To begin with, let’s start with some basic tennis rules for beginners. Tennis is played between two opponents (called a singles match) or four opponents (called a doubles match). These opponents play on a marked surface called a tennis court, which is divided into equal halves by a net. Tennis rackets are used to hit the ball from one part of the court to another, and the scoring system makes use of games, which are won to win a set, and then sets to win the match. Before we discuss the way scoring works, remember that tennis can be played on a number of surfaces, including grass and clay. The way the ball moves on a given surface greatly influences the game, and a good player takes this into account when competing or planning strategy. Basic tennis rules are fairly easy to understand and master, and once you get the hang of the method of scoring, it’s simple enough to keep pace with the game. The following are some basic rules of tennis for beginners to get you started.

Tennis Scoring System

Tennis scoring rules are as follows. Each match is divided into sets and games. To win, you must win at least two sets out of three in women’s tennis and three sets out of five in men’s titles. Each set, is divided into games, and the first person to reach 6 games, with a difference of two, wins the set – sample scores are 6 – 4, 6 – 3. Should both opponents reach a tie at 6 games, it goes into a tie break, with again, the first person to pass 6 with a difference of two, winning the set. Players serve alternately after each game, and change sides of the court after the first, and then every odd numbered game, so that each player serves and receives serve, alternately. Each game, is divided further into four points of 15, 30, 40 and ‘game’. The score is read out by listing the score of the person who’s serving first. In tennis, a score of nil, is referred to as ‘Love’. To illustrate the scoring system better, let’s assume two players X and Y; their scoring according to tennis rules, is as follows. Assume Player X is serving to Player Y: Read the rest of this entry »

Modern day tennis, invented by Englishman, Major Walter C. Wingfield, is inspired by similar games of court tennis and squash, to a great extent. The fabulous history of tennis spans back to the late 19th century, when the game was played on an hourglass shaped court. Over the period, tennis saw a major turn around with several aspects of the game being modified to suit the taste of avid fans. However, professional tennis rules were subjected to minor changes in these 120 years.

Rules of Professional Tennis

The game went professional in the first half of the 20th century, and this development added to its already mammoth fan base. Tournaments such as Wimbledon and Davis Cup played a prominent role in the development of the game. Another aspect of tennis which helped the game to gain wide popularity among the masses were, the simple professional tennis rules. Below mentioned are some snippets pertaining to tennis rules and regulations, which form the basics of this popular sport.

Tennis Court Dimensions
A tennis court is a rectangular, flat surface made from clay, concrete or grass. Though the length of a tennis court is 78 feet, its width varies for singles and doubles matches. According to tennis rules for singles, the width of the court is 27 feet, whereas tennis doubles rules stipulate the court width to be 36 feet. The net stretched across the court, dividing the court into two halves, 3 feet 6 inches high at the posts, and 3 feet high at the center. On either side of the net there are two service courts, each measuring 21 feet x 13.5 feet, located side by side.

Tennis Equipment Rules
Tennis equipment, the racket and the ball to be precise, are given great importance in professional tennis rules. According to tennis racket rules, the frame of the racket, including the handle, should not exceed 29 inches in length and 12.5 inches in width. Even the hitting surface should not exceed 15.5 inches in length and 11.5 inches in width. If pressurized, The internal pressure, of the pressurized balls used in tennis, should not be greater than 7 kPa (1 psi). Read the rest of this entry »