How to play tennis

The basics

• Points go 15, 30, 40, then game. At 40-40 ("deuce") you need two points in a row to win the game.
• A set is the first to 6 games with a two-game lead; at 6-6 you play a tiebreak to 7 points.
• The server gets two tries to hit the ball into the diagonal service box.
• The ball may bounce once on your side, or none, before you hit it back.
• Singles is one against one; doubles is two against two and uses the wider court.

What you need

• A racquet: a mid-weight one with a 100 square inch head is easiest to learn with.
• A can of balls (they lose bounce after a few sessions).
• Tennis shoes: running shoes slide and wear out fast on hard courts.

How a pickup game works

Most tennis is arranged in advance: two to four players book or wait for a court and play a set or two. On public courts with a line, players wait by the gate and courts change every hour or after a set. Many cities have drop-in doubles where you rotate partners.

Pickup etiquette

• Call the lines on your own side, and give your opponent the benefit of the doubt.
• Say the score before every serve.
• Wait until a point ends before walking behind a court.
• Return balls from the next court with a gentle roll or bounce, between points.

Your first games

• Rally first: hitting the ball back and forth is fun long before you play points.
• Look for a hitting partner at your level; it matters more than the racquet.
• Play doubles: less running and more chatting while you learn.

Questions