Whether you are a professional tennis player or a beginner, tennis is a physically demanding sport. Muscles and joints must work in tandem to make an impact in the game. In addition, tennis is also a mentally taxing game; it needs players to be a quick thinker to make the best shots. Therefore, the more you practice tennis basics, the more you will establish your skills, and your game will exponentially improve.
Why should you play tennis?
Tennis has so many benefits to the body and mind. It boasts one’s agility, eye coordination, and also balance. Like any other rigorous physical activity, the upper body and the footwork helps one’s health and physical shape. The game’s techniques require requisite thinking and strategies. This also boosts the player’s overall critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Besides the benefits, a tennis match minimally needs two players. Meaning, it also enhances one’s social skills, and if it’s a double team, teamwork skills are boosted.
Equipment one needs to play tennis
Like any other game, tennis has its tools. They include a tennis court, tennis racket, tennis ball, and tennis shoes. Both the racket grip and head are supposed to be at the right weight and size for the player’s skill level. Your shoes should also provide you with enough base support to prevent your ankles from rolling during side-to-side movements. Some tennis clubs have got a particular dress code.
Rules for playing tennis
Whether you warmed up or geared up, you still need some tennis basics to make it in the courtyard. You can use various moves such as backhand volleys, lobs, drop shots, forehand strokes, and even a superior tennis grip combination to try to win. Still, without the fundamentals of tennis, winning can be a big mountain.
So, what are the basics?
• Ensure you are inside the lines
When it comes to single lines, they serve should always be over the net to the opponent’s opposite service box. If, for instance, the ball strikes the net and lands in the proper’s service box, it is called “let” and in that situation, the server should start again. The other rule regarding the landing of the ball is that if technically the ball hits outside the box, and some of its parts touch the line, it is still called an in-play. Also, it should be noted that during the match, the ball should always stay within the court’s boundaries.
• Scoring criteria
It should be noted that tennis has a unique system when it comes to scores. Therefore, it’s so crucial to be updated with your points to know the winner. The scoring criteria is that the servers always state their score even if they are less than the competitor.
• Never should you touch the net
One thing that you should be cautious about is the net. The net is the primary separator of the opponents, any touch on the net position is regarded as an offense, and it’s punishable, whether the touch was intentional or accidental.
• Have a good grip on your racket
Ensure your racket stays on your hands for the entire match. If you throw the racket at the ball or drop the racket, you bound to lose some points. At the end of the game, the players must return their rackets with the ball, and also, no other part of the body should be included in returning the racket and the ball apart from the hand.
• The ball should be hit after a single bounce.
It should be noted that the point is over or done if the ball bounces twice. Also, as a player, you are supposed to hit the ball only once. Even if you hit the ball and it lands near you, the point is considered to be over if the ball does not cross to the opponent’s end.
• If the ball is in the air, it’s for play
This one is a bit tricky, but you should be well acquainted with this rule. Whether the competitor is out of the baseline territory and makes contact with the ball when it’s in the air, the play is considered ongoing. A ball cannot be called off before it bounces.
• A win must be in a margin of two
In a tennis match, both points and games are won by a margin of two. In the situation of a tie, players are subjected to a relation of six games. Meaning the players have to face each in a seven-point semi-match. After every service point, players switch sides, and the first player to attain the two points, wins the match.
What are the scoring criteria in tennis?
After knowing some basic rules, next, you are supposed to know how to score. The scoring criteria is a bit confusing at the start, but relatively easy once one get versed with the dynamics. The game has six sets, and most of them are played in threes and if it’s professional men’s tennis, it is often played in fives. Players should win every set by a limit of two games. Scoring criteria works in the following modality:
• Games start at 0-0
The game starts at “love” or 0-0, then it increases to 15, 30, and 40 in that sequence for every scored point.
• The score of the server should be announced first
In each tennis game, one player serves at a time, and the first server starts at the court’s right side, and after every point, players alternate. When the match ends, serving turns among the players; on each odd game, players switch. And the scores of the game are announced first.
• Ad-phase criteria
When the players’ scores are in a tie, meaning there’s no winner, they have to enter what is called the “ad phase.” It must be noted that two points wins the game, and any player who scores two points of the other after the regular match limits wins the prescribed match.
• Go back to deuce or win
If the server wins the next point, they win the game, but if the points are lost, the game goes back to deuce, where a server once more should win the match with two consecutive points.
Some tennis insights
Below are some of the steps that you should follow in playing tennis:
• Who plays first? A racket spin or the coin decides who plays first. Once the first server is determined, the server is accorded only two opportunities. If the ball gets into the net, hits out the court, or the server while serving steps on the line, that is a fault. And if the server fails to land the second serve, it is a double fault, and a point loss occurs.
• Alternating serving sides. All the first serves of every game start the “deuce side” or the court’s right side. The come the point begins at the “ad court” or left side of the court. The sides are interchanged, not unless one is making a second serve.
• Using the arsenal. Whether you are using the right of the left hand, your backhand and forehand groundstrokes, along with your serves, will help you to win points. This because they provide necessary strengths.
• Use the mind. Quick thinking plays a significant role when it comes to tennis. Making faster decisions on tennis strokes pushes the opponent to make some game errors.
• Change of playing sides. Since the sun and wind play a significant role in tennis, alternating play sides must take place to provide equal playgrounds.
Bottom line
Tennis is one of the dominant game in the globe. Many people are doing their best to understand the dynamics of this popular game. Knowing the basics of the game helps one to master the art of winning. Whether you are a professional gamer or a beginner, you need to understand the basics of the game.
The article has served the purpose of enlightening you. It has covered the vital areas when it comes to tennis. All you are supposed to do is equipping yourself with the mentioned tips and do research on others, and then incorporate them into your play. Theory alone is not enough; you need to practice as you read; that is when you will thrive.