Is your child ready for their first session at our junior summer tennis camp in Toronto? Before they step foot on the court, give them the opportunity to learn the tennis terminology! Below, we explain some of the most common tennis terminology your child should know.
Basic Terminology
- Court: The area where tennis is played.
- Net: The barrier that separates the court at a midway point.
- Serve: The action when a player throws the ball into the air to hit it to the other side of the court.
- Forehand: A hit performed on the dominant side of the body with the dominant hand holding the racket.
- Backhand: A hit performed on the non-dominant side of the body with one or both hands holding the racket.
- Volley: A hit before the ball bounces on the court.
- Overhead: A hit above the player’s head.
- Advantage: The score after a deuce.
Advanced Terminology
- Topspin: An aggressive spin of the ball at the top for a higher bounce and dip shot.
- Slice: Forcing the ball to curve and spin out by hitting it on the underside to create a backspin.
- Drop shot: Hitting the ball to direct it over the net.
- Lob: A high and deep hit to land near the baseline.
- Approach shot: Hitting the ball to force the opponent to move close to the net.
- Passing shot: A hit to force the ball to pass the opponent on the left or right with a landing within the playing area.
- Rally: Continuous return shots between opponents until a point is scored.
Scorekeeping
Tennis is scored based on a series of points. Players need four points to win a game, six-game wins to win a set, and two or three set wins to win a match.
Game: This refers to the sequence of points won while the same player continues to serve.
- Love: Equates to “zero” under the pointing, game, or set system.
- 15: One point
- 30: Two points
- 40: Three points
- Deuce: When the present score is tied at 40-40.
- Game: When a player scores four points and is ahead by at least two points.
Set: A set is a collection of six games. A player must have a margin of two games won to be declared the winner.
- Tiebreak: Refers to the deciding set when a game reaches a tie. Players will play a first to seven-point game with the winner having two points above the opponent.
- Mini-break: During a tiebreak game, it is the point received on the opponent’s serve.
- Set point: Called when the next point scored is the winning point for the set.
Match: A collection of sets. It can be the best of three or five sets and the official call is “game, set and match”.
- Best-of-three: A match scoring system wherein the first player to win two sets wins the match.
- Best-of-five: A match scoring system wherein the first player to win three sets wins the match.
Learn the Terminology and Proper Tennis Techniques at Bayview Village Tennis Camp
With Tennis Canada-certified instructors and experienced staff, Bayview Village Tennis Camp is the best place for your child to learn and improve their tennis skills. We have tennis camps in North York and Toronto for beginner, junior, immediate, and advanced tennis players.
Call us at (905) 889-7293 or e-mail pnielsen889@rogers.com with any questions or concerns.