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Sports Glossary
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67 terms
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- Block ReturnIntermediateA block return uses almost no backswing. A firm, stable racquet face absorbs the serve's pace and redirects the ball back deep.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- Chip ReturnIntermediateA chip return uses a short, compact slice motion to redirect a fast serve back low and controlled, prioritizing consistency over pace.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- 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.Tennis
- Down-the-Line ShotIntermediateA down-the-line shot travels parallel to the nearest sideline. It changes a crosscourt rally's direction to create a sharper angle or exploit an open court.Tennis
- Drop ShotIntermediateA drop shot is a soft groundstroke or volley meant to die just over the net. It draws the opponent in from the baseline to win the point with touch.Tennis
- First Serve PercentageIntermediateFirst serve percentage is the share of first serves that land in the box. It is a core indicator of serve rhythm and risk management.Tennis
- Flat BackhandIntermediateA flat backhand has little face tilt and a near-level path through contact. It sends a low, penetrating ball with less topspin than a standard drive.Tennis
- Flat ServeIntermediateA flat serve is struck with minimal spin at maximum racquet-head speed. This produces the highest velocity and least margin for error of the three main serve types.Tennis
- Grip ChangeIntermediateA grip change is moving the hand along the handle between shots to match the incoming ball. Most often from a forehand hold to continental for volleys, serves and slices.Tennis
- Grip Change Speed Between ShotsIntermediateGrip change speed is how quickly and reliably a player switches grips between strokes. A slow or incomplete change is a frequent hidden cause of mis-hits.Tennis
- Hip RotationIntermediateHip rotation is the pelvis turning from the coiled backswing toward the target on the forward swing. It is the primary driver of power in the kinetic chain.Tennis
- Inside-Out ForehandIntermediateAn inside-out forehand is played by running around a ball that arrives on the backhand side and redirecting it with the forehand to the opponent's backhand corner.Tennis
- Kinetic ChainIntermediateThe kinetic chain passes force from the ground up: legs, hips, torso, shoulder, arm, racquet. Each segment speeds up the next, multiplying racquet-head speed.Tennis
- Kinetic Chain BreakdownIntermediateA kinetic chain breakdown is a skipped or broken link in the ground-up leg, hip, torso, and arm sequence. The arm then has to make power on its own.Tennis
- Late Contact (Tennis)IntermediateLate contact means the racquet meets the ball behind the ideal contact point, usually behind the front hip. It costs pace, direction control, and spin.Tennis
- Late Split StepIntermediateA late split step lands after the opponent has struck the ball. The player is still airborne or resettling just when they need to push off toward the shot.Tennis
- Leg Drive on GroundstrokesIntermediateLeg drive is the push off the ground that starts the kinetic chain on a groundstroke. It sends upward and rotational energy into the hips, torso, and arm.Tennis
- LobIntermediateA lob is a high, arcing shot meant to clear a net player's reach. On defense it buys time; on offense, a topspin lob near the baseline can win the point.Tennis
- Long Backswing Timing IssueIntermediateA long backswing timing issue is a backswing that takes longer than the ball allows. The forward swing is rushed or unfinished, however clean it looks.Tennis
- Loop BackswingIntermediateA loop backswing takes the racquet back and up, then drops it down into the forward swing. The circular path builds racquet-head speed and rhythm.Tennis
- Loss of Balance on Stretch ShotsIntermediateLoss of balance on stretch shots is reaching past a stable base for a wide, low, or hard-hit ball. The center of mass falls away from the shot at contact.Tennis
- Moon BallIntermediateA moon ball is a very high, heavily topspun groundstroke. It disrupts rhythm and buys recovery time without going as high or defensive as a lob.Tennis
- Movement PatternIntermediateA movement pattern is the sequence of footwork steps a player uses to reach the ball, execute the shot, and recover to position — combining split step, approach steps, stance, and recovery.Tennis
- Net Approach TimingIntermediateNet approach timing is when a player moves in to the net, relative to their shot and the opponent's reply. The aim is to split step as the opponent hits.Tennis
- One-Handed BackhandIntermediateA one-handed backhand uses only the dominant hand. It gives more reach and disguise than a two-hander, but less stability against high-bouncing pace.Tennis
- Open StanceIntermediateAn open stance positions both feet roughly parallel to the baseline at contact. This allows the hips to rotate powerfully through the ball without requiring a weight transfer step.Tennis
- Open-Stance ForehandIntermediateAn open-stance forehand is hit with the front foot and hips facing the sideline, not the net. Hip rotation then powers it without a full weight transfer.Tennis
- Overhead / SmashIntermediateThe overhead (or smash) is a serve-like stroke struck above the head to put away a lob, demanding quick shoulder turn, a trophy-position racquet path, and aggressive pronation through contact.Tennis
- Overhead Smash FootworkIntermediateOverhead smash footwork is the adjustment steps and final scissor or step-in move that get a player under a lob. It lets them hit with power and balance.Tennis
- Passing ShotIntermediateA passing shot is hit by the baseline player when the opponent has approached the net, aiming to place the ball past the net player through an angle or pace that cannot be volleyed.Tennis
- Poaching (Doubles)IntermediatePoaching is when the net player in doubles crosses over to intercept a ball meant for their partner. It cuts off the angle and finishes the point at net.Tennis
- Polyester StringIntermediatePolyester is a stiff, durable monofilament string built for spin. But it transmits more shock to the arm compared to natural gut or multifilament strings.Tennis
- Racquet Face Angle at ContactIntermediateRacquet face angle at contact is the string bed's tilt from vertical when the ball is struck. It mainly decides the ball's launch direction and spin type.Tennis
- Racquet Head SpeedIntermediateRacquet head speed is how fast the racquet head is traveling at contact. It is the single largest factor in ball pace and spin on a given stroke.Tennis
- Rally ToleranceIntermediateRally tolerance is a player's ability and willingness to extend rallies without forcing a risky shot. It shows in rally length and patience under pressure.Tennis
- Recovery StepIntermediateThe recovery step is the movement right after hitting a shot. It returns the player to the best defensive or offensive base before the next ball.Tennis
- Recovery to Center CourtIntermediateRecovery to center court is moving back to a balanced base position after a shot. That base covers the widest range of the opponent's likely replies.Tennis
- Return of Serve PositioningIntermediateReturn of serve positioning is how deep and how far to one side a returner stands. It is set to counter the server's pace, spin, and typical patterns.Tennis
- Rushing the Split StepIntermediateRushing the split step means landing from the hop before the opponent's contact. It leaves the player flat-footed, unable to react to the shot's direction.Tennis
- Second ServeIntermediateThe second serve is the follow-up attempt after a fault. This requires enough spin and margin to give the serve a wide safety margin while still limiting the returner's options.Tennis
- Second Serve SpinIntermediateSecond serve spin is the extra rotation a player adds to the follow-up delivery after a miss. It raises net clearance and margin for error.Tennis
- Serve-Plus-One PatternIntermediateServe-plus-one is a pattern where the server plans the shot after the serve before the point starts. The serve sets up a predictable, attackable ball.Tennis
- Short Backswing CompensationIntermediateShort backswing compensation means shortening the backswing under time pressure to force contact "on time," losing racquet-head speed and stored energy.Tennis
- Shot SelectionIntermediateShot selection is the real-time choice of shot type, direction, pace, and spin. It depends on court position, ball height, opponent location, and score.Tennis
- Slice ServeIntermediateA slice serve adds sidespin by brushing around the outside of the ball. From a right-hander, it curves away from the deuce-side returner and stays low.Tennis
- String TensionIntermediateString tension is how tightly a racquet is strung, in pounds or kilograms. It shapes the string bed's trampoline effect, control, and power.Tennis
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