The Ultimate Glossary of Tennis Terms: From Ace to Volley
Tennis has a language of its own when it comes to scoring. Players don’t score points in tennis, but in describing the scoring, it’s impossible not to use the term points. The first 2 points are increments of 15 points, but the third point is a 10-point jump. Why? No one’s quite sure how the unusual vernacular started. The game, which began in France around the 12th century, was known as “jeu de paume.” Some tennis historians have speculated that the scoring was related to the minutes on a clock. For the uninitiated, learning the words that describe tennis can be akin to learning a new language. To help get you started, we’ve put together a glossary of tennis terms.
Scoring Terms
One consistent concept in tennis scoring is that you need to win by 2 points in a game, match, or tiebreaker. That built-in overtime system can make for some really long sets. Occasionally, matches will last more than 5 hours with most matches falling in the 3-hour range. The longest tennis match was over 11 hours. Below are some tennis scoring terms.
Ace: An ace is a legal serve that’s so good your opponent doesn’t touch it with their racket.
Ad-In & Ad-Out: Ad-in means the server has the advantage or is up 1 point after the game goes into overtime. Ad-out means the server’s opponent is up by 1 point.
Break Point: Break point is when a player is 1 point away from beating the server in a game. It’s called break point because the non-server has stopped the server from winning a game on their serve. In tennis, the player that serves generally has the advantage.
Deuce: Deuce is when the match is tied at the fourth point and beyond. When the game is tied after 1 or 2 points, it’s called 15-all or 30-all.
Double Fault: A double fault is when the server misses the server’s box twice. A double fault results in the loss of a point for the server.
Fault: A fault is when the server doesn’t get their serve into the server’s box. The server has 2 chances to put a serve into play.
15-30-40: The progression of points in tennis goes from 15 to 30 to 40.
Game: A game is the first player to get 4 points or get ahead by 2 points if the game is tied at 40-all.
Let: A let is a point that must be played over. There are numerous reasons a point needs to be replayed. A service let is when the ball stays in play after hitting the net. If there’s some kind of interference, an umpire can call a let. There’s no point awarded for a let.
Love: Love is when 1 or both players have yet to score a point. For instance, if the score is love-30, that means the server hasn’t scored and their opponent has scored twice. When keeping score, the server’s points are always stated or written first. It’s not clear why love means zero in tennis, but it might be because a player without a point was playing for the “love of the game.”
Match: A match is the overall winner. Matches are usually either the first player to win 2 out of 3 sets or 3 out of 5 sets.
Match Point: Match point is when either the server or their opponent can win the match if they win the point.
Rally: A rally is when players return shots back and forth after a serve. A rally ends when one player hits a shot that isn’t returned.
Set: A set is when a player wins 6 games. If the players each win 6 games, there’s either a tiebreaker to decide the winner or the match goes on until 1 player is winning by 2 games. For instance, after a 6-6 tie, it would take at least 2 more games to decide a winner without a tiebreaker.
Tiebreaker: A tiebreaker is often the first player to reach 7 points while leading by 2 points. The tiebreaker continues after 7 until someone is ahead by 2 points. When a player wins the tiebreaker, the final set of the match is scored 7-6.
Court Terms
To help with playing strategy, it’s important to know the different parts of a tennis court. Some power players like to strategically rush the net while other players prefer to play patiently around the baseline, trying to place a winning shot. Knowing every part of the court helps develop the style of play that suits you best. Below is a list of 5 key court terms.
Baseline: The outermost line of the boundary of a tennis court. Players must serve beyond the baseline, hitting the tennis ball to the diagonal side. If their foot hits the baseline on the serve, it’s a foot-fault and the serve doesn’t count. Players often hit their return shots from the baseline area.
Service Line: A line that’s positioned halfway between the net and the baseline. Servers must land their shots inside the service box, which is marked at the end of it by a service line.
Net: The net divides the tennis court in half. It’s 3 feet high in the center and 3.5 feet where it’s connected to metal posts on the sides.
Alley: The alley is a line that runs parallel to the net outside the boundaries for singles play. It’s used for doubles play. Any ball that lands inside the alley is in play in doubles.
Center Mark: The center mark is a small line that divides the baseline. Servers must start their serves on either side of the hashmark.
Player & Shot Terms
Mastering more shots in tennis will improve your game because opponents will constantly have to anticipate what you’ll be doing. Below are some common types of shots.
Forehand: Probably the most common shot in tennis and easiest shot for beginners, a forehand is when a player hits the tennis ball with their palm facing their opponent. It’s typically done with your dominant hand.
Backhand: A backhand is when a player hits the tennis ball with the back of their hand facing the opponent. Some players use a two-handed backhand, where both hands are on the racket.
Volley: A volley is when a player returns a shot before the ball hits the ground. Most shots are returned after 1 bounce.
Slice: A slice is a shot hit with backspin. For a slice, swing down and through the ball on a high shot and up through the ball for a low shot. The purpose of a slice is to create spin that causes the ball to bounce unpredictably when it hits the surface.
Overhead: A shot where you extend your racket arm over your head and return the tennis ball, hitting downward with as much force as possible to produce a smash. A smash is a shot used to close out a rally.
Drop Shot: A drop shot is when you deftly place a ball just over the net in a hard-to-get-to place for your opponent. It’s done with the racket pointing slightly upward.
Lob: A lob is a high shot hit over your opponent’s head when they are at the net. The purpose is to make a player chase after the ball to try to return it.
Unforced Error: An unforced error is when a player mishits an easy shot that lands out of play.
Serve and Volley: A serve and volley is when a player serves the ball and rushes to the net to hit the return while it’s in the air. It’s an aggressive play meant to shorten a rally.
Tennis Slang Terms
Slang terms in tennis help describe the unique circumstances that arise for players in different situations. Below is a list of common terms.
Bagel: A bagel is a set that ends in a shutout. A score of 6-0 is a bagel.
Breadstick: A score of 6-1 in a set is called a breadstick because the 1 looks like a stick of bread.
Choke: Choke is when the pressure of the moment causes your play to decline significantly.
Moon Ball: A high shot that is hit over the head of your opponent, typically into one of the corners with backspin. It’s designed to make your opponent run as far as possible to make a return.
Pusher: A pusher is a player who rarely attacks on offense, relying instead on consistently making returns from around the baseline, trying to force their opponent into making a bad shot.
Hook: A hook is when a player cheats by calling a ball out that’s really in play. It’s done when there aren’t line judges and players make their own calls.
No Man's Land: It’s when a player is caught in the middle of the court between the baseline and net. It’s one of the hardest spots on the court to make a clean return.
Knowing tennis’ language will help you understand the game better and enjoy it more.