Tennis Information

Playing Tennis On Different Courts
By Kadence

While many are familiar with the basic aspects of the game of tennis, few realize exactly how much difference a type of course can have on their game.

While many are familiar with the basic aspects of the game of tennis, few realize exactly how much difference a type of course can have on their game. In this article, we’ll help you learn to identify the differences of different playing surfaces and allow you to be able to efficiently adjust your game to make up for the changes a court makes.

- One commonly used surface for tennis courts is one that is known as Rebound Ace. This substance is hard, and it is found in may courts throughout the world. It consists of a basic layer of asphalt and/or concrete that is topped with acrylic paint that is combined with sand to get a semi-sticky, grippy, consistent surface. Tennis courts that are made of Rebound Ace have a predictable bounce and speed due to the fact that the court is uniformly created of the same hard materials. To that end, it’s a good place to begin playing tennis so that you can get the feel of a consistent surface.

- Another type of tennis court that you may run into is one that is made of clay. Clay courts are made of crushed-up bricks and covered with a layer of rough, loose clay. Clay courts make the ball stick to the ground more, causing the ball to slow down. Consequently, you may find yourself skidding when performing quick movements due to the loose surface. To win on a clay court, work on hitting the ball deep into your opponent’s side of the court, putting as much spin on the ball as you can. This limits your opponent’s opportunities to return the shot. Also, you may want to consider making shots that will put your opponent off of their footing, causing them to miss the return.

- Grass tennis courts are not seen as often as they used to be, but you can still find them out there. Wimbledon is a grass court, and is one of the few remaining competitions held on grass. Grass can cause the ball to bounce much lower, making grass courts a field of advantage for those who make quick, low shots. Changing up your shots from shot-type to shot-type can also provide to be an efficient advantage over your opponent when playing on grass.

Now that you know more about how the courts of tennis can effect your game, you can better understand exactly what you need to do to keep on top of your game. Happy playing!

More Commonly Asked Tennis Questions
By Kadence

There are so many rules in tennis that it can be tough to accurately determine who is at fault when certain situations come up. The more that you know about the sport, the better the chance you have at being able to avoid any controversy should one of the less-common situations in tennis come up.

There are so many rules in tennis that it can be tough to accurately determine who is at fault when certain situations come up. The more that you know about the sport, the better the chance you have at being able to avoid any controversy should one of the less-common situations in tennis come up.

Q: When can I call a foot foul on my opponent?
A: In a match that is not being judged by a referee, it can be difficult to determine whether or not you should call out a foot foul. Since tennis rules stipulate that the opponent should be given the benefit of the doubt in any controversial calls, foot fouls should only be called when every effort of informing the opponent about the practice has failed and the foot fouling continues to a flagrant degree.

Q: What mistakes result in a service fault?
A: Service faults can be caused by a number of factors. When a player makes a foot foul, doesn’t serve from the proper area, or doesn’t follow the proper form for preparing the serve, they are said to have a service fault. In addition, players that miss the ball whilst trying to serve are also said to have committed a service fault. If, after serving, the ball hits a permanent fixture of the court, such as the singles stick or the posts of the net before bouncing, a service fault is commited. Finally, when the ball touches the server or the server’s partner, or any part of their clothing, before or after a serve, a service fault is said to have occurred. After the first service fault occurs, the server is expected to take their second serve without delay as to ensure that they are not simply buying time to rest.
Service should be performed by the serving party within 20 seconds, or they will incur a time violation.

Q: What determines a let?
A: A let occurs most often when, during service, the ball touches the net and lands on the opponent’s side of the court. There are a few other situations that merit a let, including the unlikely situation in which the ball hits one of the receivers or an article of their clothing before bouncing. Also, if the ball is served before the receiver is ready, a let occurs. The service is considered to have never occurred, and it does not change the results of any prior faults on the part of the server.