Do you speak tennis? Like practically every other sport, tennis has its own set of terms and jargon that might sound a little confusing to the beginner. If you're just starting out or want to be better informed while you watch matches, you can use the following list of tennis terms to help you expand your tennis vocabulary.
Have we forgotten any? Let us know in the comments section below :-)
Error: a failed shot that results in a lost point.
Fault: a serve that lands out of bounds.
Fifteen or Five: count for the first point of a game going to a player or side.
First Flight: movement of the tennis ball from the racket hit until just before it bounces.
First Service: the first of two attempts by a player to serve the ball in bounds.
Flat: lingo for a rapid, straight shot without spin.
Follow Through: movement of the arm with the racket after the ball has been hit.
Foot Fault: occurs when a player steps on the end line before making contact with the ball during a serve.
Foot Fault Judge: an official who monitors and calls foot faults.
Forced Error: a shot that is placed in such a way that it is mis-hit by the opposition.
Forehand: a stroke played with the palm of the hand facing in the direction of the stroke.
Forcing Shot: tactic where a player's shot places the opponent on the defensive.
Forecourt: specific location between the net and service line.
Forty: count for the third point of a game going to a player or side.
Frame: term for the oval part of the racket that houses the strings.
Hacker: lingo for a series of swings or shots by a player that appear to be luck more than skill.
Half Court: term for court area near the service line.
Half Volley: action occurs when the tennis ball is struck as it hits the court.
Head: the top portion of the racquet where the strings are found.
Heavy Ball: jargon for tennis shot hit with topspin.
Hit on the Rise: term for a ball played before reaching the bounce high point.
Hopper: tennis balls holder.
In: valid tennis shot landing in the opponent's court.
In To The Net: see "At Net".
Jam: ball hit near the opposing player's body resulting in a weak return.
Jump Smash: jargon for a player's vigorous hit while jumping into the air.
Kick Serve: term for robust spinning hit resulting in a change of direction when it lands.
Kill: lingo for a heavy hit that leaves the opponent unable to reach and play it.
Lawn Tennis: name for the original tennis game location, played on grass.
Let: a ball touching the net on the serve but landing in bounds.
Line Judge: a person with the responsibility of ruling the ball in or out of bounds.
Lob: a ball hit high in the air into the opponent's court.
Long: hit that is called out of bounds as it lands beyond the opposing baseline.
Love: tennis game where the losing player scores no points.
Love Set: a game set where the losing player won no games.
Match: tennis game that includes games and sets where the winner is declared based on greater number of sets won.
Match Point: the point in a game where a player can win the entire match by winning the final set with the next point.
Mini-Break: term for a loss of a point on service during a tiebreaker.
Mixed Doubles: typical doubles tennis played with a male and female on each team.
Net: suspended from a steel cable, equipment divides a tennis court into halves. Also, the verb, 'to net', refers to hitting the ball into the net.
Net Cord: cable support for the net.
Net Judge: a game official who monitors and calls lets on service.
Net Point: a point won by charging and playing close to the net.
No-Ad: A system of scoring a game in which the first player to win four points wins the game. If the score reaches 3-all, the next point decides the game.
No-man's land: lingo for the area located between the baseline and service line where it is a challenge to hit groundstrokes or slams.
Not Up: term for tennis ball hit at a second bound resulting in a point loss.
Umpire: a game official who is the 'boss' of a tennis match. The final word, the umpire may also overturn decisions by other judges if necessary.
Underspin: the spin put on a ball by hitting under the ball, causing it to spin in the opposite direction of travel.
Unforced Error: term used to describe a shot that goes into the net or out of bounds resulting in a lost point.
Volley: a shot hit prior to the ball bouncing on your side of the court.
Walkover: jargon for an easy win resulting from the opponent's default.
Wide: service shot that lands beyond the sideline or service sideline.
Wrong-foot: lingo for shot to the opponent's side while this player is moving or turned in a different direction.
WTA: the Women's Association of Tennis is the governing body of women's tennis.
Yips: a bad case of nerves making it very difficult for a gamer to play well. This phrase can be used in reference to many games and is recognized by both players and fans alike.
