How to Play Tennis

How to Play Tennis How to Play Tennis Tennis is a beautiful and glamorous game. It has produced some sensations like John McEnroe, Jimmy Conners, Boris Becker, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf. Besides these old timers, the game is always in the news with beautiful power play by Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Serena and Venus Williams today. Everyone follow the game with great interest and the galleries overflow with spectators during the finales. The game is quite easy, for everyone to understand and play. But it does require a lot of physical fitness and stamina to run around the huge court and hit the ball with a lot of power. Let us find out how to play tennis, what are the equipment required and the scoring pattern.

First of all, you need a tennis court to play the game. At least two persons can play the game and a maximum of 4 persons. The equipment required is a tennis racquet, a tennis ball and a net. You can either buy these equipment or get them on rent. You also need to be fitted in the proper shirt and shorts with tennis shoes on your feet.
Let us take a look at the scoring pattern. Most games start with 0 and then proceed to 1, 2 or 2, 4 and so on. But tennis is different as it has an initial score of love which is equivalent to zero. If there are two players, then the game begins with love-all. When the server earns a point, it becomes 15-love and love-15 if vice versa. After 15, the next points are 30, 40 and game.
If both the players are tied at 40 points, then a player has to earn two points in succession to win the game. It is called deuce and when a player earns a point, it is called advantage (to the player). If he again wins another point, then he wins the game. But if the opponent wins the point, the game will be back to deuce. Again, one player will try to win two points in succession and win the game.
There are 5 sets to be played in men’s games and 3 sets in women’s games. Each set can be won by a player when he wins at least 6 games and has a difference of two games with his opponent. For example, a player can win 6-4, i.e., 6 games to four in a set. The winner of the match has to win 3 sets to get into the next round of the event or win the championship. If both players win 6 games in a set, then the set goes to a tie breaking set and the player wins 7-6.
The serve is the main part of the tennis game. The ball has to be tossed up in the air with the feet of the player placed in the required point. The player has to hit the ball when it comes down so that it lands diagonally across on the other side of the court. After each game, the players exchange sides in the court. The players are allowed 90 seconds of rest in between games and 2 minutes rest between sets but only after the third set is over.
The game of tennis can also be played by four players and is called a doubles game. Men and women can both play a mixed doubles game too. The rules and the scoring pattern is almost the same.
It is important to hold the racquet in a particular way. The tennis racquets and balls are also made so that the player can handle them without much problem. The shoes and socks are also built to provide protection to the feet and absorb the sweat and keep the dirt away. Since the feet are vital for running around the court, they have to be protected well.

These are the basics of how to play tennis easily. Once you get into the court and handle the racquet and ball, you will feel excited and will learn the game well with help from your coach. In no time, you will learn to play like a pro.