Tennis 101
A dictionary of sorts for anyone who doesn't understand all the lingo. Feel free to send asks if there's something you're curious about that I didn't mention-or just anything tennis related.
Serves
The serve is the shot that begins the point and I classify as an inherently offensive shot, as ideally, it earns you an advantage. Players get 2 serves - a first serve is typically ver powerful and made to try to win the point outright, while the second is a bit more tentative to avoid 'double faulting'. There are 3 (or 4 depending who you ask) types;
A serve hit with minimal spin. The player hits the ball straight through with a flat racket face for maximum speed, so it is ideal for a first serve.
Effective in drawing the opponent out of position. Hit with sidespin that causes the ball to bounce low and into uncomfortable positions. Usually a first serve thought not as fast, acts as a switch-up and disruptor.
Hit with heavy topspin that causes it to bounce high towards the sky (hence the 'kick'). Ideal second serve as it has high net clearance, and is effective in pushing opponents back, but is pretty slow, giving returners more reaction time.
More of a 'trick-shot' that catches opponents off guard. Lands close to the net leaving the opponent standing at the baseline or further back scrambling to reach. Seen by many as "unsportsmanlike". May work a couple of times but is not effective as a regular serve.
Return
A shot to hit an opponents serve back to them. One I classify as an inherently defensive shot as you are trying to return the fastest (if you're not Sara Errani) shot in tennis. No particular types, just defined through directionals.
Forehand
The stroke where the palm of the hand hitting the ball is facing the ball. One of the fundamental shots in tennis and an important weapon, especially in men's tennis.
A ball crossing the front of your body hit by your forehand cross-court. Typically, you 'run-around' your backhand (the ball was hit towards the backhand and you move to hit it with your forehand) and hit it back towards the opposite corner.
Notice how he skips towards the right to hit with his forehand
A ball crossing the front of your body hit by your forehand cross-court. Typically, you 'run-around' your backhand (the ball was hit towards the backhand and you move to hit it with your forehand) and hit it back down-the-line.
The shot is hit straight ahead rather than cross-court (think alond the direction of the sideline
This kind of encompasses both - down the line and inside in
Backhand
The stroke where the back of the hand hitting the ball is facing the ball. One of the fundamental shots in tennis and an important weapon, especially in women's tennis.
This is the same as the forehand just on the opposite side. sorry im lazy.
Volley
The ball is hit before it bounces. Typically hit near the net and requires more 'feel' than power.
Dropshots
A delicate shot hit with spin (usually backspin) so the ball lands just over the net and drops quickly, forcing the opponent to sprint forward to retrieve it.
Y'know I had to put this in here.
This constitutes as a drop-volley - hit before the ball bounces and so that drops quickly as close to the net as possible.
Lobs
A shot in a very high arc over an opponents head - usually when they're at net - landing near the baseline.
