Tennis: How It’s Played and Shot Types
Tennis is a racquet sport played between two players (singles) or two teams of two players each (doubles). The objective of the game is to hit the tennis ball over the net and into the opponent’s court in such a way that the opponent is unable to return it.
Here’s an overview of how tennis is played:
- Scoring: Tennis matches are typically played to the best of three or five sets. To win a set, a player or team must win at least six games, with a margin of at least two games. If the set score reaches 6-6, a tiebreaker is usually played to determine the winner of the set. The player or team that wins the majority of sets wins the match.
- Serve: The match begins with a player serving the ball from behind the baseline on one side of the court to the diagonally opposite service box on the other side. The server must hit the ball into the service box diagonally opposite them. If the serve is good, the opponent must return the ball before it bounces twice on their side of the court.
- Return: The player receiving the serve attempts to return the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court. The goal of the returner is to make a shot that is difficult for the opponent to return effectively.
- Rally: Once the ball is in play, players engage in a series of shots known as a rally. During a rally, players hit the ball back and forth over the net, using a variety of shots to try to outmaneuver and outwit their opponent.
Now, let’s explore the different types of shots used by players:
- Forehand: The forehand shot is played with the dominant hand (right hand for right-handed players, left hand for left-handed players) swinging across the body to make contact with the ball on the same side as the hand holding the racquet.
- Backhand: The backhand shot is played with the non-dominant hand (left hand for right-handed players, right hand for left-handed players) swinging across the body to make contact with the ball on the opposite side as the hand holding the racquet.
- Serve: The serve is the shot used to start each point of the match. It is typically a powerful shot aimed at getting the ball into play and putting the receiver on the defensive.
- Volley: A volley is a shot played by hitting the ball before it bounces on the player’s side of the court. It is often used when the ball is hit with pace or placed close to the net.
- Lob: A lob is a shot played with a high arc over the opponent’s head, typically used to buy time or reset the point when the opponent is at the net.
These are just a few examples of the many shots used in tennis. Players use a combination of power, spin, and placement to outmaneuver their opponents and win points.
