How To Play Tennis?

Anuj Ranaware Electronics Sports Tennis October 12, 2023

Tennis is considered to be one of the most demanding sports around, having a popularity even more than that of an industry ruling sport like badminton. Playing tennis has a ton of physical and mental benefits, both helping to enhance the whole of you. Tennis helps you to move every single muscle of your body. It can be played by people of all age groups.

In this blog, I have covered each and every aspect of learning tennis. Whether you are a fresh beginner, or picking up the racket once again, this blog will help you understand the basics of tennis to a whole new level. Just don’t start grunting now (a popular trait of tennis players)

Table of Contents

Why To Play Tennis?

Playing tennis has many benefits. It has both mental and physical benefits. It improves your critical thinking, mental alertness, and tactical thinking by making connections in the brain. Playing tennis helps in regulating sleep cycle, appetite, and your mental and emotional state.

Tennis is a combination of both muscle strength, cardiovascular, and resistance training. While playing Tennis you are constantly moving, and you are changing direction and stretching your body. By playing tennis on a regular basis, you will notice an improvement in agility and flexibility. Thus, tennis is a full-body workout which helps in improving cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and flexibility.

It can also aid in weight management and also improve overall physical fitness. Playing Tennis can help us from heart problems by lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease, and boosting aerobic fitness. Engaging in physical activities like playing tennis can’t help in reducing stress and release endorphins, promoting mental well-being. In research, it has been studied that tennis players live longer compared to normal people.

It is a sport that can be enjoyed all over life and contributing to long life. Success and improvement in sports like tennis can boost your self-confidence. Know WHY?

What do you need to play tennis?

To play tennis, you need the following essential equipment:

Tennis racket: This is the most necessary equipment, as it is what you use to hit the ball. When choosing a racket, it is important to consider your height, strength, and skill level. Just don’t play with an old squash racket, buy a good tennis racket. Know WHY?
Tennis balls: Tennis balls are sold in cans of three or four. They are available in different colors, but the most common are yellow and white. Tennis balls wear out quickly, so it is important to have a fresh can on hand before you go to play.
Tennis shoes: Tennis shoes are designed to provide support and traction on the court. They should also be comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. When choosing tennis shoes, it is important to consider the type of court you will be playing on. For example, if you are playing on a hard court, you will need shoes with more cushioning.
Tennis clothing: Tennis clothing should be comfortable and allow you to move freely. It should also be breathable to wick away sweat. Popular tennis clothing items include shorts, skirts, tank tops, and tennis shirts.

In addition to the essential equipment, there are a number of other items that can be helpful for tennis players. These include:

Dampeners: Dampeners are small devices that attach to the strings of your tennis racket. They help to reduce vibration and noise when you hit the ball. Dampeners are especially helpful for players with arm problems.
Grips: Tennis racket grips are designed to provide a comfortable and secure grip on the racket. Grips wear out over time, so it is important to replace them regularly. When choosing a grip, it is important to consider your hand size and grip style. This is why to grip your racket.
Water bottle: It is important to stay hydrated when playing tennis, so it is a good idea to bring a water bottle with you to the court.

What are the Basic Rules of Tennis?

The serve
The serve is the start of each point. The server stands behind the baseline on one side of the court and hits the ball over the net and into the opposite service box. The receiver must stand behind the baseline on the opposite side of the court and return the serve.
To serve, the player must toss the ball into the air and hit it before it bounces twice. The ball must be hit over the net and into the opposite service box, without touching the net. If the server hits the ball twice, or if the ball touches the net or goes outside of the service box, it is a fault.
Scoring
A player wins a point when their opponent fails to return the ball in bounds, hits the ball into the net, or commits a fault.
To win a game, a player must win four points and be ahead by two points.
To win a match, a player must win two out of three sets.
Fauls
A fault is called when a player hits the ball into the net, hits the ball outside of the court, or touches the net with their body or racket.
If a player commits two faults on the same point, the opponent wins the point.
Net play
A player cannot touch the net with their body or racket.
If a player hits the ball and it touches the net, it is a let and the point is replayed. However, if a player hits the ball and it goes over the net and touches their opponent’s side of the net, it is a fault and the opponent wins the point.
Double hit
A player cannot hit the ball twice in a row.
If a player hits the ball and then hits it again before it bounces, it is a fault and the opponent wins the point.
Out of bounds
A ball is out of bounds if it hits the ground outside of the court, or if it hits the net and does not go over to the other side.
If a player hits the ball and it goes out of bounds, the opponent wins the point.
Change of ends
Players must change ends after every odd game.
This is done to ensure that both players have an equal opportunity to play on both sides of the court.
Don’t Sit
In a tennis match, you are not allowed to sit.
This is only until you finish the whole set. This is WHY.

How Do You Score in Tennis?

Tennis consists of points, games, and sets. If a player want’s to win a game he needs to score four points, and to win a set player needs to win six games, and two sets to win a match.
  The name of these four points are love (zero), 15, 30, 40, and game. If the match is tied at 40-40 it is known as deuce. The game continues till one player wins by a two-point. There are six games in a set and two or three sets in a match. Players must win a set by two games and match by two sets.
  In tennis, a score of Zero is also known as “Love” . You need to get as far away from love as possible. Love is the basis for many tennis jokes and puns, and tennis love is loss.
  In the past the fifth set was a Grand Slam and only the fifth set was recognised as an “advantage set,” where a tiebreaker was not used to figure out the winner of the match. While the advantage set is played. The score is tied at 6-6, the game continues till one player or team wins the game by two points. So these sets could go on indefinitely, so tennis’ governing bodies in 2019 insisted the new rules.

Decide who will serve first.
The first step in any tennis match is to decide who will serve first. This can be done with a coin toss for a racket spin. The server has two chances to get the ball into the service box. If the server hits the ball out of bounds, into the net, or steps on the line while serving, it is considered a fault. Two faults in a row resulted in a double fault and the loss of a point.
Alternate serving sides.
The first serve of each game starts on the right side of the court, also known as the “deuce side.” The next point comes from the left side, also known as the “ad court” (short for “advantage”). Serve sides are always alternated, and unless you are doing a second serve, you should never serve from the same side twice in a row.
Use your arsenal.
Tennis players have a variety of strokes at their disposal, including a forehand, backhand, serve, and volley. The forehand is the most common stroke in tennis, and it is hit with the racket in front of the body. The backhand is hit with the racket behind the body. The serve is the stroke used to start each point, and the volley is a shot hit before the ball bounces.
Use your mind.
Tennis is more than just hitting the ball over the net. It is also a game of strategy and mental toughness. Tennis players need to be able to think quickly and make decisions on the fly. They also need to be able to stay focused and composed under pressure.
Change playing sides to the odd games.
To ensure that both players have an equal opportunity to play on both sides of the court, players must change sides after every odd game. This means that the players will always switch after the first game, and then after every two games after that.

Some Tennis Tips for Beginners

Here are some tennis tips for beginners:

Learn the basics. This covers techniques such racket holding, court movement, and the fundamental strokes (forehand, backhand, serve, and volley). To assist you understand the fundamentals, there are a ton of materials available online and in libraries.
Get lessons from a qualified instructor. A qualified coach may also assist you in determining your strengths and shortcomings and creating a game-improvement strategy.
Practice regularly. Your skills will improve as you practice more. At least 30 minutes of practice should be done three to four times a week
Play with people of different skill levels. This is a fantastic method to push yourself and broaden your knowledge. You won’t advance as quickly if you simply play against players of similar skill.

Here are some additional tips that may be helpful for beginners:

Keep your eye on the ball at all times. You’ll be able to make better contact with the ball and fire shots with greater accuracy as a result
Be patient. To improve as a tennis player, one needs time and practice. If you don’t notice results right away, don’t give up. Simply keep practicing, and you’ll get better.

Conclusion

So all in all, now you know the major part of tennis, from the rules to the equipment that you need to know and have. So now, you are all set to go on the quest of tennis….

Reference: SportsEdTV

FAQs

How do you play basic tennis rules?

What Are the Basic Rules of Tennis?

Keep it inside the lines. …
Keep score. …
Avoid touching the net. …
Hold onto your racket. …
Hit the ball after one bounce. …
A ball in the air is a ball in play. …
Win by two.

How do you win playing tennis?

In order to win a game, players must with four points. The name of these four points is love (zero), 15, 30, 40, and game. If the game is tied at 40-40 (also known as deuce), the game continues until one player wins by a two-point lead. There are six games in a set and two or three sets in a match.

How do you read a tennis score?

Before we go into detail, here is your guide to scoring a game:

0 points= Love.
1 point = 15.
2 points= 30.
3 points= 40.
Tied score= All.
40-40 = Deuce.
Server wins deuce point = Ad-In.
Receiver wins deuce point = Ad-Out.

What are sets in tennis?

Set – The next unit of tennis scoring above a game. A player wins a set when they have won six games and are at least two games clear of their opponent. If a set reaches 6-6, it is usually decided by a tiebreak.

What is the first point in tennis called?

For the unfamiliar, tennis starts with both players at zero, called love: “Love-all.” One person scores: 15 to love. The server’s score is said first, the receiver’s second. The other now scores, and they’re tied at “15-all.” The next point is 30, then 40, and the following point wins that game.