| This article is going to talk about a number of things | | | | hit with either one (your dominant arm, reaching across |
| that go into playing tennis. It will focus on equipment, the | | | | your body) or two hands. The serve starts the point |
| various shots involved in the game, and the scoring, but | | | | and must be hit behind the baseline into a service box. |
| it won't go into specifics on any particular topic. | | | | The Scoring |
| Equipment | | | | The scoring of a tennis match is very unique. You |
| There are three things you need to play tennis: a | | | | need to win four points to win a game and six games |
| tennis racket, some tennis balls, and a tennis court. A | | | | to win a set. Matches are typically best-out-of-three |
| tennis racket is, of course, specifically designed for the | | | | sets, but for major tournaments they are |
| sport. All rackets have approximately the same design: | | | | best-out-of-five sets. Both players start at 0 - 0. Let's |
| a handle (sometimes called a "grip") and an | | | | say the server wins the first point. He is now up 15 - 0. |
| oval-shaped head with strings. A tennis ball is about | | | | If he wins the next point he is up 30 - 0, and if he wins |
| two and a half inches in diameter and covered in felt. | | | | the one after that he is up 40 - 0. So the first point you |
| Typically, the inside of a ball is pressurized so that it | | | | win gives you 15, the second 30, and the third 40. If |
| bounces relatively high. Finally, a tennis court is 78 feet | | | | both players make it to 40 (so 40 - 40), this situation is |
| across and 27 feet wide (for singles) with two-inch | | | | called deuce. From this spot, a player must win two |
| white lines dividing the various areas of the court. | | | | consecutive points to win the game. If one player wins |
| The Strokes | | | | the first point, but the other player wins the next, they |
| There are several basic strokes in tennis: the forehand, | | | | are back to deuce. |
| the backhand, and the serve. The forehand is hit with | | | | While this is somewhat of a rough introduction to how |
| your dominant hand on the dominant side of your body. | | | | to play tennis, hopefully you've got a better picture. If |
| For example, if you are right handed, you would use | | | | you're still interested in learning how to play tennis, |
| that hand to hit a forehand on the right side of your | | | | please visit our website! |
| body. The backhand is on your non-dominant side and | | | | |