Like all sports, tennis has its own unique game terminology. It may take you some time to get accustomed to their meanings when you’re new to the sport, but take heart. As you hone your new skills on the court, these tennis terms will soon become a part of your everyday language.
Ace: A serve that lands in the service box but is not touched by the receiver is called an ace.
All: A term used to describe an even score. For example, 15-all is a score of 15-15.
Backhand: The practice of reaching the arm across the body and hitting the ball with the back of the racquet.
Cross court: A ball hit diagonally into your opponent’s court.
Deuce: In a 40-40 match, two consecutive points are required to win and are called a deuce.
Fault: A outside of the box serve.
Game Point: When one point is required to win the game, the leading player has the game point.
Hail Mary: The high lob players sometimes use as a defensive move.
Let: A call for the point to be played again. Interference or a serve hitting the net and bouncing into the service box are usually the reasons.
Love: The tennis term for “zero”, for example: 15-0 is called as 15-love.
Match Point: One point away from winning the game.
Rally: A continuous back and forth series of hits by each player. The rally is over when one player fails to successfully return the ball over the net.
Singles: A game played with two players, one to each side of the court.
Touch: A player may not touch the net while the ball is being played. The result is a lost point.
Volley: Hitting the ball before it bounces on your side of the net.
Remember, the best way to learn tennis terminology is on the court. RecTennis offers year-round programs in your neighborhood.