If you're looking for a sport you can learn today and enjoy for a lifetime, then tennis might be right for you. Not only can you burn calories, improve your speed, coordination, balance and build strength, but you can also gain numerous psychological benefits as well. Tennis can be both social and competitive and, most important, it can also be fun. Learning the rules is relatively easy, but mastering the strategy and technique can be a never-ending pursuit.
Court
Step 1
Note the court dimensions. For singles, the court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide. For doubles it is 78 feet long and 36 feet wide. Balls that land on or inside the lines are good. The net is 3 feet tall at the center and 3 1/2 feet tall at the sidelines.
Step 2
Place your dominant hand, palm down, on the strings of your racket. Slide it down the shaft of the racket to the grip and close your hand. It should feel like you're shaking hands with the racket.
Step 3
Stand behind the baseline on the right side of the court and toss a ball into the air using your non-dominant hand. Strike the ball before it bounces with your arm fully extended. Aim the ball into the service box diagonally across the net. If your serve lands in the service box, it is good; if not, it is a "fault." If your first serve misses, you get a second serve; if that serve misses, it is a "double fault" and your opponent is awarded the point. If your serve hits the tape and lands in, it is a "let" or do-over. On the next point, move to the other side of the court and serve into the opposite service box.
Step 4
After your opponent returns your serve, hit it back to him. Use a forehand if the ball lands on the side of your dominant hand. Turn sideways, take your racket back and contact the ball with your strings pointed in the direction you'd like it to go.
Step 5
If the ball comes back on the side of your non-dominant hand, hit a backhand. Place your non-dominant hand on the grip above your dominant hand. Turn sideways, take your racket back, and aim your strings in the direction you'd like the ball to go.
Step 6
In some cases, you might want to hit the ball before it bounces, which is called a "volley." The closer you can get to the net, the better. Turn sideways, keep your wrist firm and block the ball back over the net.
Step 7
Keep score. The first point is called 15, the second 30, the third 40 and the fourth point wins a game. If the game is tied 40-40, that is called deuce. You or your opponent must win two points in a row after deuce to win a game. You win a set by being the first player to win six games, by a margin of two games. If the set is tied 6-6, play a tiebreaker. The first person to seven points, leading by two, wins the set. Matches are usually either best of three sets or best of five sets.
Step 8
You and your opponent will alternate serving after each game, and will switch sides of the net after every odd-numbered game to balance the playing conditions.
Tips and Warnings
- To start a match, either flip a coin or spin a racket. The winner of the toss/spin gets to choose whether he serves or returns. The other player gets to decide which side of the net he wants to start on. When you are serving, call out the score of the game prior to each game and each point to avoid disagreements later on. If your service toss isn't where you'd like it, you can catch the ball or let it bounce with no penalty. You are responsible for calling all balls in or out that are on your side of the net. When in doubt, call your opponent's balls good. Many players prefer to use only one hand on their backhand side. Do whatever feels most comfortable to you.
- Make sure you don't step on the baseline before contacting the ball on your serve. If you do, it is a fault. Don't let the ball hit you or any part of your clothing. If it does, you lose the point. Don't touch the net with any part of your body or your racket when the ball is in play. If you do, you lose the point.
Things You'll Need
- Tennis court
- Tennis racket
- Tennis balls
- Playing partner
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