The differences between the sports of volleyball and tennis are numerous. Each sport has rules and regulations that govern everything from scoring, court behavior, clothing colors and the types of shoes worn. The most obvious differences are in the playing surface and equipment, net and match format.
Court Surface and Size
Volleyball can be played indoors or on sand. The rules state that an indoor volleyball court must measure 59 feet in length and 29 1/2 feet in width. The size of a beach volleyball court is smaller, measuring 52 feet 6 inches in length and 26 feet 3 inches in width. The sand on beach volleyball courts must be as level and uniform as possible and free of any objects that may injury players.
Tennis is played on carpet, grass, clay or hard courts. The dimensions remain the same no matter the surface. For singles matches, the court measures 78 feet in length and 27 feet in width. The width is extended to 36 feet for doubles matches.
Net
The volleyball net is 39 inches wide and 31 1/2 to 33 feet long. The net must be a uniform height from post to post. The height of the net varies to accommodate different age groups. Typically, the net height measures 7 feet 11 5/8 inches for men and 7 feet 4 1/4 inches for women. Bands are sewn around the perimeter of the net. The top band is 2 3/4 inches wide while the side and bottom bands are 2 inches wide.
The tennis net is 42 feet long and is not a uniform height from post to post. In the center, the net must be 3 feet high, and, at each net post, it must be 3.5 feet high. The center of the net is held down with a 2-inch white strap. A 2-inch white band runs along the top of the net.
Equipment
Other than court equipment, the only other essential volleyball equipment is the ball. The ball is made of synthetic or flexible leather and has an inflatable bladder. The rules state the circumference must be between 25.6 and 26.4 inches and it must weigh between 9 and 10 oz. The air pressure inside the ball is from 4.26 to 4.61 psi.
Aside from the court equipment, a ball and a racket are used in tennis. The ball must be covered with a fabric, felt-like material. It is made with a two-piece rubber core and must be from 2.57 to 2.87 inches in diameter. Tennis balls weigh from 1.975 to 2.095 oz.
The tennis racket is limited to 29 inches in length and the width of the frame at the head cannot be larger than 12.5 inches. The string bed, or hitting surface, is limited to 15.5 inches in length and 11.5 inches in width.
Obvious Match Play Differences
With indoor volleyball matches, there are 12 players on the court, six players from each team. Teams are allowed to make substitutions during a match. In tennis, the maximum number of players on the court is four, two per side. No substitutions are allowed.
In volleyball, the ball is not allowed to hit the surface of the court during the point. It can be touched by up to three different players before hitting it over the net. In tennis, the ball is allowed to bounce only once on a player's side of the net. Only one hit is allowed to return the ball over the net.
To win a volleyball match, a team must win three out of five sets. To win a set, a team must win a total of 25 points with a margin of two points. If there is a set tie of 2-2, the final set is played to 15 points with a margin of two points.
A tennis match typically is won when a player or doubles team has won two out of three sets. Some professional men's tournaments play five sets, and three out of five sets must be won to win the match. A set consists of six games with a margin of two games. Four points are required to win the game, and they are called "love", 15, 30 and 40; with the next point won, the player wins the game. In tennis, "love" is the same thing as zero.
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