How to Play Tennis: A Beginner's Guide

Have you ever wanted to learn tennis but are unsure where to begin? Tennis is a beloved sport worldwide that is played by people of all ages. It is fun and challenging and keeps you active by providing a full-body workout during play. 

Tennis is also a social sport, requiring two people for singles and four for doubles. It’s a great way to meet other players and enthusiasts, with clubs, leagues, and more to join once you get the basics down. After learning the fundamentals of the game, practice regularly to improve your abilities and hone your skills as a tennis player.

Stay tuned as this guide will teach you all about how to play the game of tennis, from the equipment and court layout to the rules, scoring system, and playing techniques.

Getting Started with Tennis

Let’s start by asking the question, what is tennis? Tennis falls into the category of what’s known as a racket sport and it can be played either against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams consisting of two players each (doubles). 

Each player has their own tennis racket, and the object of the game is to gain points by rendering your opponent unable to return the ball. We’ll get into the official rules a little later, but that’s the general gist of the game.

Naturally, you’ll need a few things before you can get started. Before you begin, make sure you have a proper tennis court to play on and the proper equipment, such as a racket and tennis balls.

Equipment Essentials

To play tennis, you’ll need a tennis racket and tennis balls. Tennis shoes are also essential to provide comfort and avoid injury. 

Tennis shoes are usually made from heavier materials to provide lateral and midfoot support and traction. This side-to-side support prevents ankle rolling, knee injuries, and hip injuries.

You can find all your tennis equipment at the local sporting goods shop, online, or even at a charity shop.

Finding a Tennis Court

You’ll want to find a place for your tennis sessions where you can regularly meet and practice. Many public parks have tennis courts available free of charge, and you can also check your local recreation centres for low or no-cost tennis courts.

A quick online search should return some tennis clubs in your area, with some even offering memberships or lessons. As we said earlier, joining a club is a great way to find other tennis enthusiasts and improve your game.

Perhaps you are just starting out and don’t feel comfortable joining a club with more experienced players. That’s completely fine! Public parks and recreation centres are great places to start. Move at your own pace and do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

Tennis Rules

So you’ve got your partner(s), a tennis court, and your equipment (including tennis shoes). Now what? You’ll need to know and understand the tennis sport rules before you can play a game. Without knowing the rules, you won’t even be able to keep score when you start! So, without further ado, let’s get into the basic rules of tennis.

Tennis is played on a rectangular court divided into halves by a net. Players use rackets to hit balls over the net, landing them within the designated areas on their opponent's side.

To win a point, the player must hit the ball either before the ball has bounced or after the first bounce. If the ball bounces twice, then the player who last hit the ball wins the point. A player must also wait for the ball to pass the net and come over to his side of the court before hitting the ball.

Scoring Basics

Tennis has a unique scoring system that may be confusing at first but is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Points are scored as 15, 30, 40, and game point. If both players have 40, it’s called deuce. When any player’s score is 0, it is commonly referred to as “love” (e.g. love-15, love-all). The word “all” is used to indicate a tie (e.g. 15-all).

Games are won by scoring four points (with a two-point lead needed to win). Sets are won by winning six games, but you need to win by two games to secure a set. Matches are typically played over two or three sets. 

Game Etiquette

Tennis has a long tradition of sportsmanship, owing to its French roots. Many of these traditions have stayed with the game we recognise today. The first rule of tennis etiquette is respect.

Respect for your opponent starts with avoiding making noise or any other distractions (rather purposefully or accidentally). This is true throughout playing but especially during the opponent's serve. There should also be no excessive celebrating or commotion during play.

You should call the score out loud after each point. This is usually delegated to the player serving. Communication is also key; you should inform your opponent if you’re retrieving a ball from their side of the court.

Basic Tennis Techniques

The next step is to learn tennis techniques and strokes. This involves learning how to get a good rally going with your opponent and the proper stances, footwork, etc., required for competitive play.

There are key strokes like the serve (the opening shot), forehand (natural swing hitting the ball in front), backhand (hitting with the back of your hand), and volleys (hitting the ball in mid-air before it bounces).

The Serve

Every point begins with a serve. The serve is crucial as it’s the only shot where a player has complete control over the ball toss and swing. There are different types of serves, each with their advantages. A flat serve is good for power, a slice serve for more control and spin, and a kick serve for a high bounce that’s difficult for your opponent to return.

During a serve, you should hold the racket in a continental grip and stand sideways to the baseline with your feet shoulder-width apart. Toss the ball high, swing the racket over your shoulder and try to hit the ball at its highest point.

Forehand and Backhand Strokes

There are two main strokes in tennis: the forehand and the backhand. The forehand will be the more natural swing for most beginners. During a forehand stroke, you should be stood sideways, swinging the racket back across your body so you can hit the tennis ball with an open racket face.

Backhands can either be done with one or two hands. The two-handed backhand is the easiest to learn and consists of both hands on the racket swinging back with both arms to hit the ball with a backswing motion.

The Volley

A volley is when you hit the ball in mid-air before the ball has a chance to bounce. To volley, stand close to the net and position your racket out in front, then use a small, controlled swing to redirect the ball.

Volleys should be done with knees bent, using a short swing with a continental grip to get the ball over the net.

Improving Your Game

Practising regularly and focusing on the basics can help you learn tennis and improve your skills significantly. Improve by practising solo and with partners to work on all aspects of your game.

Improve your technique by practising consistent strokes instead of relying on raw power. Repetition through drills builds muscle memory and ultimately leads to more efficient shots. You can even record yourself and analyse your form to spot areas for improvement, such as bad racket position or body rotation.

Integrate these training practices, and you’ll see steady progress on your journey to becoming a competent tennis player.

Solo Practice Tips

For solo practice, you can hit balls against a wall to improve your timing and consistency and use what’s known as shadow swinging to perfect your form and footwork. 

Shadow swinging involves mimicking the motions of serving, forehands, backhands, and volleys without the ball.

Spend time perfecting your serve, focusing on toss accuracy and targeting different service areas. Footwork drills like ladder exercises can also be used to improve agility and balance.

Playing with Others

Learning from someone more experienced than you is the best way to improve your game. You can either play with friends, get a tennis instructor, or join beginner classes to find a tennis partner. 

Rallying with a partner builds control and endurance, and simulating real matches helps you to better understand strategy and scoring. Closely observe your opponent's strengths and weaknesses to develop IQ and tactical awareness. 

Eventually, you’ll learn to target your shots strategically by aiming for their backhand or forcing them into an uncomfortable position. Mix up your strategy with a combination of shots to keep them guessing.

Build Your Own Tennis Court and Start Playing!

Tennis provides great health benefits and is a fantastic way to stay active. It's also a great way to meet new people and build friendships. In short, Tennis is a social and physical activity that anyone who can hold a racket can pick up. 

Dream Courts is a national sports court provider that allows you to design and build your own tennis court so you always have a place to play.

Now that you know how to play tennis (in theory), the next step is to find or build a tennis court and get some mates so you can begin playing!

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