ready position refers to a player’s stance, court positioning, and holding of the tennis racket while waiting for an incoming tennis ball.
A ready position varies with court position and distance from an opponent. Both hands are typically on the tennis racket while in a ready position.
Receiver – (tennis service) the player to receive the service for any individual point of a tennis game.
See ITF : Rules of Tennis: Rule 8. SERVER & RECEIVER
Recovery footwork – (a functional variable in tennis) Recovery footwork must begin as soon as the tennis ball has left your tennis racket strings and it should end before your opponent executes has executed his or her tennis stroke,
ideally. The purpose of recovery footwork is to move yourself into a good court location (after your own tennis stroke execution) from which to begin preparation footwork and/or execution footwork.
Reflex volley – an instinctive reactionary volley forced by a lack of preparation time.
Return of service – the receiver's response to the server serving the tennis ball to begin a tennis point.
See: Fix Your Service Return
Right service box (also called the deuce service box) - the right service boxes are the service boxes in front of the net, to the right of the center service line, and diagonally from one another across the net, when either half of a tennis court (separated by the net) is viewed from its baseline.
Note: The first point of a regular game of tennis is served into the right service court. |
Roland Garros - French Open - a Grand Slam tennis tournament held in May.
See: Roland-Garros - French Open
See: Grand Slam History - Reference Book
Round robin – a ranking tournament or tournament by itself in which a player meets in a contest against every other player and then a win-lose comparison is made to decide a ranking or a winner.
Rules of Tennis - the ITF Rules of Tennis give precise instructions concerning tennis equipment specifications and the exact requirements for how to play the game properly.
See ITF : Rules of Tennis
Score - (tennis score) the score in tennis is kept by adding up the points of a game, the games of a set, and the sets of a match.
See ITF : Rules of Tennis - Rule 5. SCORE IN A GAME
Scoreboard – (tennis score) a score keeping mechanism which uses LED lights to display the score in a tennis match.
Second service – (tennis service) the second service is the service attempt which follows an unsuccessful first service in a game.
A server is allowed two service attempts to begin each point.
If a service attempt touches the top of the net and lands as a good service, then it is played over, for as many times as that happens.
Seed – a tennis player's tournament ranking according to previous tennis tournament outcomes.
Self-confidence - Tennis self-confidence comes from knowing that you will play good because your strokes and hits are solid, you read your opponent well, you formulate tactical strategies based on what you and your opponent are doing, and your mental and physical conditioning have prepared you to be quick and sharply focused.
See: Fix Tennis Confidence
Semi-Western Backhand Grip - (a racket gripping method) This grip is used to hit high bouncing balls with topspin.
See: Grip Locator for a Right Handed Forehand
Grip Locator for a Left Handed Forehand
Semi Western Grip - (a racket gripping method) This grip is used to hit high bouncing balls with topspin.
See: Grip Locator for a Right Handed Forehand
Grip Locator for a Left Handed Forehand
Seniors Circuit – visit the ITF Seniors Circuit website.
Server – (tennis service) the tennis player whose turn it is to begin the points in a game of tennis.
See ITF : Rules of Tennis - Rule 8. SERVER & RECEIVER
Service – (tennis service) a tennis stroke used to start each point in a game of tennis. A ball is tossed into the air and must be struck before it touches the ground.
See ITF : Rules of Tennis: Rule 16. THE SERVICE
See: Fix Your Tennis Serve
Tennis Serve Sequence Photos
Ball Toss Fix for the Serve
Functional Tennis Ball Toss Variations
Serving Wrist Flexion or Snap
Fix Your Service Return
Service break – (tennis service) a service break is a tennis game won by a player or team receiving the service in tennis.
Service center mark – (part of the baseline on a tennis court) the service center mark at the midway point of the baseline is drawn even with the middle line of the service boxes which the server must stand to the left or to the right of to deliver a service attempt into an opposite service box.
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Service fault - (a tennis serving error) a service fault is any ball which does not clear the net and land within the bounds of the appropriate service box.
Service hold – (tennis service) a tennis game won by a server.
Service line - the service line is the boundary line for the service boxes which runs parallel to the net.
A long tennis service lands beyond the service line.
Service return – (a response to a tennis service) a stroke or hit to return an opponent’s service.
See: Fix Your Service Return
Service T – the portion of the service box area where the center service line attaches to the service long boundary line.
Serve and volley – a tennis play that, if successful, allows the server to serve a tennis ball from behind the service line and then rush forward into a volleying position in order to contact the receiver’s service return before it bounces on the court surface.
Set – (tennis score) the number of games required to play a first to six games tennis contest using the stipulation that the winner must lead by two games,
A tie-break counting as one of the two games, if necessary.
A tennis match can be played as the best of three sets, or the best of five sets.
See: ITF Rules of Tennis - Rule 6. SCORE IN A SET
Set point – (tennis score) the point in a match where a player has a chance win the last game of a set.
Shot– another word used to mean a stroke or hit of the tennis ball.
Sideline – a boundary line for the length of a doubles or a singles tennis court playing area.
Singles sideline - These court boundary lines run perpendicular to the tennis net to show the width of the playing area when a single player will be on either side of the net. The singles sideline extends from the wide boundary line for the service boxes.
Sitter – a stroke or hit which travels slowly over the tennis net at a height which makes it a very easy target for a tennis player to handle.
Slice – an under-spin stroke or hit in which the tennis racket strings brush against the tennis ball both downward and across to create a slight or exaggerated sideways movement of the tennis ball upon bouncing off of the opponent’s court surface.
Spin – any manner or combination of either vertical or horizontal rotation of a tennis ball, whether intentional or unintentional.
See: Tennis Ball Spin Fixes
Split step – a split step is a slight hopping motion which unhinges the knees, lowers your body, and transfers your body weight onto your toes. This allows you to be more ready to move your body in any direction to respond to where the opponent sends the tennis ball.
Do a split step exactly when a tennis opponent makes tennis racket string-to-ball contact.
Straight set win – (tennis score) winning every set of a match against a tennis opponent.
String-to-ball contact – The most important progressive part of any stroke or hit is the first contact of the strings of a functionally positioned tennis racket with the an exact spot on the ball (both vertically and horizontally) to functionally match the path of the racket and impart an intended action (spin) to the ball and send the ball on a predetermined flight path with consideration having been given to an intended amount of net clearance, ball flight angle, and a landing depth in the court.
See: String-to-Ball Timing Fixes
Strings – the pattern of strings looped through and across the head of a tennis racket frame to make up the hitting surface.
Stroke – a tennis swing at a bounced ball, or a ball taken before the bounce, which has at least some amount of racket take-back and some amount of racket follow through.
See: Parts of a Tennis Stroke
Sub-conscious - The subconscious part of the mind is the part we are programming by practicing to make tennis habits (muscle memory).
See: Conscious and Subconscious Tennis Roles
Sudden death – (tennis score) the final point of a 9 point tiebreak with a tiebreak score of 4 to 4, losing the next point causes a loss of the set.
Sweet spot – normally an oval shaped center portion of the string pattern of a tennis racket where the interlaced strings have made a relatively square pattern, as opposed to the rectangular pattern found outside of the sweet spot on most tennis rackets.
See: Four Racquet Parts for Fixing Tennis Errors
(A tennis article by Randy Lynn Rutledge - a former USPTA Tennis Teaching Professional)
See: Four Racquet Parts for Fixing Tennis Errors
(A tennis article by Randy Lynn Rutledge - a former USPTA Tennis Teaching Professional)
Tanking – tanking is the act of purposely losing a tennis match by not giving full effort.
Tennis - Tennis is a sport in which players compete against one another by striking a ball with a racket to send it over a net and into the opponent's court area.
The winner of a point or rally is the last player to successfully send the ball over the net and land it within the bounds of the opponent's court area.
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Tennis accuracy - Tennis accuracy requires the feet and all parts of the body to work together to position the shoulders so that the arm(s) can properly present the tennis racket to the tennis ball at a vertical contact point to send it on a flight path with a controlled amount of net clearance (the primary target), a horizontal contact point which will allow for a precise angle of ball flight, and a functional racket-head speed which matches with the racket-face bevel to allow for a precise landing distance (the secondary target).
Tennis Agility – A tennis player with excellent tennis agility has the ability to move with grace and balance. Skillfully coordinated body systems allow for movement in any direction, at appropriate speeds, using constantly changing visual focus, a sharp mental clarity, and a calculating presence of mind to guide all necessary tennis actions.
Tennis ball – a pressurized, felt covered, rubber tennis ball has a diameter of slightly more than 2.5 inches.
1. See Rule 3. The Ball in the International Tennis Federation Rule Book.
2. See ITF TECHNICAL - Equipment: Balls for the exact ITF specifications.
3. Click here to watch how a HEAD TENNIS ball is made: YouTube video (3:34) - HEAD Making of: My favorite ball
4. Click here to watch the Penn Tennis Balls video.
1. See Rule 3. The Ball in the International Tennis Federation Rule Book.
2. See ITF TECHNICAL - Equipment: Balls for the exact ITF specifications.
3. Click here to watch how a HEAD TENNIS ball is made: YouTube video (3:34) - HEAD Making of: My favorite ball
4. Click here to watch the Penn Tennis Balls video.
Tennis court – the entire playing area on either side of the net for singles play or for doubles play.
See: CourtDimensions.net: Tennis court details
See: SportsKnowHow.com: Tennis court diagram
See ITF Tennis.com: TECHNICAL: Court Rules
See ITF : Rules of Tennis - Rule 1. The Court
See Saviano.com: Tennis Booklet - The Tennis Court Bible - Answers to all questions about tennis
court construction and upkeep.
Tennis elbow – tennis elbow is a tendonitis condition within the elbow commonly caused by playing tennis or using similar repetitive movements.
See MedlinePlus: Elbow Injuries and Disorders.
Tennis basic errors - There are three basic errors in tennis - the tennis ball goes into the net, long, or wide.
See: Fix Netted Tennis Errors
Fix Long Tennis Errors
Fix Wide Tennis Errors
Fix Tennis Errors on the Ball
Four Racquet Parts for Fixing Tennis Errors
Basic Tennis Error Over-Correction
Corrective Tennis Methodology
Tennis racket – a stringed, sports hitting instrument used in the game of tennis to strike or hit a tennis ball.
1. See Rule 4. The Racket in the International Tennis Federation Rule Book.
2. You can watch a very informative YouTube video by HEAD TENNIS. This video is a show-and-tell of how a
HEAD Tennis Racket is made. YouTube video (7:59) - HEAD Making of: Tennis Rackets
Tennis racket face– (part of a tennis racket) the forward facing side of the tennis racket string pattern used to stroke or hit a tennis ball.
Tennis recovery – (court positioning movement) Tennis recovery begins after a player executes a stroke or hit which will travel into the opponent's half of the tennis court. Recovery requires that a player use every part of the human body and the tennis racket to prepare for the opponent's most likely response.
See: Tennis - Watch Your Tennis Opponent Prepare and Execute
Tennis rules – the ITF Rules of Tennis give precise instructions concerning tennis equipment specifications and the exact requirements for how to play the game properly.
See ITF: Rules of Tennis
Tennis serve – A tennis serve is used to begin every point in a game, set, and match.
The ball is tossed and struck with the strings of the face (string pattern) of the tennis racket to propel it over the net and into the proper service box.
See: ITF: Rules of Tennis - Rules 16 thru 24.
See: Fix Your Tennis Serve
Tennis Serve Sequence Photos
Ball Toss Fix for the Serve
Functional Tennis Ball Toss Variations
Serving Wrist Flexion or Snap
Tennis skills – accumulated mental and physical habits of tennis execution, desirable or undesirable.
See: Hints for Tennis Fixes
The Tennis Court Bible - Answers to all your questions about tennis court construction and upkeep.
See: The Tennis Court Bible at Saviano.com
Thirty – (tennis score) the second point won by any player or team in a game of tennis.
- The first point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called five (5) or fifteen (15).
- The second point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called thirty (30).
- The third point won by a player or team in a game of tennis is called forty (40).
Tie-break – (tennis score) a special game which is played to decide a set when the game score is tied at six games each (6-6).
See ITF: Rules of Tennis: 5.Score In A Game (b. Tie-break game)
Timing – accurate ball placement depends on the ability of a player to use his or her entire body to manipulate a tennis racket against an approaching ball precisely within a stroke or hit so as to cause the necessary force against a tennis ball at an intended vertical and horizontal contact spot to cause the ball to rebound off the racket strings and onto an intended flight path which results in precise net clearance, angle, and depth in the opponent's court. A tennis player who performs this task well is said to have "good timing."
See: String-to-Ball Timing Fixes
Topspin – a forward rotation caused by stroking the tennis racket strings against the back of the tennis ball using a low to high brushing motion.
See: Tennis Ball Spin Fixes
Touch – equates to a player’s ability to execute finesse shots or to feather the tennis ball gently to its destination. Possessing touch requires a tennis player to put pace on the ball or take pace off of the tennis ball with equal expertise.
Three tennis absolutes – Breathing, vision, and footwork.
See: Breathe, See the Ball Better, Take Everything Early
Two-handed backhand – a two-handed backhand is a tennis stroke using two hands with the shoulder of the dominant hand being forward or closest to the net.
See: Parts of a Tennis Stroke
Underhand service – (tennis service) an underhand service is the act of starting a point in a game of tennis by tossing a low ball and then making a stroke or hit so that the string-to-ball contact point happens at a place which is lower than shoulder height.
Under-spin – (backspin) a backward rotation caused by brushing downward with the tennis rackett against the lower portion of the tennis ball.
See: Tennis Ball Spin Fixes
Unforced error – (tennis error) an unforced error is a tennis player’s failure to execute a successful tennis stroke or hit; that is, assuming that the error was not caused by the efforts of his or her opponent.
US Open Tennis Championships - a Grand Slam tennis tournament held in August.
See: US Open Tennis Championships
See: Grand Slam History - Reference Book
Variable – a variable is any part of tennis which can be changed or varied.
See: Functional Tennis Variation
Functional Variations of Tennis Teaching Styles
Vibration damping device – a rubber device which can be attached to the strings of a tennis racket to reduce the string vibration which causes the string-to-ball contact pinging noise.
Dampeners must be placed outside of the crossed string bed pattern of a tennis racket.
Move the dampener down toward the racket throat to decrease the dampening effect and up toward the crossed string pattern to increase the dampening effect.
See: ITF Rules of Tennis - Rule 4. THE RACKET - Case 3.
Volley – a volley is a tennis hit, block, punch, drag, or swing which is normally executed before the tennis ball bounces; however, a volley can be executed from any area of the tennis court, before or after the ball bounces.
Note: A low volley used to intercept the tennis ball as soon as it comes off of the tennis court surface is called a half-volley.
See: Fix Your Tennis Volley
Walkover – a walkover is a term used to describe the outcome of a tennis match when a player or team is awarded a match victory because the opposing player or team was unable to play a scheduled tennis match.
Western grip – (tennis racket gripping method) a grip used to apply topspin.
The Western grip is found by placing the base knuckle on the bottom of the tennis racket (bevel 5).
See: Grip Locator for a Right Handed Forehand
Grip Locator for a Left Handed Forehand
Wheelchair Tennis – is playing tennis while in a wheelchair.
Wheelchair tennis players are allowed two ball bounces before they must strike the ball, when needed.
Visit the ITF WHEELCHAIR website.
See: Wheelchair tennis - YouTube video channel
Wide ball – (a basic tennis error) a wide ball is tennis stroke or hit which lands beyond either sideline of the
tennis court area, or a serve which lands wide on either side of the service box being aimed at in a serve.
See: Fix Wide Tennis Errors
Wimbledon, The Championships - a Grand Slam tennis tournament held in August.
See: Wimbledon
See: Grand Slam History - Reference Book
Winner – a winner is a stroke or hit which an opponent is unable to respond to successfully.
WTA – Women’s Tennis Association.
Visit the WTA website for scores, tournaments, WTA news, features, photos, videos, etc.; there is a link to the
ATP (men) website.