A COMPENDIUM OF TENNIS TERMINOLOGY ACE - A serve which the opponent failed to touch with his/her racket. AD - Short for "advantage" - the person who scores the next point after deuce is said to have the advantage or "ad". AD COURT - the service court into which a server must serve at ad-in or ad-out. Hence the right-hand court on the opposite side of the net (from the server's view). [See also DEUCE COURT] ADVANTAGE IN (or AD-IN) - when the server scores the next point after deuce he/she is said to have "advantage in" ADVANTAGE OUT (or AD-OUT) - when the receiver scores the next point after deuce, the game score is said to be "advantage-out" ALL - An equal score. Both players have the same number of points (e.g. 30-all), or games (e.g., 5-all). The special score of 40- all is called "deuce". ALLEY - The area between the singles and doubles side lines AMERICAN TWIST - A type of serve which gives the ball much side spin and top spin, thus causing the ball to bounce high APPROACH SHOT - a shot which is hit in order to enable a player to move in closer to a net position BACK-COURT - the area between the service line and baseline BACKHAND - a stroke made from the side of the body when the hitting arm must move elbow-side first towards the net BACKSPIN - the spin the ball has when hit with an under slice motion causing the ball to tend to bounce back toward the hitter BACK-STOP - the fencing or screen at the back of the tennis court (i.e., behind the baselines) BACKSWING - the initial swinging of the racket in a backward direction in preparation for the forward swing. BAND - the canvas tape running along the top of the net BASE-LINE - the end line on the tennis court BASELINE GAME - a player who stays back near the baseline and seldom approaches the net is said to play a baseline game BEVEL - the sheared pieces of the racket handle which smooth its corners BREAK - a break is said to occur when a player loses a game in which he/she has been serving. It is a "break" in the sense that one is generally expected to win one's service game at higher standards of play. BREAK POINT (or sometimes "BREAKER") - a point which, if the server should lose it, would causes him/her to lose that game (and hence his/her service game). Scores of 30-40 and "ad-out" are both instances where the next point played is a break point. If the server has TWO chances to lose his/her serve -- therefore at a score of 15-40 -- this is called a double break point. Extending the idea, you should see that a triple break point occurs at a score of love-40. BUTT - the bottom of the handle end of the racket BYE - a pass through the first round of a tournament without having to play a match CENTER LINE - the line perpendicular to the net and the service line which divides the service court into two CENTER COURT - mid-court, therefore the general area where the center service line and the service line intersect CENTER-MARK - a short line which bisects the baseline. Used to indicate to the server the correct part of the baseline behind which he/she must stand to serve. CENTER SERVICE LINE - the line perpendicular to the net, extending from the net to the service line thus bisecting the service area into two halves. (Same as center line.) CENTER STRAP - a canvas tape which is looped around the center of the net and anchored to the ground. Used to adjust the height of the net. CHOKE UP - (i) to grip the racket at the upper portion of the handle and not at its base, (ii) to get nervous and lose rhythm in one's game, so letting the opponent get back into the match CHOP - a stroke which puts heavy backspin on the ball. CLAY COURTS - courts made of hard packed clay. Usually have taped lines and small gravel. CLOSED FACE - the racquet is said to have a closed face when the string surface striking the ball looks downward, towards the ground. (See also "OPEN FACE".) COMPOSITION COURTS - courts which are composed of a rubber textured material. CONTINENTAL GRIP - grip in which the hand is moved to the left of the Eastern forehand. In this grip, the knuckle of the index finger will be on the right hand bevel. Can be used for all shots. COVER - Outer nylon dacron nap of the tennis ball. CROSS-COURT - a shot in which the ball is hit diagonally across the court DAVIS CUP - a cup which was donated for international amateur play between countries. A match between the two teams consists of 5 matches - two singles, a doubles, then two "reverse singles" in which players playing in the first two singles matches swap opponents. DEAD BALL - a ball that is no longer in play (because the point has finished) DEUCE - the score that indicates a tied game after each player has scored three or more points (therefore equivalent to 40-40). DEUCE COURT - the court to which a server must score at the score of deuce, therefore the left-hand service court as the server sees it DOUBLE BREAK POINT - a point which, if it or the next point is lost by the server, he/she will lose the game. See also under "Break Point". DOUBLE FAULT - (or DOUBLE) - the failure to have either of the service attempts on a given point be in play. DOUBLES - a game played with two players on each side DOWN THE LINE - a shot which parallels the nearest sideline of the player making the shot DRAW - the pairing scheme made for players to play one another in a tournament DROP SHOT - a gentle shot which just drops over the net and is meant to be out of the reach of the opponent. EASTERN BACKHAND GRIP - grip normally recommended for backhands, in which the hand is rotated 1/4 turn left from the Eastern forehand grip. The index finger knuckle will then be on the top plane of the racket handle. EASTERN FOREHAND GRIP - grip in which the racket head is vertical to the ground - usually called the shake hands grip ERROR - failure to make a legal return ETIQUETTE - manners and courtesies on the tennis court FACE - the hitting surface of the racket, namely the strings FAULT - failure to make a legal serve FLAT SERVE - a serve which is hit hard, but with little spin FOOT FAULT - when a server steps on or over the baseline before she/he makes contact with the ball FORECOURT - the area between the net and the service line FOREHAND - the stroke when the ball is hit from the side of the body where the player's racket arm is FOREST HILLS - the former site of the United States championship in New York. Had grass courts. New site is Flushing Meadow. FRAME - the racket without any strings GAME - is composed of a minimum of four points but must be won by at least two points. GAME POINT - a single point which may determine the winner of a game. GET - the act of returning a difficult, almost impossible shot GRAND SLAM - refers to winning ALL the four major tennis championships in the same year: the French Open (clay, first week of June), Wimbledon (grass, June-July), the US Open (hard court, end August), and the Australian Open (hard court, held in January). These four championships are therefore called Grand Slam championships. GRASS COURT - courts made of thickly packed grass, similar to golf greens. Wimbledon is the most famous example. GRIP - the leather binding wrapped around the handle GROUND STROKE - a stroke played from the back of the court after the ball has bounced GUT - an animal product often used in stringing tennis rackets. Usually lamb's gut HALF-VOLLEY - shot when the ball is hit immediately after it bounces off the ground HANDLE - the lower portion of the racket which is held in the hand HANDLE SIZE - the circumference of the racket handle (usually 4 3/8ths or 4 1/2 inches for women, 4 1/2 or 4 5/8ths inches for men) HARD SURFACE COURT - court which is made of a hard material such as concrete, macadam, or asphalt HEAD - the curved portion of the racket which borders the strings ILTF - International Lawn Tennis Federation INSIDE-OUT - shot in which the hand starts out close in to the body, then moves away. The ball's path gets curved. KILL - to smash a ball out of your opponent's reach so that he/she has no chance to return it. LAMINATIONS - the number of plys of wood to be found in the racket head (of a wooden racket). Wooden rackets are now essentially obsolete. LAWN TENNIS - official name for tennis LET - an interference or hindrance which calls for a point to be played over; or a service which hits the net and lands in the proper service court. LINESMAN - A person whose job is to watch the lines on the court to determine if a ball does or does not hit in court. LOB - to hit the ball high into the air over your opponent's head to the baseline of the court. Usually used when opponent is at the net. LOVE - a zero score. A love game is one in which one of the piayers has scored no points -- hence a score of 40-0 or 0-40 occurred. A love set is a set in which one of the players did not win a game. MATCH - a contest of the best 2 out of 3 sets, or 3 out of 5 sets. Matches of the latter length are used only in men's singles or men's doubles -- and then usually only in the most important tournaments. MATCH POINT - a single point which will directly determine the winner of a match if one player wins it. MIXED DOUBLES - a game played with a man and woman opposing a man and woman. NET - the tape and cord which is strung across the middle of the court. NET GAME - the tactic used by a player who usually plays at the net and volleys the ball, seldom playing from the baseline. NET MAN - the partner in doubles who stays close to the net while his team-mate serves. NO-AD SCORING - see VASSS NO-MANS LAND - the area of the court at and slightly behind the service line NON-PRESSURIZED - tennis balls without compressed air in the middle. Such balls keep their bounce longer. Nowadays not common. OPEN FACE - the racquet is said to have an open face when the string surface hitting the ball looks upward towards the sky. (See also "CLOSED FACE".) PERMANENT FIXTURES - seats, stands, posts etc. Any part of the playing area which is stationary. POACH - refers to the action of the net player in doubles who seeks to pick off the cross court return of his/her partner's serve by moving quickly towards the middle of the net as the serve is made. Poaching is thus a fairly aggressive play, but it risks the returner hitting down the line for a "winner". POINT - the smallest unit of scoring in the game of tennis POST - the uprights at the ends of the net which support it PRESSURIZED - the regular type of tennis ball which contains compressed air inside its rubber coating. RACKET - the implement used to stroke the tennis ball. They used to be made of wood (till about the early 1980's), but now are made with composite materials like fiberglass or graphite. RACKET BALANCE - the weight relationships of the head and throat and handle. RACKET COVER - the rubber-lined canvas cover used to protect your racket RACKET WEIGHT - the number of ounces that your racket weighs. Usually around 14 oz. RALLY - the continued play of hitting the ball back and forth over the net. RECEIVER - the person who is not serving REFEREE - official in charge of a tournament ROUND ROBIN - a type of tournament in which every player plays every other SEEDING - a method of making sure that the best players of a tournament will not meet in the early rounds SERVE - the stroke that places the ball in play into the service court SERVER - the person who puts the ball into play SERVICE - the result of the act of serving SERVICE BREAK - the situation when the server loses the game SERVICE LINE - the line which runs parallel to the net and forms the back of the service courts SERVICE COURT - the area bounded by the side service line, service line, and the net. SET - a unit of scoring. To win a set, a player must win at least 6 games, and must lead by at least 2 games. (This is true for a "regular" set. For a set finished by a tie-breaker, the rule is slightly different.) SET POINT - a single point that can determine the winner of a set. SIDE SERVICE LINE - the part of the side line from the service line to the net. SIDE LINE - the line running the length of the court forming two of its outside boundaries SINGLES - a game played with only one person on a side. SLICE - a shot which uses underspin, and therefore helps to keep it low and "floating". Such a shot will also tend to have a low bounce after landing. SMASH - a hard, overhead, downward hit on the ball STOP VOLLEY - a volley without underspin with the purpose of taking pace off the ball so that the ball "dies" STRINGS - the strings of nylon or gut which form the face of the racket STROKE - hitting the ball SWEET SPOT - the centre face of the racket, where you are supposed to hit the ball TENEZ - a French word meaning to start play. The word tennis is supposed to have derived from this word TENNIS BALL - the rubber nylon felt covered ball TENSION - the "tightness" of the stringing in a racket. 60-65 pounds is most common though some players like very tight strings (tension in the 80's), some loose (in the 50's). THROAT - the portion of the racket between the head and the handle TIE-BREAKER - a method of scoring which is used to determine who wins a set that reaches 6-6. The usual type of tie-breaker is the 12- point tie-breaker. (The reason it's called 12-point has never been very clear to me!) In this, the player who first wins 7 points (or more) by a margin of two points wins the set. TIP - the opposite end of the racket from the butt, hence the top end TOPSPIN - the spin imparted to the ball by coming over the top of it in a low to high motion; thus, a spin that has the top of the ball going away from the hitter. A ball hit with topspin will loop higher over the net than normal, and when it bounces will jump high TOSS - the spinning of the racket to determine the team that has the various choices of service and end at the start of the match TRIPLE BREAK POINT - a point which, if it or either of the next two points are lost by the server, will result in him/her losing the game. The score MUST be 0-40 in this situation. UMPIRE - official in charge of match. UNFORCED ERROR - an error by a player that was not forced by the good shot of the opponent. The chief source of loss of points by beginners and intermediates. UP AND DOWN - terms that are often used to determine the outcome of the toss. One player spins the racket and looks whether the lettering on the butt of the racket is up or down. (It's thus like a coin toss.) Since there's a W on the end of Wilson rackets, this translates into calling W or M: another common racket, the Prince, has a P on the end so the choice is P or d. USTA - United States Tennis Association - the primary organization governing the game in the U.S. VASSS - The Van Alen Simplified Scoring System (commonly called no-ad scoring). Van Alen was the name of the man who invented the scoring system. Within a game, scores of 1-2-3-4 replace the usual 15-30-40-game scoring of points, and the first player reaching four points wins the game. It is used to stop games getting too drawn out because of recurring advantages: it is used in intercollegiate tennis. VOLLEY - to hit the ball before it bounces (or the shot so played). Volley DOES NOT mean the same as rally. WESTERN GRIP - the racket grip in which the hand is essentially under the racket, and the "V" is on the back plane of the handle. Only heavy top-spinners can use this grip.