Tennis Terms
A Tennis Terms list sorted into different sections and then repeated as one complete vocabulary list.
Court Tennis Terms
To see an illustrated picture of these tennis terms and where there are on the tennis court follow this link.
Ad service box - The box to serve into when the score is ad.
Baseline - The line that marks the end of the court, a ball hit past this line is called long.
Center service line - The line that divides the court in half and is used to determine where to serve.
Center mark - The tab that marks the center of the court at the baseline.
Deuce service box - The box to serve into when the score is deuce.
Doubles alleys - The thin areas on the outside of the court used only for doubles matches.
Doubles lines - The very outside lines and used for doubles play or 4 players.
Net - The piece of material separating the 2 sides of the court.
No man's land - The area between the baseline and the service line.
Service Line - The line that designates the end of the service box.
Singles Lines - The lines running the length of the court beside the doubles lines.
Play Tennis Terms
Tennis terms that arise during a match.
Ace - A serve that the receiver does not touch.
Australian doubles - Where the server and partner stand on the same side of the court when serving.
Cross court - A shot hit diagonally from corner to corner.
Double fault - You have two attempts to serve into the appropropriate service box. If unsuccessful you lose the point.
Doubles - Tennis with 4 players.
Down the line - A shot hit that stays on the same side of the court. It goes over this highest part of the net.
Drop shot - A softly hit shot that bounces just past the net usually hit with slice or backspin.
Drop volley - A drop shot that is hit before the ball bounces. Not as hard as it sounds.
Fault - A serve that does not land in the correct service box.
Ground Stroke - A ball hit after it bounces usually from behind the baseline.
Half volley - A shot that is hit immediately after the ball bounces.
Let - When you replay a point, usually when the serve hits the net and bounces into the appropriate service box.
Lob - Usually a defensive shot hit over your opponents head while they are at the net.
Long - A ball that is hit past the appropriate court area (baseline or service line).
Mixed Doubles - Tennis with 4 players, 2 males and 2 females. Rumored to be the cause of many divorces.
Out - A ball that does not hit in the appropriate court area.
Poach - A doubles tennis term when you cross in front of your partner and hit the ball, usually a volley.
Rally - Multiple good shots that make up a point.
Receiver - Hits the ball second.
Server - Hits the ball first.
Singles - Tennis with 2 players.
Scoring Tennis Terms
This is a list about tennis terms used in scoring. Follow this link for a discussion of tennis scoring.
12 Point Tiebreaker - Used to end a set if tied at 6 games each.
Ad in (Advantage in) - Game point for server.
Ad Out (Advantage out) - Game point for receiver.
Break - When you win your opponents service game.
Coman - A variety of tiebreaker.
Deuce - Tie game score over 40-40 or 3-3.
Down a Break - Having lost one more service game than your opponent. At the pro level this is very important because serving is such a big advantage.
Games - Are won by winning the appropriate number of points and add up to a set.
Love - Is the tennis term for zero. Not something I want when playing.
Match - Is where you can brag that you beat somebody or team.
Mini Break - Winning a point on your opponents serve during a tie breaker.
No-Ad scoring -After 40-40 the next person to win a point wins the game.
On Serve - Neither player has lost their serve or each player has lost equal number of service games.
Points - A rally ends with a player winning a point and add up to a game.
Sets - Are won by winning the appropriate number of games and add up to a match.
Super Tiebreaker - A tiebreaker used by the USTA to end a match at 1 set apiece.
Tiebreaker - A different scoring game to quickly end a set or match.
Up a Break - Having your opponent lost one more service game. At the pro level this is very important because serving is such a big advantage.
Shot Tennis Terms Vocabulary
The following is a list of tennis terms related to hitting the tennis ball.
Backhand - A shot were your arm goes across your body on the back swing.
Back swing - The swing of the racquet before the ball is hit.
Continental Grip - Tends to be used for serves and volleys. In between a eastern and western grip.
Eastern Grip - Tends to be used for backhands.
Follow through - The swing of the racquet after the ball is hit.
Forehand - A shot were your arm goes across you body on the follow through.
Overhead - Similar to a serve but hit during the point.
Point of Contact - The location the ball is hit.
Serve - A shot usually hit over your head into a service box to start a point.
Slice - The spin put on the ball when you hit under the bottom of the ball.
Smash - Synonym for an overhead. Similar to a serve but hit during the point.
Top Spin - The spin put on the ball when you hit over the top of the ball. Helps the ball stay in the court.
Volley - A shot hit before the ball bounces.
Western Grip - When used for a forehand it typically generates a lot of top spin.
Complete Tennis Terms Glossary
12 Point Tiebreaker - Used to end a set if tied at 6 games each.
Ace - A serve that the receiver does not touch.
Ad in (Advantage in) - Game point for server.
Ad Out (Advantage out) - Game point for receiver.
Ad service box - The box to serve into when the score is ad.
Australian doubles - Where the server and partner stand on the same side of the court during the serve.
Backhand - A shot were your arm goes across your body on the back swing.
Back swing - The swing of the racquet before the ball is hit.
Baseline - The line that marks the end of the court, a ball hit past this line is called long.
Break - When you win your opponents service game.
Center mark - The tab that marks the center of the court at the baseline.
Center service line - The line that divides the court in half and used to determine where to serve.
Coman - A variety of tiebreaker.
Continental Grip - Tends to be used for serves and volleys. In between a eastern and western grip.
Cross court - A shot hit diagonally from corner to corner.
Deuce - Tie game score over 40-40 or 3-3.
Deuce service box - The box to serve into when the score is deuce.
Double fault - You have two attempts to serve into the appropropriate service box. If unsuccessful you lose the point.
Doubles - Tennis with 4 players.
Doubles alleys - The thin areas on the outside of the court used only for doubles.
Doubles lines - The very outside lines and used for doubles play or 4 players.
Down a Break - Having lost one more service game than your opponent. At the pro level this is very important because serving is such a big advantage.
Down the line - A shot hit that stays on the same side of the court. It goes over this highest part of the net.
Drop shot - A softly hit shot that bounces just past the net usually hit with slice or backspin.
Drop volley - A drop shot that is hit before the ball bounces. Not as hard as it sounds.
Eastern Grip - Tends to be used for backhands.
Fault - A serve that does not land in the correct service box.
Follow through - The swing of the racquet after the ball is hit.
Forehand - A shot were your arm goes across you body on the follow through.
Games - Are won by winning the appropriate number of points and add up to a Set.
Ground Stroke - A ball hit after it bounces usually from behind the baseline.
Half volley - A shot that is hit immediately after the ball bounces.
Let - When you replay a point, usually when the serve hits the net and bounces in the appropriate service box.
Lob - Usually a defensive hit over your opponents head while they are at the net.
Long - A ball that is hit past the out of the appropriate court area (baseline or service line).Love - Is the tennis term for zero. Not something I want when playing.
Match - Is where you can brag that you beat somebody or team.
Mini Break - Winning a point on your opponents serve during a tie breaker.
Mixed Doubles - Tennis with 4 players 2 males and 2 females. Rumored to be the cause of many divorces.
Net - The piece of material separating the 2 sides of the court.
No-Ad scoring -After 40-40 the next person to win a point wins the game.
No man's land - The area between the baseline and the service line.
On Serve - Neither player has lost their serve or each player has lost equal number of service games.
Out - A ball that does not hit in the appropriate court area.
Overhead - Similar to a serve but hit during the point.
Poach - A doubles term when you cross in front of your partner and hit the ball usually a volley.
Point of Contact - The location the ball is hit.
Points - A rally ends with a player winning a point and add up to a Game.
Rally - Multiple good shots that make up a point.
Receiver - Hits the ball second.
Serve - A shot hit over your head into a service box to start a point.
Server - Hits the ball first.
Service Line - The line the designates the end of the service box.
Sets - Are won by winning the appropriate number of games and add up to a Match.
Singles - Tennis with 2 players.
Singles Lines - The lines running the length of the court beside the doubles lines.
Slice - The spin put on the ball when you hit under the bottom of the ball.
Smash - Synonym for an overhead. Similar to a serve but hit during the point.
Super Tiebreaker - A tiebreaker used by the USTA to end a match at 1 set apiece.
Tiebreaker - A different scoring game to quickly end a set or match.
Top Spin - The spin put on the ball when you hit over the top of the ball. Helps the ball stay in the court.
Up a Break - Having your opponent lost one more service game. At the pro level this is very important because serving is such a big advantage.
Volley - A shot hit before the ball bounces.
Western Grip - When used for a forehand it typically generates a lot of top spin.
5/25/2009
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