How to Score the Game of Tennis How to Score the Game of Tennis Often tennis professionals are asked how to keep score in the game of tennis. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. The explanation provided below may prove useful. In the game of tennis ï¿½ points make up a game, games make up a set, and sets make up a match. POINTS A point is scored when someone makes an error, hits past the opponent, or forces the opponent to make the error. The points are scored in this manner: 0 = Love 3rd point = 40 4th point = Game In scoring, the serverï¿½s points are always given first. For example: If the server wins the first point the score would be 15-Love. If the receiver should win the first point, the score would be Love-15. GAMES The most difficult part of scoring in tennis is the game. Points make up a game. The first person to win 4 points (by a margin of two or more) is the winner of the game. The unusual thing about the game is what happens if the score becomes 3 points all (tied at 40-40).

At that time the score would be ï¿½deuceï¿½. The next point won after deuce would be one of the players ï¿½advantageï¿½ or ï¿½addï¿½. It might be stated ï¿½your addï¿½, or more formally stated ï¿½advantage, Mr. Smithï¿½. Some players might say ï¿½add-inï¿½ if it is the serverï¿½s advantage, or ï¿½add-outï¿½ if it is the receiverï¿½s advantage. All of these methods are acceptable means of calling the score in an advantage situation. The next point won after someoneï¿½s ï¿½addï¿½ would either be ï¿½gameï¿½ or ï¿½deuceï¿½ again. Deuce, add-in, deuce, add-out can go on indefinitely until someone wins by a margin of two or more points.

Letï¿½s run through a hypothetical game: Smith ï¿½ server; Ryan ï¿½ Receiving Ryan wins the first point: love ï¿½ 15 Smith wins the second point: 15 ï¿½ all Smith wins the third point: 30 ï¿½ 15 Smith wins the forth point: 40 ï¿½ 15 *Ryan wins the fifth point: 40 ï¿½ 30 Ryan wins the sixth point: deuce Ryan wins the seventh point: Ryanï¿½s add, or add-out, or advantage Ryan Smith wins the eight point: deuce Smith wins the ninth point: Smithï¿½s add, or add-in Smith wins tenth point: Smith wins the game (finally!) *Had Smith won either this point or the next one, he would have won the game. SETS A set is completed when one of the players wins six games by a margin of two or more games.

Therefore, the score could be 6 ï¿½ 2, or 6 ï¿½ 3, or 6 ï¿½ 4, but not 6 ï¿½ 5, It could be 7 ï¿½ 5 (because a player won by a margin of two games). Should the score go to 6 games ï¿½ all, a tiebreaker would be played to determine the winner of the set. A match can consist of: The best 2 out of 3 sets (the most common). The best 3 out of 5 sets (same is used in major tournaments such as U.S. Open and Wimbledon). The first to win 10 games (a pro set). THE TIEBREAKER The tiebreaker is played if the players reach 6 games ï¿½ all. The next player to serve (player A) will serve the first point from the right hand (forehand) court. The next two points will be served by player B beginning from the left hand (backhand) court, then the right (forehand) court. The forth and fifth points will be served by player A, beginning with the left court, then the right court.

The sixth and seventh points will be served by player B, beginning with the left (backhand) court, again. This goes on indefinitely until either player wins 7 points, by a margin of 2 or more. It is possible for the score to be as high as 21-19, because a player must win by two points or more to win the tiebreaker! One final note: After each six points of the tiebreaker, the players should switch ends of the court.ï¿½ The best way to learn the way to score a match is to sit down in front of the television while a major tournament is on. Try to give the score along with the announcers. The Tennis Scoring System, Rules and Guidelines. The Tennis Scoring System 'Game-Set-Match' The tennis scoring system is a well thought out set of rules and guidelines specifically designed to guarantee a winner at the end of a tennis game, set, or match. Contrary to a number of sports, the outcome in tennis competition never results in a 'tie'. The competition must play out until a tennis competitor or a tennis team is crowned with the championship for that tournament.

Spectators unfamiliar with the game of tennis are typically fascinated and pleasantly entertained by the competitive nature of the sport. Without a doubt, tennis is a high-spirited inspiring sport to watch, but many these spectators eventually find themselves disconnected at various stages of the competition due to the lack of tennis scoring knowledge. Problem Solved… The solution is to gradually learn the tennis scoring system and eventually master the official rules and guidelines acknowledged by tennis communities and tennis organizations around the globe. The terminology in tennis scoring is easy to learn and understand. "Game-Set-Match" is the habitual announcement voiced by tennis players and tennis officials to end a competition when the final point is played. This notification officially finalizes the tennis scoring for that match and if this is the 'finals' competition this announcement ends the tournament. Breaking down the details of the Game-Set-Match concept simplifies the ability to grasp and interpret tennis scoring. Now let's get down to the 'nuts and bolts' of the tennis scoring system. Here we go... Competitive tennis athletes are always striving to advance to the next round of competition in a tournament. The ultimate goal is to play for the championship in the 'finals'. To achieve this goal, a competitive tennis athlete must...

earn a minimum of 4 points to win a game. play at least 6 games to win a set. win no less than 2 sets (at times 3 sets) to close out a match. Prior to playing a match, competitors must decide who or which team will serve first and which sides of the court each competitor or team will initiate game play. A coin toss or racquet spin is the typical action performed to determine the privilege of picking first. The winner(s) of the coin toss or racquet spin determines either the serving options or which end of the court to initiate game play. The competitor(s) who lost the toss or spin determines the second option. Tennis Scoring: Game A tennis serve initiates game play and the player serving serves the entire game. In order to win the game, a tennis competitor must win a number of points. Each game consists of a series of points and remember a competitor must accumulate at least four points to win the game. The servers score is always announced first the entire game with tennis terminology voiced in a manner unique to tennis.

Points Earned 0 = 0 Games Points or 'Love' Points Earned 1 = 15 Game Points Points Earned 2 = 30 Game Points Points Earned 3 = 40 Game Points Points Earned 4 = Game Over (2 Point Advantage Required) The winner of a tennis game must win with a two point advantage. In other words, if the score is 40-0 and the server wins the next point, the server wins the game. Consequently, if the server loses the next point the score is 40-15 and the server must continue to serve and play out that game. Deuce is the terminology expressed when the score in the game is 40-40. Remember, in order to win the game, a tennis competitor must gain a two point advantage over his or her opponent. To win the game when the score is deuce, a competitor must score two consecutive points (one immediately after the other) --- otherwise the score reverts back to deuce. The first competitor to score after the score is deuce is ahead by one point and now has what is termed in tennis as having the Advantage or 'Ad' for short.

Remember the server’s score is announced first. If the server was the first player to score after the game score is deuce, then the score is announced "Advantage In or Ad In" by the server prior to serving the next point. If the receiver was the first player to score after the game score is deuce, then the score is announced "Advantage Out or Ad Out" by the server prior to serving the next point. The tennis term 'game point' is announced when a competitor (server or receiver) is ahead by one to three points and only needs one point to win the game. For instance, if a tennis competitor’s score is ... 30-40 and the competitor only has one point to win the game, this tennis competitor has a 'game point'. This means this tennis competitor has one chance to close out and win the game. 40-15 and the competitor only has one point to win the game, this tennis competitor has a 'double game point'. This means this tennis competitor has two consecutive chances to close out and win the game. 0-40 or love-40 and the competitor only has one point to win the game, this tennis competitor has a 'triple game point'.

This means this tennis competitor has three consecutive chances to close out and win the game. This systematic process can also be announced in sets and matches utilizing the terms 'set point' and 'match point' respectively. The tennis term 'break point' is announced when the receiving competitor is ahead by one to three points and only needs one point to win the game and 'break' the server's serve. For instance, if a receiving competitor's score is… 30-40, the receiver only has to score one point to win the game. The receiver has a 'break point'. This indicates that the receiver has one chance to break the server's serve to close out and win the game. 15-40, the receiver only has to score one point to win the game. The receiver has a 'double break point'. This indicates that the receiver has two consecutive chances to break the server's serve to close out and win the game. 0-40, the receiver only has to score one point to win the game. The receiver has a 'triple break point'. This indicates that the receiver has three consecutive chances to break the server's serve to close out and win the game.

Tennis Scoring: Set A tennis set is determined when a competitor has won a minimum of six games with at least a two game advantage over his or her opponent. The potential score outcome for a set could be 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, or 6-0. Did you notice I did not mention 6-5? Think about that for a second. Did you figure out why? Chances are, you did. Just in case though, let's clarify this justification. Keep in mind that a tennis competitor can only close out a set when leading by two or more games. As a result, 6-5 continues game play until a final score such as 7-5 or 8-6 is achieved by one of the tennis competitors. A competitive tennis set can last as long as an hour or even more unless tie-breaker scoring or no-ad scoring was predetermine as part of the rules for that match. Tournament rules could dictate a 'Pro Set' in an effort to speed up matches if time is of the essence in a competition.

When playing a 'Pro Set' also known as an '8 Game Pro Set' the winner of the match must win at least 8 games leading with a minimum advantage of two or more games. Rotation of sides on the tennis court is continuous during a match when the total number of games in a set is an odd number. For instance, let's say the total game score in a set is 5-4. Just add 5 + 4 = 9. 9 is an odd number, so the competitors rotate sides before starting the next game. On the other hand, let's say the total game score in the set is 2-0. Just add 2 + 0 = 2. 2 is an even number, so the competitors do not rotate sides. Tennis Scoring: Match The structure of a tennis match is deliberately designed with an odd number of sets to ensure a winner emerges at the end of the match. Typically, tennis competitors play the best 2 out of 3 sets to determine a winner of a match. The potential outcome could end up in a final score of 2-0 or 2-1 for the winner of a match.

Men's professional tennis competitors play the best 3 out of 5 sets in Grand Slam tournaments such as the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon or the U.S. Open. The potential outcome could end up in a final score of 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 for the winner in this type of match. In a 'nutshell'... The tennis competitor who wins the majority of sets within a match is the WINNER of that match competition. The exhilarating sport of tennis is viewed on numerous household television screens as well as countless tennis arenas around the nation and throughout the world. Watching top-notch athlete's battle for each point, game, set, and match is impressive to say the least. Watching is one thing, understanding the battles and results is another. Knowing the tennis scoring system rules and guidelines detailed here is the key to maximizing your tennis experiences when watching a tennis match or a tennis tournament.

Simple Introduction to Tennis Scoring for Beginners Simple Introduction to Tennis Scoring for Beginners Playing a Game To put the tennis scoring system as simply as possible, one must win: four points to win a game six games to win a set two (or, more rarely, three) sets to win a match We'll call the players A and B. By winning a coin toss or a spin of the racquet, A gets to choose one of the following: choose an end of the court have B choose Let's say A chooses to serve. B then gets to choose an end of the court. A may serve from anywhere behind her baseline between the right singles sideline and the center mark. The serve must be struck before the ball bounces, and it must land in the service box diagonally opposite her. She gets two chances to get a serve in. If she misses both, she loses the point. If a serve that is otherwise good nicks the net on its way in, it is redone. If A gets her serve in, B must return the ball, after exactly one bounce, into any part of A's singles court.

A and B must then return the ball, after no more than one bounce, into one another's singles court until one of them misses. continue reading below our video How to Throw a Perfect Spiral in Football A will serve from the left side of her baseline for the second point of the game, and she will continue to alternate right and left for the start of each point of the game. Let's say A wins the first point. At the start of the next point, she must announce the score, her point total first: "15 - love." (Love = 0.) B wins the next point: "15 all." B wins the next point: "15 - 30." A wins the next point: "30 all." A wins the next point: "40 - 30." If A wins the next point, she wins the game. If B wins the next point, the score is "40 all," which is called "deuce." At deuce, one player must win the next two points to win the game. If, at deuce, A wins the next point, she has the advantage, and the score is called "ad in," which means server's advantage.

If B had won that point, the score would have been "ad out." If the player having the advantage wins the following point, he or she wins that game. If the player with the advantage loses the point, the score returns to deuce. With traditional scoring, games can go back and forth from deuce to ad over and over. The "No Ad" variation on the scoring within games allows for a game to be won by a margin of one point. Instead of "15," "30," and "40" used to note points, players may use "1," "2," and "3." At "3 all," the receiver may choose whether to receive in the left or right service box. The winner of that point wins the game. At the end of the first and every odd-numbered game, the players switch ends of the court, and the player who served the previous game now receives serve. The server always begins a game by serving from the right.

At the start of each game, she announces the number of games each has won, starting with her own score, for example, "3 - 2." Once a player has won six games by a margin of two or more, he or she has won the set. If the score within a set reaches 6 - 6, the players may either continue to try to reach a margin of two (such as 8 - 6 or 9 - 7), or they may play a tie-break to decide the set. In tournament play, this choice will have been determined in advance, but recreational players often choose whichever option appeals to them at the moment. In a standard "12-point tie break" (best of 12), one player must win seven points by a margin or two or more. The player who received in the game preceding the tie-break serves the first point of the tie-break, starting from the right. The other player then serves the next two points, the first from the left, then the second from the right. Each player continues serving two points per turn. Points are scored with counting numbers ("1, 2, 3 . . .").

When the point total reaches six and each multiple of six, the players switch ends of the court. Starting a New Set If the previous set ended with an odd-numbered total of games, the players switch ends to begin the new set. (A tie-break counts as one game.) They will switch ends after every odd game through each set. At the start of a new set, the player who received in the last game of the previous set (or received first in the tie-break) now serves. Completing a Match In most tournaments , the first player to win two sets (best of three) wins the match. In a few events, such as men's Grand Slam tournaments, one must win three sets (best of five). Where time or fitness impose limits on the length of matches, a tie-break is sometimes used in place of a third set. Recreational players often keep going until they're exhausted, even if one of them has won four sets in a row.

Beginners Guide To Tennis - MatchMaker Tennis Beginners Guide To Tennis Simple Introduction to Tennis Scoring for Beginners By: Jeff Cooper To put the tennis scoring system as simply as possible, one must win: four points to win a game six games to win a set minimum two sets to win a match In this example, we’ll call the players or teams A and B. The Serve By winning a coin toss or a spin of the racquet, player A gets to choose one of the following — to serve first or to receive first. The loser of the coin toss gets to chose which side of the court they would like to start playing (this is advantageous if the sun is on one side of the court). Let’s say player A chooses to serve. Player B then gets to choose an end of the court. Player A may serve from anywhere behind her baseline between the right singles sideline and the center mark. The serve is done by tossing the ball into the air and striking it with the racquet. The serve must be struck before the ball bounces, and it must land in the service box diagonally opposite her. She gets two chances to get a serve in. If she misses both, she loses the point.

If a serve that is good BUT nicks the net on its way in, it is redone (called a LET). If Player A gets her serve in, Player B must return the ball, after exactly one bounce, into any part of Player A’s singles court. Player A and Player B must then return the ball, after no more than one bounce, into one another’s singles court (or doubles court if playing doubles) until one of them misses. Player A will serve from the left side of her baseline for the second point of the game, and she will continue to alternate right and left for the start of each point of the game. Scoring Keeping points in tennis is not immediately understood by a beginner player. zero points is called Love 1 point is called 15 2 points is called 30 3 points is called 40 4 points is called “game” you must win a game by 2 points if both teams get to 3 points a piece, it is called 40 – 40 or deuce. if at deuce, the server wins the next point, it is called Ad-In as the ADvantage is IN the server’s favor.

If the server wins the next point, the server has won the game. If the server loses the next point, the score reverts to deuce. If at deuce, the server loses the next point, it is called Ad-Out as the ADvantages is OUT of the server’s favor. If the server loses the next point, the server loses that game. Let’s say Player A wins the first point. At the start of the next point, she must announce the score, her point total first: “15 – love.” (Love = 0.) Player B wins the next point: “15 all.” Player B wins the next point: “15 – 30.” Player A wins the next point: “30 all.” Player A wins the next point: “40 – 30.” If Player A wins the next point, she wins the game. If Player B wins the next point, the score is “40 all,” which is called “deuce.” At deuce, one player must win the next two points to win the game. If, at deuce, Player A wins the next point, she has the advantage, and the score is called “ad in,” which means server’s advantage.

If Player B had won that point, the score would have been “ad out.” If the player having the advantage wins the following point, he or she wins that game. If the player with the advantage loses the point, the score returns to deuce. With traditional scoring, games can go back and forth from deuce to ad over and over. Line Calls How do you know when a ball is considered “out” or out of bounds? If you are serving, it is when your serve does not hit IN the service box diagonal to your serve. WHO gets to make that call? The person or team RECEIVING the serve. Once the ball is in play, WHO gets to determine whether the ball bounces in bounds or out of bounds? The player CLOSEST to the ball gets to make that call. Can an observer who is NOT playing in the match make the call? In a “recreational” setting, NO. If you are playing a “sanctioned” tournament (like the ones you get to see on TV), the linesman gets to make the call — not the player. What if a ball barely touches the line — is it good? A ball that is 99% out is 100% good.

What if you cannot tell if the ball was 100% out? If you cannot tell if the ball was out, you have to call it good. Change Over Change over means that each team changes court sides on the odd number of games. So when the first game is played, players will switch places. If for the first game, Player A was facing the sun, at the end of the first game, Player A will switch court sides so the sun is behind them. Change overs happen on the odd number of games — 1, 3, 5. Playing a Set with a Tie-Break At the end of the first and every odd-numbered game, the players switch ends of the court, and the player who served the previous game now receives serve. The server always begins a game by serving from the right. At the start of each game, she announces the number of games each has won, starting with her own score, for example, “3 – 2.” Once a player has won six games by a margin of two or more, he or she has won the set.

If the score within a set reaches 6 – 6, the players may either continue to try to reach a margin of two (such as 8 – 6 or 9 – 7), or they may play a tie-break to decide the set. In tournament play, this choice will have been determined in advance, but recreational players often choose whichever option appeals to them at the moment. In a standard “12-point tie break” (best of 12), one player must win seven points by a margin or two or more. The player who received in the game preceding the tie-break serves the first point of the tie-break, starting from the right. The other player then serves the next two points, the first from the left, then the second from the right. Each player continues serving two points per turn. Points are scored with counting numbers (“1, 2, 3 . . .”). When the point total reaches six and each multiple of six, the players switch ends of the court. Starting a New Set If the previous set ended with an odd-numbered total of games, the players switch ends to begin the new set. (A tie-break counts as one game.) They will switch ends after every odd game through each set.

At the start of a new set, the player who received in the last game of the previous set (or received first in the tie-break) now serves. Completing a Match In most tournaments, the first player to win two sets (best of three) wins the match. In a few events, such as men’s Grand Slam tournaments, one must win three sets (best of five). Where time or fitness impose limits on the length of matches, a tie-break is sometimes used in place of a third set. Recreational players often keep going until they’re exhausted, even if one of them has won four sets in a row. There is a book called “Friend On Court” It is helpful to have in your tennis bag for those times when you have a question that cannot be answered. Here is a link to the ITF Rules of Tennis . It is a comprehensive overview that includes some of the “odd” tennis situations. Here is a list of good things to pack when playing tennis. ___ Tennis Racquet Tennis Scores - The No-Ad Scoring System No-Ad Scoring 'Simplified Tennis Scores – Accelerates The Game' What is no-ad scoring and how does this alter the traditional outcome of tennis scores in a game?

To answer this, let’s first acknowledge that tennis is not only a national sport, but a respected international sport played in nations around the world. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the world governing body of tennis that sanctions the rules and guidelines to direct the results of tennis scores in a game, set, or match. The standardized point system identified in the rules and guidelines is '0 or Love', '15', '30', '40', 'Game'. This seems simple enough, so why is no-ad (no-advantage) scoring introduced as an alternative method to determine the outcome of tennis scores in a game? There are several justifications for incorporating no-ad scoring as an alternative to accelerate the advancement of tennis scores in a game. In most cases though, no-ad scoring is utilized as a means of time management in tennis game play. This alternative method to expedite the results of tennis scores in a game is frequently exercised by tennis coaches in group lessons when time is of the essence. Typically, tennis coaches employ no-ad scoring to accelerate tennis game play during practice and to simplify tennis scores for newcomers to the game of tennis. Tennis tournaments every now and then incorporate no-ad scoring to determine the outcome of tennis scores in a match.

From time to time, tournament officials may predetermine the utilization of no-ad scoring as part of the rules and guidelines for match play in a tennis tournament. There are a number of factors for integrating no-ad scoring in tennis tournaments, but the most common factors are restricted court space and insufficient time designated for the tournament. The restricted court space and insufficient time factors that initiate no-ad scoring are routinely the result of an unexpected or an expected mass amount of tennis competitors participating in a tournament. The No-Ad Scoring Method The no-ad scoring process is rather simple. Basically, tennis competitors compete to earn points and the first competitor to earn four points wins the game. Part of the traditional point scoring of '0', '15', '30', and '40' is maintained. Some tennis players prefer to use an alternative method of scoring…the '0', '1', '2', '3' point scoring system. Both the traditional and alternative point scoring systems are acceptable and can be utilized in no-ad scoring. When the game score is 40-40 (Deuce) in traditional scoring or 3-3 in alternative scoring, this is where no-ad scoring is employed.

At this point, traditional scoring would dictate that a player must win by two points to win the game. The score would continuously rotate from 'Deuce to Ad to Deuce to Ad' until one of the competitors or one of the teams win two consecutive points to close out the game. The precondition to win by two or more points in a game is no longer a factor when no-ad scoring is employed. In no-ad scoring, a competitor only has to win by one point. Therefore, when the score is 40-40 (Deuce) in traditional scoring or 3-3 in alternative scoring, the next point wins the game. Prior to playing for this point and ultimately closing out the game, the receiving player or the receiving team in doubles chooses to receive serve in the right service court (deuce court) or the left service court (advantage court). Mixed-Doubles is the only competition that negates this rule. When competing in a mixed-doubles tennis game, the server serves to the receiver of the same gender. The player or team who wins this point simply wins the game period. Many top notched tennis competitors will not compete in tournaments where no-ad scoring is part of the scoring rules and guidelines.

To them, no-ad scoring can be a disadvantage for a couple of reasons. Top-notch athletes train to wear down opponents slowly, but surely over the longevity of a match. Given that it only takes a maximum of seven points to win a game, a no-ad scoring match is over in a minimal amount of time in comparison to traditional tennis game scoring. Additionally, a tennis competitor who has equally polished techniques and skills could win the match even if this competitor lacks conditioning to go the distance. This is an advantage for this type of athlete, but a disadvantage for the athlete who is conditioned to go the distance if that athlete does not edge out the competition early in the in a game, set, or match.

No-Ad Scoring Tips 4 points earned, wins the game 7 points is the maximum points played in a game 1 point earned after the score is 40-40 (deuce) in traditional scoring or 3-3 alternative scoring wins the game the receiver or the receiving doubles team decides which service court (right or left) to receive serve when 6 points have been played and the game is tied the 7th point served in mixed-doubles is served from the server to the receiver of the same gender There are advantages and disadvantages to the no-ad point scoring system. Tennis players participating and competing in a tennis match must know how to differentiate between traditional point scoring and no-ad scoring to maintain tennis scores within the match. Tennis Questions for Tests and Worksheets (4746) Tennis Questions - All Grades You can create printable tests and worksheets from these Tennis questions! Select one or more questions using the checkboxes above each question. Then click the add selected questions to a test button before moving to another page.

15, 30, 40, love College Tennis both teams are tied at 40 I just won but I still want to be friends the same as 15 False Grade 9 Tennis the person serving must stand in the ball must land in to be a playable serve the person returning the serve must be standing in before a server can serve is marked by a big X Grade 9 Tennis False Grade 9 Tennis False Grade 9 Tennis once (1) Grade 9 Tennis BBC Sport Academy | Tennis | Rules | Scoring | How does tennis scoring work? How does tennis scoring work? Around the Academy: Introduction Tennis has an unusual scoring system. The score does not go up in units of one or even in units of the same amount. The first point in a game is called 15 and the next 30. So you'd think that the next point should be 45 - but it isn't, it's 40. And the score of a player who has not won any points is not 'nil' or 'zero', but 'love'. This is said to come from the French word oeuf, which means egg and is shaped like a zero.

The server's score is always called first by the umpire. So if Player A is serving to Player B and Player B wins the point, the score is love-15. If Player A wins the next point the score is 15-all, and so on. Player to Player: Playing High School Tennis | USTA Player to Player: Playing High School Tennis Real Tennis Players - Like You! - Asking For, and Offering, Advice on the Sport They Love Player to Player is USTA.com’s regular feature in which everyday tennis players are given a forum to ask advice on the sport they love – and their fellow players will dish out advice. We’ll post a number of the best responses we receive to our question of the week. ------------------------------------------------------------- SEND YOUR TIPS TODAY This week's question from Jun: I have a 7-year old son, who has been learning tennis for two years. During the time, I have been wondering and confused by one question: Should a kid at this age learn a proper grip when he does forehand strokes? For example, the average grip among the pros now is semi-western; should the kid learn this semi-western? Is it the right age for that?

Please share your advice with Jun by e-mailing Player@USTA.com and include your name and hometown. Got a question of your own? Send that along, too! -------------------------------------------------------------- Last week's question from Meaghan (Please note: There's no need to send additional responses to this question) I am a 14 year old who will be graduating eighth grade and moving to high school soon. I really want to make the junior varsity tennis team, and I was wondering what the typical high school player's skill level is. What do I need to have to make the team? I started tennis about a year ago, and I have been playing 3x a week or so. I can serve about 55 mph, and I hit topspin on my forehand and backhand. I have played matches, but I am not a great player for my age. I was just wondering the typical requirements for a high school player. Player Responses: From Sandy, Wakefield, RI: It really depends on where you live -- state, county, even the town.

In my town of 35,000 people in southern Rhode Island, to play on the boys' varsity you need to be a high 3.5 level to play 3rd doubles. The boys JV players are 2.5-3.0, but there are even players that are close to 3.5 that play the top positions on the JV. Yet the girls' varsity at the same school might have "1" 3.5 player and the rest are 2.5-3.0. I will leave the JV levels to your imagination, but most have not played much or any tennis previously. All the better players actually play and attend the local religious high school, uuuggghhhh. Play tournaments and USTA Jr. Team Tennis. Get used to playing all the positions, especially doubles. A great doubles player is hard to come by. Everyone wants to be the singles player, but in reality, doubles is where it is at. You can take all the lessons you want, but if you are not playing matches, you will not every really improve your game, unless the game is being played from one position and being fed from a hopper of balls.

From Robert, Honolulu, HI: If your team has a no-cut policy, then you are in. You would just work on improving your game, without the pressure of making the team. Depending on the caliber of the team, young folks would be anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5 players. Varsity teams that are looking to win state championships are in the 4.5 to 5.5 category, again depending on the state and level of your conference (5A, 4A, etc.) On making college teams, you have options outside of major programs, like junior college, Division II and III, etc. I would start looking now with the school/schools in mind, find out about the program and their level of players, then construct your training around this. You can't go wrong having a professional coach take a look at your game and help you construct a game plan for improvements. Plus, work with your school counselors on finding a college tennis program and academic program that fits you. Also, look on the USTA, USPTA, PTR, NJCAA, NCAA sites for programs that help tennis players find college tennis options. Good luck, and have fun!

From Neil: You can go to to see the range of tennis abilities for Girls 14 based on the SSV Tennis Rating test. The average for Girls 14 is SSV 90.163. USTA Nationally Ranked Girls 14 are in the SSV 140 range. High School Varsity Girls are about SSV 100. Top HS Girls would be SSV 120 . On the website, you can download the SSV Tennis Rating test and see how you rate. Click "Free Registration" and then set yourself up as a SSV Pro. From your SSV Pro Page you can download the SSV Guidebook with the test info.Get your parents, coach, pro or friends to help. It's fun, and it's free. After you rate yourself, practice on your weakest area until you can improve your SSV Tennis Rating. Trust me, if you can clear SSV 120, you will make your HS team. From Steve, Chapel Hill, NC: The best thing to do is play in tournaments and get good coaching.

Usually in high school, all the players trying out for the team play each other, and the players who can win the most are on the team. Often it is not the greatest players or the players with the best technique who make the team—it’s simply the players who somehow are able to win. The best way to learn how to win is to play matches. Playing matches is very different from hitting with a partner—keeping score changes everything. Another way to make a team if you are “not a great player" is to make it as a doubles specialist. Playing doubles requires skills most girls your age often do not develop, such as strong net volleys and the ability to hit overheads. From Kenny, Chicago, IL: I believe you are taking all the right steps in making your goal. Be able to hit 100 balls in a row. Have all your strokes down; don’t swing at your volleys. Continue 3 times a week, maybe some private or semi-private work with a tennis coach. You have the desire. Keep with it, and you will get this goal. From Tom, Phoenix, AZ: It sounds like you are ready to me.

I would advise you to just "go for it." You clearly have the passion for the game already if you are playing three times or more a week. I have a daughter the same age that I could not convince to go out for her 9th grade team. She was afraid of not being good enough and/or getting cut from the team. But you'll never know if you don't try. From John: My advice to you is to contact the coach at the high school at which you'd like to play and tell him of your interest. Ask him to take you on the court and evaluate your potential for playing for his team. You have nothing to lose and a lot of satisfaction and fun to gain. From Terry, Fort Worth, Texas: Without more details, it is hard to say what the level of competitive play or the quality of program will be at your high school. However, from your self description, you will be just fine. Most public school teams may have one, two or even several very good players, but with a team of eight to 12 players, there will be plenty of room for a freshman of your skill and ability. And with the new opportunities to play with older and better players, you will only see improvement for yourself.

I infer from your saying you can hit topspin on both your fore and backhand that you have some consistency, as well, and that will be a tremendous advantage. If your serve has the pace you say, you may be asked to play a lot more matches! Be confident, work on your consistancy, and be sure to ask your new coach to teach you how to play the game, not just how to hit the ball. From Terry, El Segundo, CA: There are no typical requirements for a high school tennis team. Many coaches even have a no-cut policy. At the level you are now, the most important thing to work on is consistency. Do consistency drills with a player your level or better. It sounds like you will be playing doubles because only the top 3 players on a team play singles, so I suggest that you work on your doubles game. Doubles skills include net play, overhead, poaching, serving from a wider angle, but most importantly, learning to work with a partner. Working with a partner you need to be encouraging at all times, especially when things are going badly. I advise that you go to the high school coach and ask the requirements for being on the team.

Show your enthusiasm for the sport and your willingness to work hard on your game and work hard for the team. Offer to do some maintenance, like bringing water, balls, etc., to the courts on practice and match days, or offer to do team statistics on your computer, or offer to do a team website, or just ask the coach how you can help out. The most important requirements are being willing to learn, listening to the coach, and thinking of others around you and their needs. From Brock, Albuquerque, NM: The skills needed vary greatly with the high school. The best thing you can do is talk to the coach of the school you will attend. Coaches at the high school level are usually very interested in knowing the incoming players. If any of your friends are on the high school team, or JVs, you can also play with or ask them about their experience in making the team. I coach mid-school tennis (6-7-8) grades in Albuquerque. Our mid schools have a no-cut policy, and as a result, we have many who have never played before. There are 750-800 students in our league, so as you may imagine, the skills vary greatly.

By the time they go on to high school (9th grade here), many of them, with fewer skills than you have described, do get to play on a JV team. Most of our high schools have a no-cut policy, also. We want students to be involved in tennis. From Shelley, Wausau, WI: I am a high school tennis coach in Wausau, Wis. It sounds like you have some skill, which is a great start. Typically a high school varsity team is 10 players, with an extra 4 to 5 on varsity reserve. In addition, there is also the Junior Varsity, which in our case consists of as many as 25 players. If the coach already has his or her team from last season and has very few open spots, it will be hard to make the varsity as a freshman. Our No. 1 player this year, however, started on the JV team and made unbelievable improvements in 4 years. If you are going to a big high school, you will have a lot of competition for a spot on varsity. My advice is to take lessons and work on match play whenever you can.

You can have a great time on the JV team and get a lot of matches under your belt also. Don’t think because you are not on Varsity right away that you will not make it. We love having freshmen show up with some good skills, so I know you will get looked at by the head coach. Good luck to you. I hope you make it, but even if you don’t, play and improve until you do. From Bob, Hilton Head, SC: Challenge in one-set mini-matches or real two-out-of-three real sets the lowest-ranked players from last year's team and also others in your class. Keep a record of wins and defeats. When you see the coach at tryout time, show him/her the record. Also challenge your parents and/or grandparents and friends, getting handicap games from those clearly better than you. Try to earn the right to not have to have handicap games. Don't forget the "squash shot" on both forehand and backhand to give you an effective defensive and net game. In addition to learning the mechanics of tennis, make sure you have your mental game in order. Do not let your mind be distracted by missed easy shots, by bad calls, by unsportsmanlike behavior or excuses.

Make sure you don't fall into the trap of being distracted by your own behavior and attitude. There are plenty of examples of professional tennis players on TV both good and bad for you to see. Distraction in any form will not help you play better tennis. Roger Federer, Chris Evert, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, New-age Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Tiger Woods are some of the best athletes in this regard. I will let you see and figure out who are the worst. Good luck, and best of all, a lot of play will allow you to progress very quickly. From Don, West Orange, NJ: Your chances of making the team are a function of the talent of players at your school. You should find out who the current players are and introduce yourself to the coach. If you know the players and their abilities, you'll know how your game compares to theirs. Then you'll know your chances of making the team. Good luck. From Aavo, McLean, VA: I'm a high school tennis coach for both the varsity and JV teams in the AAA category (large schools). I'm also a part-time tennis teaching professional.

The caliber of play will vary from region to region, and a lot of times it will depend on how popular tennis is in your area. Simply put, JV players are usually at the "intermediate" skill level, while varsity players are "advanced (starters) or advanced intermediate." The fact that you're playing three times a week speaks well for your drive and devotion to the sport. Since you have been playing for about a year, it is important to ensure that your technique is good. Therefore, you should seriously consider taking either private or group tennis lessons to learn technique, strategy and tactics. Your tennis teacher can tell you whether you are JV or varsity material (starter or non-starter). Taking group lessons will help you gauge the level of junior tennis in your area, and you will make friends with whom you'll be able to hit with. It is important for you to continue to learn different strokes, like slice/underspin groundstrokes and volleys (those are weaknesses at the high school level in our area), and working on your serve so that it's a weapon through placement (ABC- Alley, Body or Center of the serving box), spin (topspin/kick and slice), along with reasonable serving speed.

Listen for the swish of your strings when serving. Focus on getting your first serve in, since most good players will try to attack your second serve. Work on your return of serve, particularly on the second serve, since that will be the way to beat your opponents. Good luck! Sounds like you have a lot of potential. From Lynnda: As a parent who had a daughter in your position in the 8th grade, I would get in touch with the HS coach and ask to hit with him before the season starts. That way you have an idea of where your ability level is vs. other girls on the team. HS coaches are well aware of what they are working with now and who may be coming up for the future of the team. Have a great attitude, never miss a practice and be ready to show you are a team player, and that alone with your skills should get you on the team. From Dot, Clay High, FL: Congratulations on your decision to play a high school sport, and tennis is a great life-long choice. Don't be intimidated by the other players. Let your determination and positive attitude show at tryouts. Coaches look for potential in addition to ability, which it sounds like you have.

High schools vary by class and district, so at many smaller high schools we often start with beginners, seeing real results by junior and senior years. Some bigger schools also have Jr varsity teams to develop players. A check with your high school AD or the tennis coach should get you more information. In any case, keep practicing and try out! From Coach Poppie, Palm Bay, FL: The quality of HS tennis is really dependant on the quality of tennis in your area. If you live in an area where tennis reigns and there are clubs and USTA leagues, the probability is the competition will be strong. However, should you live in an area where the local courts are green from mildew, then the likelihood of making your team will be a lock. The important thing for you is, are you getting ready to play your best tennis? Are you active with a coach/pro/teacher who can guide you toward your goals? Playing matches is important, playing three times a week is good, but is what you are doing good enough to get you where you want to be?

At our local high school, the typical player is a recruit from the girl’s soccer or volleyball teams with little if any tennis experience, yet when under the guidance of a good HS coach is ready to play in the ten school days before their first match. So what is a typical HS player? You are, if you live here, but if you lived in Vero Beach or Boca Raton you might be a spectator. In closing, find a coach, keep a tennis journal and focus on your needs to be the best player you can be, and enjoy your future in HS. From Charlie: Your DESIRE to play and the fact that you know your capabilities should carry you onto a JV tennis team. The JV team program is basically used to get your sufficient in your play so that you can be considered a candidate for Varsity. Stay with it, Meaghan... you'll see good improvement if you really want to play. Just remember, tennis is a GAME, not the end all. From Steve: Never give up, and when you are playing, always relax and think now when you return serve and before you serve. Look up and keep your ball toss arm up on serve. I did not make the high school tennis team as freshmen.

Sophomore year, I did not play all year, and when conference tournament was to begin, someone got sick, and I played doubles and we won the tournament. Do not always hit hard, and come to the net frequently. Most of all, have fun and enjoy the game. From Steve, Rock Hill, SC: I have coached high school tennis for several years now, and I can give you advice based on what I tell my players. There are generally three types of players that I deal with. I have good players, average players and not so good players that make my team. Everyone I keep on our team has a chance to be a good player, but some do more to improve themselves than others.

A good player will (goal 25 hours per week): - work once or twice per week with a pro - play matches or practice hitting with friends 2-3 days per week - seek tournaments and competitive leagues to challenge themself - run sprints & do footwork drills 3-4 days per week - run long distance 2-3 days per week - lift weights/strength train 3-4 days per week An average player will (goal 10 hours per week): - work once or twice per month with a pro - play a match or practice hitting once a week, sometimes more - run & lift weights some, usually in another sport at school **Most of these players are good athletes to start with & just enjoy tennis as a second sport A not so good player will: - not take any lessons unless mom or dad makes them go - practice hitting or play when someone asks them to - if they aren't busy - get really out of shape when it is not season - complain any time they are asked to run or strength train It's really up to you which category you want to fall into. You are young and have a lot of time to see results from hard work.

The sooner you start working, the better you will become senior year. I would also recommend talking to the school coach to find out about the team's ability level. Ask about getting in touch with some of last year's freshmen to play. And definitely ask if the team plans to go to any camps together over the summer. Good luck...

Question: What does a tennis player score when he has no points?
Answer: Love