Tennis Glossary
Learn the language of Tennis — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
11 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.
- Follow-ThroughBeginnerThe follow-through is the path the racquet takes after contact. A complete finish confirms the swing was not decelerated before the ball was struck.
- Kick ServeAdvancedA kick serve is a serve hit with heavy topspin and side spin so it clears the net with margin and then bounces high and to the side, making it a reliable second serve.
- RA / StiffnessProRA is a racquet’s stiffness measured by how much the frame deflects under load. Higher RA (66+) means a stiffer, more powerful but harsher frame; lower RA (under 58) flexes more for feel and arm comfort.
- Racquet DropAdvancedThe racquet drop is the moment after the shoulder turn when the racquet head drops below the wrist, setting up a whipping, low-to-high motion through contact.
- SliceBeginnerIn tennis, a slice is a shot hit with backspin by swinging high-to-low through the ball, producing a low, skidding bounce. (This differs from a golf slice, which is a curving mishit.)
- Split StepBeginnerA split step is a small hop timed to the moment your opponent strikes the ball. It primes your legs to push off explosively in any direction.
- SwingweightProSwingweight measures how heavy a racquet feels when swung, accounting for where its mass is distributed. Higher swingweight gives more plow-through and power but is harder to maneuver.
- TopspinBeginnerTopspin is forward spin imparted by brushing up the back of the ball. It makes the ball dip down into the court and kick up high after the bounce.
- Trophy PositionIntermediateThe trophy position is the peak of the service motion — hitting arm raised, body arched, tossing arm extended — resembling a trophy. It loads the kinetic chain for the serve.
- Unit TurnIntermediateA unit turn is rotating the hips and shoulders together as one unit when preparing for a groundstroke, instead of just taking the racquet back with the arm.
See these terms in your own swing
SwingVantage analyzes your swing against these benchmarks — free to start.
Analyze My Tennis Swing Free