For this reason, we have put together an extensive glossary in which you can clarify all your questions. Here are the 100 most important terms that every tennis player needs to know. A serve that the opponent can’t reach with his racket. Left side of the court. These are all common table tennis terms, and if you're serious about playing the game, you'll need to understand all the terminology that your opponents are using. So here's your opportunity to start learning the definition of table tennis terms with my table tennis glossary to help you on your way. If you don't find the table tennis term you. Tennis Game Terms: U - Z. Umpire: game official who is the 'boss' of a tennis match. The final word, the umpire may also overturn decisions by other judges if necessary. Underspin: the spin put on a ball by hitting under the ball, causing it to spin in the opposite direction of travel. Tennis matches work in three phases: A game, a set and a match. A game is played until a player scores four points, of which a player can earn in a number of different ways (more on that below).

Essential Tennis Terms to Know Part of Tennis For Dummies Cheat Sheet Tennis, like any sport, has its own lingo, and tennis uses perhaps the most well-known sports term — love, which means zero. The following list offers definitions of basic tennis terms.

There are a lot of different tennis terms used by tennis players and fans. If you want to be a tennis player then you should be familiar with almost all of these terms!

Tennis Terms

Ace

A serve that lands inside the lines and is untouched by the opponent

Tennis Language Terms

Advantage

The point that follows a deuce score. If the player wins this point he wins the game, otherwise it goes back to deuce!

Ad-Court

The left side of the tennis court. It is called Ad-Court because the ad points are always played from this side.

Approach Shot

A shot that the player follows to the net is called an approach shot

ATP

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is the governing body of men’s Tennis!

Backspin

On a shot with backspin the ball rotates backwards. These shots usually stay pretty low

Break

When you win a game during which your opponent was serving that is called a break in Tennis!

Break Point

The receiver is said to have a break point whenever he is in a situation where a point won results in him winning the game off of the server.

Cross-Court

A shot that is hit diagonally into the opponent?s court

Deep

A shot that lands very close to the baseline rather than short around the service line

Deuce

An expression that is used when the actual score is 40-40

Deuce-Court

The right side of the tennis court. It is called Deuce-Court because all deuce points are played from this side

Double Bagel

A match that ends with the score 6-0 6-0 is often called a double bagel in tennis circles. One of the funniest tennis terms in my opinion

Double Fault

The server has two serves to start the point. Whenever he misses both he looses one point in the game and this situation is called a double fault.

Doubles

When you have four players on the court and two are playing against two this is called a doubles match.

Down the Line

A shot that is hit straight along the sideline into the opponent?s court

Error

Any shot in Tennis that does not land within the lines that it is supposed to land within is called an error

Foot Fault

The server is not allowed to move over or even touch the baseline during his service motion. If he does so it is a so-called foot-fault and his serve is considered a fault.

Forced Error

When Player 1 hits a really good shot that forces Player 2 to miss that is called a forced error

Groundstroke

Whenever the ball bounces on your side before you hit it that is called a Groundstroke. Forehands, Backhands, and Slice Backhands are all groundstrokes.

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Hold

When you win your service game it is called a hold.

Inside-Out Forehand

Tennis commentators often mention the so-called inside-out forehand. This is a situation where a player hits a forehand, usually from the backhand side of the court, towards the backhand side of his opponent. The ball takes an inside-out swing pattern and therefore the shot is called an inside-out forehand

Kick Serve

A serve hit with lots of topspin. The ball usually jumps high on this kind of shot!

Let

The umpire calls a let whenever a serve touches the net and still lands in the service box. The serve is then replayed

Match Point

When you have match point you only need to win one more point to win and end the entire match.

Mini-Break

If you win a point on your opponents serve during a tiebreak that is called a mini-break

Moonball

A shot hit very high over the net. These are usually defensive shots and many tennis player dislike playing against players that hit moonballs. Just hearing the tennis term “Moonball” can cause some tennis players to get into a bad mood.

Overhead

When you are at the net and your opponent tries to lob you with a high shot you will hit an overhead.

Singles

Whenever two players play a match against each other in tennis it is called a singles match

Smash

Terms In Tennis Games

Same thing as an overhead.

Tiebreak

A tiebreak is played when the score in a set reaches 6:6. The tiebreak is played up to 7 points and the idea is to bring the set to an end because without a tiebreak it could take forever

Underspin

This is another expression for backspin. The ball rotates backwards and stays low on these shots

Unforced Error

Terms In Tennis Game

When Player 1 misses an easy shot that is called an unforced error

Volley

Whenever your hit the ball before it bounces on your side it is called a volley

Wild Card

To get into many tournaments you need to have a certain rankings position. If you do not have that position the tournament officials can award you a wild card. With a wild card young players can often enter pro tournaments that they usually could not enter according to the ranking system

So that’s it for the tennis terms explanations. If you think a tennis term is missing then feel free to send me an email and I will include it!

Glossary of Tennis Terms

Tennis - Glossary of Terms follows below:

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What Are The Terms Used In Tennis

Ace A perfect serve in bounds that the opponent cannot return and is not touched by the receiver.
Ad court The side of the court on which the second point of each game begins, also called the left court or the backhand court.
Advantage The player who scores the first point after deuce is said to have the advantage, since winning the next point will also win the game.

Advantage court The left service court, where the receiver takes service when either player has the advantage.
Advantage in Indicates that the server has the advantage.
Advantage out Indicates that the receiver has the advantage.

Alley Area on each side of the singles court that enlarges the court area when doubles is being played; also known as the tramlines. The alleys are 4 feet wide. Also see The anatomy of the tennis court.
American twist A serve that has spin causing it to bounce high and to the receiver's left, off a right-handed player's racket. Opposite of a reverse twist.
Approach shot A shot hit hard and deep to allow the player to take the net; used from inside the baseline to enable a player to attack the net.
Attack the net To move into the forecourt and toward the net to be able to hit volleys quickly into the opponent's side of the court. Also known as take the net.
Australian formation Serving formation in doubles where the server and server's partner are initially positioned on the same side of the court.
Australian grip Midway between the Eastern and continental to facilitate serve-volley play on grass.

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Terms In Tennis Game Play

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