Tennis is a popular racket sport that combines elements of physicality and technique. Learning to handle the ball is fundamental, but beating your opponent begins with understanding the court rules. Below are some basic tennis instructions to get you started.

How to Play Tennis

1. Stay in the Boundaries

The court boundaries vary depending on if you're playing against one or two opponents. A tennis court has baselines, sidelines, and service lines. The baseline is the outer line on each end, the sidelines are the four lines on the left and right sides, and the center service lines create rectangles near the net. Doubles matches use the full court, which means the ball can land anywhere. Singles matches exclude the outer sidelines, creating a narrower playing space.

2. Serve Diagonally

All games begin with serving the ball from the right side of the court behind the baseline. The ball must land in the diagonal service box opposite the net, and your feet must stay outside the baseline until your racket hits the ball. If you step on or over the line before then, it's considered a foot fault, and you must redo the serve attempt. Every player is allowed two tries. If you fail to serve the ball twice, it's a double fault, resulting in a point against you.

3. Don't Touch the Net

Every tennis net is 3 feet and 6 inches high on the side posts and 3 feet tall in the middle. You lose a point if you hit the ball into the net on your side. However, if the ball touches the netting but falls on your opponent's side, that’s considered in. You are not allowed to physically touch the net during play.

4. Don't Let the Ball Bounce Twice

During a rally, the ball may only bounce once on each side of the court. This means your opponent will win a point if you let the ball bounce twice before you return it.

5. Keep Score

In tennis, there are games, sets, and a match. A game is a sequence of points with the same player serving. The running score of each game goes from Love, or zero, to 15, 30, and then 40. If both players reach 40, it's called a "deuce." After deuce, a player must score twice above their opponent to win the game. You must win six games by two to win the set. For women, you must take two out of three sets to win the match. For men, it’s three out of five.

Keep these tennis instructions in mind when you enter the court at LifeSport Athletic Club in Libertyville and Lincolnshire, IL. Their world-class tennis centers are fit for every skill level and age group. If you're new to tennis or looking to advance your techniques, their in-depth tennis instruction classes will help improve your play. Visit their website to learn more about their tennis instruction programs, or call (847) 362-5553 to inquire with a team member today.