| The rules for tennis are basic and simple. Before you | | | | players agree to do away with that rule. |
| begin playing tennis, make sure you understand the | | | | Equipment |
| rules and the equipment that's required. Now that we | | | | A regulation size tennis court is part of the basic rules |
| have that out of the way, let's go over the basic rules | | | | for tennis. A regulation size tennis court is 78 feet long |
| for playing tennis. | | | | (23.78 m). It also has a net dividing the middle of the |
| Rules of Tennis | | | | court in half. The line where you serve is marked at 21 |
| The basic rules for playing tennis are really simple. One | | | | feet. |
| of the players serve, or hits, the ball from one corner | | | | Next is the tennis rackets. The usual size for tennis |
| of an area that's marked, also known as a court, that's | | | | rackets used in tournaments are 11 1/2 inches wide |
| divided in half by a net that is three feet tall (about 1 | | | | and 32 inches long. After that is the tennis balls. They |
| meter). The goal of the opposite player is to return the | | | | come in different colors, however the official tennis ball |
| tennis ball. | | | | for tournaments must be white or yellow. |
| It should bounce only once, aiming for the other player | | | | Singles |
| not to be able to return it. When this is done correctly, | | | | Another basic rule for playing tennis includes playing |
| you have scored, which means if the other player isn't | | | | one on one. The server, or first person to hit the tennis |
| able to return the ball without bouncing it once, you'll get | | | | ball, is chosen by spinning a racket or tossing a coin. |
| a point. | | | | The person who wins can elect to give the other |
| Official tennis rules | | | | player the choice of whether or not they want to |
| The overall goal in tennis is to gain enough points to | | | | serve, choose which end they want to serve, or they |
| win games, sets, and matches. The highest score out | | | | can pass their option to the other player. And from |
| of 3 tennis games are known as sets for women. | | | | there, the other player can choose which end they |
| And in men games, it's out of 5. A player only wins a | | | | want to play and if they prefer to serve. The person |
| set if he or she leads by at least two games. | | | | who is able to serve is changed each game, making it |
| Officials | | | | a fair match. |
| Officials are only needed during professional | | | | Doubles |
| tournaments. The official keeps an eye on the lines to | | | | Serving is alternated from player to player and from |
| call where or not the ball is in. The senior empire calls | | | | team to team. It's done this way so that each of the |
| score, can overrule other judges, and is in a very high | | | | players can serve every 4th game. It's traditional for |
| chair on one end of the tennis court. | | | | partners to stand beside each, however, they can |
| There's a match referee, who sits in the stands, and is | | | | stand anywhere, regardless if they're serving or |
| consulted if there's a major conflict during the match. If | | | | receiving. |
| you dispute with any of the judges, you could lose a | | | | Penalties |
| point and possibly be disqualified from the tournament | | | | Here are some penalties that are also in the basic |
| Scoring | | | | rules for playing tennis. They can result in points being |
| Score keeping is part of the basic rules for playing | | | | lost. The penalties are: |
| tennis. When a player hasn't scored, it's called love. | | | | 1. Catching the tennis ball or carrying it in your tennis |
| And when a player does score, it doesn't increase by | | | | racket is against the rules. |
| single digits, it begins at 15, then go up to 30, and then | | | | 2. Throwing your racket or any other kind of abuse. |
| 40. I'll give you an example. Let's say player 1 scores. | | | | 3. If the tennis ball is carried by a person, with the |
| And player 2 hasn't scored yet. Well, the score now is | | | | exception of the racket, or if it hits a player's clothing, |
| 15-love. | | | | then it's against the rules. |
| Whenever the score climbs to 40-40, it's known as a | | | | 4. If you touch the net, posts, your opponent, or any |
| deuce. And the next person to score 2 more points | | | | official, it's against the rules. |
| wins. But let's say a player scores one point after a | | | | 5. Hitting the tennis ball more than once before it has |
| deuce, which is known as an advantage server or | | | | crossed the net. |
| receiver, and they end up losing the next point, the | | | | These are the basic rules for playing tennis. Now that |
| score goes back to deuce. From time to time, some | | | | you know the rules, go out there and have fun. |