Basic Tennis Terms

Strokes:

• Serve: It is an overarm stroke that is hit outside the baseline to start a rally.

• Forehand: It is a stroke where the follow-through is from the dominant hand towards the no dominant one.
• Backhand: It is a stroke where the follow-through is from the non-dominant side to the dominant one. The racket is held with the dominant hand or with both hands.
• Volley: It is a stroke where the player strikes the ball even before it touches the ground. 
• Lob: It is a stroke where the player hits the ball high up in the air, usually over the head of the opponent.
• Smash: A powerful overhead shot.

• Tweener: It is a between the legs shot. It is a trick shot that is made facing away from the opponent.

• Slice: It is a shot with an underspin that has a low bounce.
• Top Spin: The player strikes the ball in such a way that it spins towards the direction of its travel. This gives the ball a higher bounce.
• Half volley: This is a shot where the player strikes the ball soon after it bounces. This shot is played with the racket very close to the ground.

• Buggy Whip: It is a forehand groundstroke wherein the follow-through of the racket goes around the head of the player after striking the ball instead of the shoulder. Nadal is one of the famous players to have this style of forehand.

Points: 

• Ace: It is a point gained by the player through the serve when the opponent fails to return it. 

• Deuce: If the score in the game is 40 all it is called Deuce.
• Egalite: Deuce in French Open is called Egalite.
• Advantage: The point scored by a player after deuce is called advantage.
• Break: If a player wins a game being on the receiver end of the serve it is called a break. 
• Double Fault: If the player delivers fault serves two times consecutively it is called a double fault. The player loses a point.
• Foot Fault: When the player steps over the baseline while serving, it is called a foot fault.
• Pulp: When the score is 30-30, it is called Pulp. 

Miscellaneous 

• Whiff: When a player misses a stroke it is called a whiff. Whiffing a serve is considered a fault.

• Poaching: It is an aggressive move made by the player at the net in order to return the lob which was intended for the other player in a doubles match.

• No-Man’s Land: The area between the baseline and the service line. The player is usually advised not to play from that place. 

• Bagel: If a player wins a set without losing a single game is called Bagel.

• Golden Set: When a player wins a set without dropping a single point it is called a golden set.