Learning the Basics

Wednesday, August 22, 2018 - 13:30
Learning the Basics
Special Event Coordinator

Are you always causing a raquet? Does your baby got back…hand? Do you love to sing “Ace, Ace Baby”? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Tennis is the sport for you!

Tennis has often been seen as a hoity toity sport mostly played at country clubs, but in reality it’s a super fun game that’s easy to learn. We’re going to talk Game, Set, Match, and everything in between!

Now, let’s get to the point…on how to get a point. You serve, your opponent returns the ball. You smash it and get a point. Woohoo, you’re basically the next Milos Raonic! But even he started with the basics.

Format:

  • Tennis can be played as singles or doubles (can be mixed), with opposing teams on opposite sides of the net
  • A game involves a sequence of points played with the same player serving, which is won by the first player/team to win at least 4 points (must win a game by 2 points)
  • Scoring in a game is as follows: 0 points = love, 1 point = 15, 2 points = 30, 3 points = 40, 4 points = game
  • A set consists of a series of games played (service alternates between games), ending when the first player/team wins the number of games to meet certain criteria (generally 6 games, and you must win by 2 games)
  • A match entails a succession of sets, based on a best of three or five sets system
  • Points can be scored on all serves

Serving:

  • A serve in tennis must be hit into the diagonally opposite service box without touching the net
  • Serves may be overhand or underhand
  • You can have one fault during service, but after a second fault (AKA a double fault) the point is awarded to your opponent
  • After a point is awarded, you move to the other side of the service line for your next serve
  • You can learn all about types of serves here

Rally:

  • A rally occurs after a legal serve is returned over the net by your opponent li>A legal return consists of your opponent hitting the ball before it bounces twice over the net and back into your side of the court
  • A player/team cannot hit the ball twice in a row
  • During a rally, a ball may hit the net as long as it crosses into your opponents’ side of the court
  • The first player/team to make an error and not return the ball loses the point
  • You can learn all about different shots here

Let’s recap what we’ve learned:

  • Love means nothing in Tennis
  • You only live once, but you get to serve twice
  • Serve it, smash it, win it, love it ♥