Skip to main content
Tennis Glossary
Learn the language of Tennis — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
282 terms
- AceBeginnerAn ace is a legal serve the receiver fails to touch with the racquet, winning the point outright. The headword "ace" is used as-is across languages.
- Adjustment StepsBeginnerAdjustment steps are the small, quick steps you take just before contact to fine-tune your distance from the ball. After the big steps that get you there, shorten your stride and keep your feet moving until the ball is in your strike zone. They fix being too close, too far or late.
- Aggressive Baseline PlayIntermediateAggressive baseline play means taking the ball early and hitting with pace and depth from the baseline. It dictates rallies instead of waiting for errors.
- All-Court Game StyleAdvancedAn all-court game blends baseline power, net play, serve-and-volley, and touch shots. It adapts to the opponent and situation instead of using one style.
- Ankle Sprains on CourtBeginnerLower your risk of rolling an ankle by warming up well, strengthening your ankles and training your balance. Wear supportive tennis shoes with soles that grip your court surface, and replace them when the tread wears. A past sprain raises the risk of another one, so finish your recovery exercises first. If the ankle swells, bruises or won't take weight, see a medical professional.
- Anticipation and Reaction TimeIntermediateAnticipation is reading cues in an opponent's preparation, body, and court position before contact. Moving early buys more time than reaction speed alone.
- Approach ShotIntermediateAn approach shot is struck off a short ball as the player moves toward the net, designed to put the opponent under pressure while allowing time to close into a volley position.
- Approach to NetIntermediateApproaching the net means moving forward from the baseline after an approach shot or serve. The aim is to put away the point with a volley or overhead.
- Arming the BallIntermediateArming the ball means swinging with the arm alone instead of turning the legs, hips and shoulders first. To stop it, make an early unit turn, start the forward swing by rotating your hips and torso, and let a relaxed arm follow. The arm should feel like it is along for the ride.
- Around the Net Post and Net Cord (Rule)IntermediateYes, you can hit around the net post in tennis. Under ITF Rule 25, a return that passes outside the posts is good if it lands in, even below net height or after touching a post. In a rally, a ball that clips the cord, a post or a singles stick and lands in is also good.
- ATP Rankings and Grand SlamsIntermediateATP ranking points are earned by how far you go in each tournament, and bigger events give more points. In the 2026 table, a Grand Slam title is worth 2000 points, a Masters 1000 title 1000, an ATP 500 title 500 and an ATP 250 title 250. A player's ranking adds up their best 18 results, plus the ATP Finals for those who qualify.
- Attacking Short BallsIntermediateTo attack a short ball, read it early and move forward fast, with small steps at the end. Get beside the ball and take it around waist height or above, before it drops. Hit firmly but with margin, usually deep or to the weaker side, and keep moving toward the net.
- Attacking the Weaker SideIntermediateHit most of your shots to their weaker side, often the backhand, but not every single one. If you only hit there, they will cover it and run around to forehands. Pull them wide to the stronger side now and then, then go back to the weakness when the court opens.
- Australian Formation (Doubles)AdvancedIn the Australian formation, the server and net partner start on the same side. It takes away the easy crosscourt return and forces a down-the-line reply.
- BackhandBeginnerThe backhand is a groundstroke hit on the non-dominant side of the body, played either with one hand or two, and can be struck flat, with topspin, or as a slice.
- Backhand Overhead (Backhand Smash)AdvancedTo hit a backhand overhead, turn your back almost fully to the net and take the ball above your hitting shoulder. Use a continental grip and lead with the elbow. Snap the racquet up and out through contact, then aim for placement over power.
- Backhand SliceIntermediateTo hit a backhand slice that stays low, use a continental grip, take the racquet back above the ball and swing forward and slightly down. Keep the face a little open, meet the ball in front of the front foot and finish long toward the target. A steep chop makes the ball float.
- Backhand Slice GripBeginnerThe backhand slice grip is usually a continental or mild eastern-backhand grip. It naturally opens the face for the high-to-low swing that makes underspin.
- Bagel and Breadstick (Set Scores)BeginnerA bagel is a set won 6-0, where the loser does not win a single game. The name comes from the 0 looking like a bagel. A breadstick is a set won 6-1, where the loser wins just one game. A double bagel is a match won 6-0, 6-0.
- Balance Through ContactIntermediateBalance through contact means the center of mass stays controlled through impact, even on the move. The swing then transfers full power and direction.
- Ball Hits a Player (Rule)BeginnerIf the ball hits you, or anything you are wearing or carrying other than your racquet, before it bounces, you lose the point. That holds even if you are standing outside the court and the ball was clearly going out. Catching a ball in play before it bounces also loses the point. On the serve, if the ball hits the receiver or the receiver's partner before it lands. The server wins the point unless it was a let.
- Ball MachinesIntermediateA ball machine is worth it if you want lots of repetitions without a partner. It feeds the same ball again and again, which suits grooving strokes, footwork and recovery. It can't read your shots or play points, so use it alongside live hitting rather than instead of it.
- Ball on the Line (Line Rule)BeginnerA ball that touches any part of a line is in. Under ITF Rule 12, the line counts as part of the court it marks. In matches without officials, The Code says a ball is good unless you clearly see space between where it landed and the line.
- Baseline GameBeginnerA baseline game controls points from the back of the court. Deep, consistent groundstrokes move the opponent and create openings, with no net approach.
- Beating a PusherIntermediateA pusher gets every ball back with safe, slow, often high shots and waits for you to miss. To beat one, rally patiently with margin, step in to take short or floating balls early, and finish at the net. Use drop shots and short angles to pull them forward and wide.
- Between-Point RoutineBeginnerBetween points, use the same short routine every time. Turn away from the court, take a slow breath to calm down, choose a simple plan for the next point, then settle into your serve or return ritual. A common four-step version is respond, recover, refocus and ready. ITF rules allow up to 25 seconds between points, which is enough time for all four.
- Block ReturnIntermediateA block return uses almost no backswing. A firm, stable racquet face absorbs the serve's pace and redirects the ball back deep.
- Body ServeIntermediateA body serve is aimed directly at the returner's torso or hip. It denies them room to swing freely and forces a cramped, defensive return.
- Break PointBeginnerA break point is any point where the returning player, if they win it, would take the game away from the server. Winning it "breaks" the server's serve.
- Break Point Conversion RateAdvancedBreak point conversion rate is the percentage of break point chances a player wins. It is a key measure of performance on the most pressure-heavy points.
- Challenge System (Line Calls)IntermediateThe challenge system lets a player dispute a line call using electronic ball-tracking. Only a limited number of unsuccessful challenges are allowed per set.
- Changeovers and Changing EndsBeginnerYou switch sides after the first game of each set and then after every odd game: the third, fifth, seventh and so on. Each changeover allows up to 90 seconds of rest, except after the first game of a set, when you swap ends without sitting. The break at the end of a set lasts up to 120 seconds.
- Chicken Wing Follow-ThroughBeginnerA chicken wing follow-through is the lead elbow pulling away from the body as a two-handed backhand ends. It opens the face early and shortens the swing.
- Chip and ChargeAdvancedChip and charge means returning serve with a low slice, or chip, and following it straight to the net. The low chip makes the server hit up, so you can volley down. It works best against second serves and on fast, low-bouncing courts.
- Chip ReturnIntermediateA chip return uses a short, compact slice motion to redirect a fast serve back low and controlled, prioritizing consistency over pace.
- Choosing a Tennis RacquetBeginnerMatch the racquet to your level and swing. Beginners usually suit a lighter frame with a larger head, and Wilson's sizing chart suggests 105 to 110 square inches. Advanced players with long, fast swings often prefer heavier frames and smaller heads for control. Get your grip size right and demo a few racquets before buying.
- Clay-Court StrategyIntermediateClay slows the ball and makes it bounce higher, so points run longer and the player who misses less usually wins. Build each point with deep, high crosscourt balls hit with heavy topspin and plenty of net clearance, often to your opponent's backhand. Attack only the short ball, and use drop shots and wide angles to drag a deep opponent around the court. Serve to set up your next shot rather than for aces, and return from further behind the baseline.
- Closed StanceBeginnerA closed stance positions the front foot across the body at contact, promoting a natural weight transfer from back to front and simplifying the swing path for beginners.
- Closed-Stance BackhandIntermediateA closed-stance backhand steps the front foot across toward the net before contact. That allows a full weight transfer but slightly slows recovery.
- Closing Out a Set or MatchIntermediateWhen you serve for the set or match, stick to the patterns that got you there. Choose high-percentage serve targets, land a big share of first serves with spin, and play the first shot with margin. Expect the opponent to raise their level, and play each point as one point, not the whole match.
- Coaching During a MatchIntermediateIt depends on the event. Under the ITF Rules, coaching is never allowed during a point, and coaching from off the court is allowed only if the event's governing body permits it. Where it is allowed, it must be brief and discreet. In most USTA events, coaching is allowed only during a 3-minute or 10-minute rest period.
- Confidence and Self-Talk on CourtIntermediateBuild confidence by training how you talk to yourself and how you carry yourself. Keep self-talk accurate rather than harsh: 'I missed a few in that game,' not 'I miss everything.' Replace each negative thought with a useful one, and use present cues like 'this point.' Picture the shots you want, and walk with your shoulders back between points.
- Contact PointBeginnerOn a forehand, meet the ball out in front of your body, at a comfortable distance to the side and around waist height. A one-handed backhand meets the ball even further in front, and a two-handed backhand a little closer to the body. On the serve, hit the ball at full reach, slightly in front.
- Contact Point DriftIntermediateContact point drift means the contact spot shifts from swing to swing: in front, late, or too close. Even a repeatable swing gives hard-to-predict results.
- Continental GripBeginnerThe continental grip positions the base knuckle of the index finger on bevel 2 of the handle, the universal grip for volleys, serves, overheads, slices, and drop shots.
- Converting an NTRP Rating to UTRIntermediateThere is no official chart that turns an NTRP level like 4.0 into a UTR number. The two systems measure in different ways. NTRP is a USTA level from 1.5 to 7.0, while UTR runs from 1.00 to 16.50 and is calculated from your recent match results. To find your UTR, play matches that report to UTR and check your profile.
- Core Rotation in StrokesIntermediateCore rotation is the turning of the torso (between hips and shoulders) in a stroke. It passes energy from the legs and hips up to the arm and racquet.
- Counter-Punching StyleIntermediateCounter-punching is a defensive-minded style that absorbs an opponent's pace, redirects it back with consistency and depth, and waits patiently for the opponent to make the error.
- Court PositioningIntermediateCourt positioning is where a player stands between shots. It changes after every ball to cover the opponent's likeliest replies and leave few openings.
- Cramping in Long MatchesIntermediateCramps are more likely late in long, hot matches, when your muscles are tired and you have lost fluid and salt through sweat. To prevent them, start well hydrated, drink water or a sports drink at every changeover, and add salt if you are a heavy sweater. Build fitness for long matches. If a cramp hits, gently stretch and massage the muscle.
- Cross-Step RecoveryIntermediateCross-step recovery gets a player back to position fast after a wide shot. One foot crosses in front of or behind the other in a long crossover stride.
- Crosscourt ShotBeginnerA crosscourt shot travels diagonally across the net to the opposite side of the court. It uses the longest available distance and the lowest part of the net.
- Crossover StepIntermediateThe crossover step is the explosive first step after the split step, where the foot on the side away from the ball crosses in front of the body to generate maximum lateral acceleration.
- Decelerating the SwingIntermediateDecelerating means slowing the racquet down before contact to guide the ball in. It usually comes from fear of hitting long. Fix it by adding topspin and net height, so a full swing still lands in, and by finishing every swing. Pick a swing speed you can control and keep accelerating through contact.
- Defensive SliceIntermediateA defensive slice uses underspin to keep the ball low and floating with little effort. It helps an out-of-position player buy time and stay in the point.
- Depth ControlIntermediateTo hit deeper, aim higher over the net instead of hitting harder. Swing low to high, extend the racquet toward the target and let topspin bring the ball down near the baseline. Short balls often clear the net too low or come from a cut-off follow-through.
- Deuce and AdvantageBeginnerDeuce is a tied score of 40-40 in a game. From there, a player must win two points in a row: the first for advantage, the second for the game.
- Dominance Ratio (DR)AdvancedDominance ratio, or DR, divides the share of return points you won by the share of your own serve points you lost. A DR of exactly 1.0 means you played evenly on serve and return. Winners usually finish above 1.0 and losers below it, so DR works as a one-number summary of how well you played.
- Double FaultBeginnerA double fault occurs when both the first and second serve land outside the service box, awarding the point directly to the returner.
- Double Hit, Carry and Double Bounce (Rule)BeginnerAn accidental double hit in one swing is legal in tennis. Under ITF Rule 24, you lose the point only if you deliberately carry, catch or hit the ball twice. You also lose it if the ball bounces twice before you hit it, or if you volley the serve.
See these terms in your own swing
SwingVantage analyzes your swing against these benchmarks — free to start.
Analyze My Tennis Swing — Free