How to Play Tennis: Rules, Techniques, and Practice Tips for Beginners

Rules and Court Basics: How a Point, Game, and Set Unfold

Tennis is a precision sport that rewards clear thinking as much as clean contact. Understanding the court and the score keeps you oriented when rallies speed up. A full court is 78 feet long; singles is 27 feet wide, and doubles expands to 36 feet using the alleys. The net is 3 feet high at center and roughly 3.5 feet near the posts, which is why hitting over the middle offers a touch more safety. The service line sits 21 feet from the net, splitting each side into deuce and ad boxes. These measurements aren’t trivia; they guide where you aim, where you recover, and how you choose safer crosscourt routes.

Scoring begins at love and climbs 15, 30, 40, then game, but a game must be won by two points. At 40–40 (deuce), a player needs two straight points to close. A set is typically first to six games, win by two; if it reaches 6–6, most formats use a tie-break to seven points, win by two. Matches for beginners are commonly best-of-three sets. Serves alternate every game; within a game, the same player serves every point, starting from the right (deuce) side. A serve must land in the diagonal service box; two faults concede the point. Foot faults occur if the server steps on or over the baseline before contact.

Etiquette and simple conventions make recreational play smooth and fair. Players call lines on their side and give the benefit of doubt to the opponent when uncertain. If a ball from another court rolls in, stop the point and replay. In casual settings, many players use “no-ad” scoring to keep pace, where the next point after deuce decides the game; agree on format before starting. For quick reference during your first sessions, keep these essentials handy:
– Court geometry favors crosscourt shots: lower net and longer diagonal mean more margin.
– Consistency beats flash: two safe balls deep often outvalue one risky winner.
– Serve rhythm matters: a repeatable pre-serve routine steadies the toss and timing.

Equipment and Surfaces: Choosing Gear That Supports Learning

The right gear won’t swing for you, but it will reduce strain and give your technique a fair chance to grow. A modern adult racket typically weighs roughly 260–320 grams unstrung, with head sizes often between about 98–105 square inches for a balanced blend of control and forgiveness. Lighter frames help newer players maneuver and recover; slightly larger heads enlarge the sweet spot, softening off‑center contact. Grip size—measured around the handle—should let you wrap fingers comfortably without the fingertips jamming into the palm; many players can gauge fit by seeing a pencil‑width gap between fingertips and base of the hand when gripping naturally.

Strings and tension subtly shape feel and ball behavior. Lower tension offers more trampoline effect and comfort, while higher tension can yield a crisper response and tighter directional control. For newcomers, a middle‑of‑the‑road tension is often a friendly starting point. Pressurized balls feel lively but go flat over time; pressureless balls last longer and are handy for ball baskets and wall sessions. Shoes are not an afterthought: court‑specific outsoles and supportive uppers help prevent slips and rollovers during lateral movements.

Surface changes the bounce and the kind of footwork you’ll need. Hard courts give a predictable, quicker rebound; clay slows and lifts the ball, rewarding topspin and sliding; grass stays lower and favors compact preparation. Trying different surfaces teaches adaptability and encourages building a complete toolkit rather than one swing for one scenario. A concise gear checklist can streamline your first purchase or borrow‑and‑try session:
– Racket: light to midweight frame, comfortable grip size, balanced head for forgiveness.
– Strings: middle tension for comfort and control; restring periodically if feel fades.
– Balls: a fresh can for match play; pressureless for practice volume.
– Shoes: court‑designed traction, stable lateral support, good cushioning.

Protect your body as you learn. Replacing worn grips prevents excess squeezing, and rotating to a fresh set of balls keeps contact consistent. If your elbow or shoulder complains, consider a more arm‑friendly setup (softer strings or slightly lower tension) and shorten your swings until timing improves. Equipment should serve your learning curve, not fight it.

Fundamental Techniques: Forehand, Backhand, Serve, and Footwork

Technique is a chain: legs load, hips and torso rotate, the arm carries the racket, and the strings meet the ball. When any link tightens too much or races ahead, errors multiply. Start with a loose, athletic ready position and a small split‑step as your opponent hits; that hop helps you read direction and unlocks quicker first steps. Coil as you take the racket back, keep your head steady through contact, and finish your swing so momentum has somewhere to go.

Grips influence contact height and spin potential. While personal comfort matters, beginners often explore these common options:
– Continental: versatile for serves, volleys, and slices; neutral face angle encourages feel.
– Eastern forehand: friendly for learning flatter drives and moderate topspin.
– Semi‑western forehand: promotes higher‑bounce topspin and net clearance.
– Two‑handed backhand: adds stability and leverage; one‑handed remains a viable path with careful timing.

On the forehand, think of brushing up and through the ball, not only hitting “at” it. A low‑to‑high path helps lift over the net and dip back down. Meet the ball in front of the lead hip, keep the non‑hitting hand engaged early for balance, and let your chest face the target after contact. On the backhand, drive with your legs and hips; if two‑handed, the top hand guides the shape of the swing, while the bottom hand stabilizes. Slice backhands—carved with a slightly open face—float slower and stay low, useful for buying time or changing rhythm.

The serve deserves extra patience. Place your feet, breathe, and build a simple routine: bounce, settle, toss, swing. A consistent toss—slightly forward and high enough to fully extend—does more for accuracy than muscling the motion. Think upward launch rather than forward slap, allowing the racket to accelerate from leg drive and shoulder rotation. Many beginners improve faster by aiming big targets first: deep middle, wide, and body. As timing tidies up, add spin variations for control and safety.

Strategy and Decision-Making: Playing High-Percentage Tennis

Strategy is the art of choosing shots that pay off over time, not just the ones that look bold in a single rally. Court geometry offers friendly odds if you listen. Crosscourt gives a longer landing zone and the lower part of the net; down‑the‑line is shorter and crosses a higher net chord. That does not mean you avoid the line forever; it means you earn it by pushing an opponent wide, hitting deep first, or recognizing a short ball you can attack with shape and margin.

Depth and height are underrated weapons. Two solid, deep balls often create more stress than a flashy attempt at a winner. Add height when you’re out of position, and take time from your opponent with a flatter drive when you are balanced and inside the baseline. If your miss bias is long, add spin and aim a foot higher over the net; if your miss bias is into the net, aim higher still and accelerate the swing to keep the ball from sitting short.

Singles and doubles ask for different roadmaps. In singles, you often build with crosscourt exchanges, probe the backhand, and change direction only when set. In doubles, serves and returns target the middle to jam spacing, net players poach to cut off angles, and lobs keep poachers honest. Simple patterns create reliable outcomes:
– Serve to the body, recover middle, play the next ball deep crosscourt.
– Neutral rally: three crosscourts, then change direction into open space.
– Defense: high, heavy ball deep; recover; repeat until balance returns.

The mental side matters. Scoreboard pressure can tempt risky swings, so use routines: adjust strings, breathe out slowly between points, pick a clear target before every serve and return. Ask yourself after each point, “Was my choice sound, even if execution lagged?” By judging decisions rather than just results, you train the part of your game that scales fastest with experience.

From First Rally to Regular Play: A Beginner’s Roadmap and Conclusion

Progress in tennis is steady when you structure it. Mix repetition with variety, and be patient with timing. A simple week can cover all bases without overwhelming you. Aim for two to four on‑court sessions and one brief strength or mobility block. Warm up with 5–8 minutes of light movement and dynamic stretches, then add a handful of shadow swings to prime patterns. Finish with easy cooldown stretches focused on calves, quads, hips, forearms, and shoulders.

Here is a sample plan to keep you moving forward:
– Day 1: Technique focus. Shadow swings (5 minutes), wall rally forehand/backhand (10–15), basket feeding forehand to deep crosscourt targets (15), serves to big zones (10).
– Day 3: Consistency and footwork. Split‑step rhythm drills (5), mini‑court rally service box to service box (10), full‑court rally with height and depth goals (20), serves plus first ball pattern to the middle (10).
– Day 5: Match play lite. Play to four games, no‑ad. Track first‑serve percentage and unforced errors. Debrief in a notebook: one thing that worked, one thing to adjust.
– Optional: Short strength/mobility day. Squats, lunges, planks, band pull‑aparts, forearm eccentrics; 15–20 minutes.

Self‑checks help you course‑correct. If you cannot rally five balls crosscourt comfortably, reduce pace and aim higher over the net until your success rate climbs above 60–70%. If your shoulder or elbow feels sore, pause serves for a few days, shorten swings, and consider a more comfortable string setup. Hydrate before and during play, and respect heat by seeking shade breaks between games when needed.

For newcomers, the goal is not perfection but reliable fun: longer rallies, a few purposeful serves each game, and decisions that make sense under pressure. By learning the rules, picking supportive gear, practicing essential techniques, and leaning on high‑percentage patterns, you give yourself a sturdy foundation. Keep notes, celebrate small milestones—your first rally of ten, your first hold of serve—and nudge difficulty upward only when success is repeatable. Step by step, you will move from scattered hits to rallies that feel intentional, controlled, and genuinely satisfying.