Tennis Terms A to Z

Every tennis word, in one line, with a video to show it.

7:55Beginner Basics

The Rules of Tennis EXPLAINED (scoring, terms and more)

Essential Tennis - Lessons and Instruction for Passionate Players

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How to Play Tennis for Beginners | Rules, Scoring, and Tips

Tennis with Coach Alfred

3:23Beginner Basics

How A Tiebreaker Works In Tennis

Return of Serve

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Tennis with Coach Alfred

Ace: A legal serve the returner never touches.
Ad court: The left half of the court, where the advantage point is served.
Advantage: The point after deuce; win the next one and you win the game.
Alley: The strips on each side of the singles court, in play only in doubles.
Approach shot: A shot you hit while moving forward to the net.
Australian formation: A doubles setup where the server's partner stands on the same side as the server.
Bagel: Winning or losing a set 6-0.
Bandeja: A padel overhead hit with slice to keep the net position.
Baseline: The back line of the court.
Breadstick: Winning or losing a set 6-1.
Break: Winning a game on your opponent's serve.
Break point: A point where the returner can win the game.
Chip and charge: Blocking a slice return and following it to the net.
Continental grip: The "hammer" grip used for serves, volleys and overheads.
Cross-court: A shot hit diagonally to the other side of the court.
Deuce: A 40-40 score; someone must win two points in a row.
Deuce court: The right half of the court, where each game starts.
Dink: A soft pickleball shot that lands in the kitchen.
Double fault: Missing both serves and losing the point.
Down the line: A shot hit straight along the sideline.
Drop shot: A soft shot that lands just over the net.
Eastern grip: A classic forehand grip, like shaking hands with the racquet.
Flat serve: A fast serve with little spin.
Foot fault: Stepping on or over the baseline before hitting a serve.
Forced error: A miss caused by your opponent's good shot.
Groundstroke: A forehand or backhand hit after the ball bounces.
Half volley: Hitting the ball right after it bounces, low to the ground.
I formation: A doubles setup where the server's partner crouches on the center line.
Inside-out forehand: Running around your backhand to hit a forehand cross-court.
Kick serve: A topspin serve that bounces high and away.
Kitchen: The pickleball no-volley zone next to the net.
Lag: The racquet trailing the hand before it whips through on a forehand.
Let: A serve that clips the net and lands in; it is replayed.
Lob: A high shot over a player at the net.
Love: Zero in tennis scoring.
Match point: A point that would win the match.
Moonball: A very high, loopy rally ball.
No-man's land: The area between the baseline and the service line.
One-handed backhand: A backhand hit with only your dominant hand.
Overgrip: A thin wrap over the handle for grip and sweat.
Overhead: A smash hit above your head, like a serve.
Passing shot: A shot that gets past a player at the net.
Poach: When the net player in doubles cuts across to volley.
Pronation: The forearm turn that adds speed at contact on the serve.
Pusher: A player who gets everything back without much pace.
Rally: An exchange of shots after the serve.
Return of serve: The first shot hit by the receiving player.
Semi-western grip: The most common modern forehand grip, made for topspin.
Serve and volley: Serving and rushing straight to the net.
Service box: The box a serve must land in.
Set: First to six games, winning by two, or a tiebreak at 6-6.
Shadow swing: Practicing a stroke without a ball.
Slice: Backspin that makes the ball stay low.
Slice serve: A sidespin serve that curves away from the returner.
Split step: A small hop as your opponent hits, so you can move either way.
Sweet spot: The center of the strings where shots feel cleanest.
Tiebreak: A game to seven points, win by two, that decides a set at 6-6.
Topspin: Forward spin that makes the ball dip and bounce high.
Toss: Throwing the ball up to serve.
Trophy position: The loaded pose at the top of the serve, racquet up and back.
Two-handed backhand: A backhand hit with both hands on the handle.
Unforced error: A miss on a ball you should have made.
Unit turn: Turning your shoulders and hips together as the ball comes.
Vibora: A padel overhead hit with heavy sidespin to attack.
Volley: Hitting the ball before it bounces, usually at the net.
Western grip: An extreme forehand grip for heavy topspin.
Wide serve: A serve aimed at the sideline to pull the returner off the court.
Wrong-footed: Being caught moving the wrong way.