SCORING AND SIMPLE RULES - Part 1

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Tennis scoring and the common rules are comparatively simple. Any child old enough to wield a racquet is intelligent enough to learn the game. The only reason the tennis game is not taught to youngsters is that concentration upon the foundation strokes is essential. Attention focused on the scoring and game tactics detracts from the learning of good form.

Explanation of the Scoring for Pupils 1. The Point

a. The smallest unit of scoring is the point.

Points Name

1…. fifteen

2…. thirty

3.... forty

4.... game (unless the opponent has gained 3 points)

b. "Deuce" is the name given the score when each player has won 3 points.

c. The point won after deuce is called "advantage." If the server wins this point, the score is "advantage server" or "advantage in." Just as in baseball one team has its "ins" (when it is at bat), the serving side in tennis is considered the "in" side. If the receiving or "out" side wins the first point after deuce, the score is called "advantage receiver" or "advantage out."

d. When the second point after deuce is won by the player who is one point behind, the score goes back to deuce. When the second point is won by the player who has the advantage, he wins the game.

e. The server's score is always called first. Thus when the server has one point, the receiver 3 points, the score is "fifteen-forty."

f. If a player has no points, his score is called "love." Thus if the server has two points, the receiver none, the score is "thirty-love."

g. When the score is even, it is called "all." Thus if each player has two points, the score is "thirty-all."

Note.—Abbreviations of scoring are often heard on the courts but never from an official umpire. Examples are "five" or "fifth" for "fifteen," "ad" for "advantage," "deuce" for "thirty-all."

2. The Game

a. The second unit of scoring is the game. A player wins a game when he gains 4 points without his opponent having won three points. In the case of a deuce game, the player winning the vantage point plus the next one wins the game.