Tennis is an invigorating sport that provides an outstanding dose of physical activity. It’s also social, as it requires at least one other person to play. To ensure you’re treating your opponents with fairness and promoting an enjoyable experience for everyone, below are a few tennis etiquette rules to remember if you’re starting to get into the game.

5 Beginner-Friendly Tips for Tennis Etiquette

1. Warm Up Fairly

Everyone deserves a chance to warm up in a way that suits them. Serve in and hit balls that allow your opponent to practice their volley comfortably. There will be plenty of time for competitive play later.

2. Keep Score While Serving

The person serving is responsible for announcing the score at the start of every serve. This helps to prevent disputes and also reminds your competitor of the stakes. Plus, it indicates your readiness to serve, giving your opponent a fair chance to prepare.

3. Return & Retrieve Balls Respectfully

If your ball rolls onto a nearby court, don’t retrieve it while your neighbors are playing for a point. Of course, if your ball goes directly onto the playing area, warn the other players to prevent injury. Similarly, don’t return a ball to someone else’s court while they’re still playing.

4. Assume the Ball Is in

When you and your opponent can’t agree on whether a ball was in or out, or it was too difficult to tell, assume the ball was in. While this may work in your opponent’s favor sometimes, chances are it will also benefit you on occasion, too.

5. Challenge a Call Once

No one likes to play with an argumentative opponent. The widely-accepted rule is to challenge a call only once. If your opponent doesn't relent, let them have it their way and assume they may not be making the best calls instead of intentionally cheating. After all, tennis should be fun.

If you live in the Beavercreek, OH area and are seeking a place to play tennis, join Beavercreek Clay Courts Tennis Club. This five-month club features brand new clay tennis courts as well as pickleball courts. Find out more about what’s included in their membership online or call (937) 956-8864 with any questions.