1. Tennis Words
2. Table Tennis Lingo
3. Common Tennis Terms

These tennis players terms and jargon are part of sports gamerisms, Define Your Game!
Tennis, part 2 continues for tennis players and fans who dream of Aces.

Tennis Players Terms: D

• Daisy Cutter: jargon for a low shot with backspin resulting in a low bounce.
• Dead Net: the accidental shot that hits the net and falls into the opponent's side of the court. Betcha, can't do that again!
• Default: the loss of a match by disqualification after four code violations have been awarded.
• Defensive Lob: term for a high shot at or close to the net.
• Defensive Volley: return tennis shot generally from below the top of the net.
• Deuce: occurs when both players have accumulated a count of 40 or three points each. Either player must attain 2 points in a row to win the match after Deuce.
• Deuce Court: location to the receiver's right service court where a serve is received following a deuce score.
• Dink: lingo for a shot hit with very little velocity.
• Dirtballer: slang for someone who is a clay court player.
• Double Fault: player action that has failed to produce a valid serve twice.
• Double Hit: occurs when the ball is struck twice during a single hit resulting in the loss of a point.
• Doubles: a game played with two players on each side and using the full court.
• Doubles Court: term for the playing area for a doubles match.
• Down the Line: jargon for tennis shot from near the sideline.
• Drag Volley: tennis shot with backspin.
• Draw: term for system of player selection and schedule of a tournament.
• Drop Shot: a shot hit easily and placed close to the net, typically when an opponent is caught far from the net near the baseline.
• Drop Volley: jargon for a ball hit before it has bounced.
  

Tennis Expressions and Terminology With a Funny Twist. Rules, naming and tennis expressions can seem foreign to new players and to those unfamiliar with competitive play. Below is a list of common tennis expressions, phrases and terminology you may hear on the court. Kill: lingo for a heavy hit that leaves the opponent unable to reach and play it. Tennis Players Terms: L. Lawn Tennis: name for the original tennis game location, played on grass. Let: a ball touching the net on the serve but landing in bounds. Line Judge: a person with.

Tennis Players Terms: E - F

Tennis slogans for high school teams, youth teams, college teams and more. Use the sayings on apparel, as a rallying cry and more. These tennis expressions, phrases, and puns also make great Instagram captions and Facebook headlines. Tennis Slogans, Sayings, and Phrases. Baseline: marks the long boundaries of a court. The server must stand behind the baseline, between.

• Error: a failed shot that results in a lost point.
• Fault: a serve that falls out of bounds.
• Fifteen: count for the first point of a game going to a player or side.
• First Flight: movement of tennis ball from the racket hit until just before it bounces.
• First Service: the first of two attempts by a player to serve the ball in bounds.
• Flat: lingo for a rapid, straight shot without spin. It's a whizzer!
• Follow Through: movement of arm with racket after the ball has been hit.
• Foot Fault: occurs when a player steps on the end line before making contact with the ball during a serve.
• Foot Fault Judge: game official who monitors and calls foot faults.
• Forced Error: a shot that is placed in such a way that it is missed by the opposition.
• Forehand: the act of hitting the ball with the front hand of the racket.
• Forcing Shot: tactic where a player's shot places the opponent on the defensive.
• Forecourt: specific location between the net and service line.
• Forty: count for the third point of a game going to a player or side.
• Frame: term for oval part of the racket that houses the strings.
  

Tennis Players Terms: G

• Gallery: jargon for game watchers located at the ends and sides of a court.
• Game: tennis match where the winning player or side must accumulate 4 points and lead their opponent by 2 points.
• Game Point: a serve that can decide the outcome of the match with the scoring of one point.
• Game-set-match: statement that a winner has been decided and the match has ended.
• Golden Set: the win of a set without losing a single point. Congrats are in order!
• Grand Slam: four tournaments: Australian, French, U.S. Open and Wimbledon make up the premium championship known as the Grand Slam of tennis.
• Grinding: taking your opponents best shots and running down every one, typically in a frenzied manner while refusing to give up.
• Groundstroke: the act of hitting the ball after it has bounced once in your court.
  

Tennis Players Terms: H

• Hacker: lingo for a series of swings or shots by a player that appear to be luck more than skill.
• Half Court: term for court area near the service line.
• Half Volley: action occurs when the tennis ball is struck as it hits the court.
• Head: the top portion of the racquet where the strings are found.
• Heavy Ball: jargon for tennis shot hit with topspin.
• Hit on the Rise: term for ball played before reaching the bounce high point.
• Hopper: tennis balls holder.
  

Tennis Players Terms: I - K

• In: valid tennis shot landing in the opponent's court.
• Jam: ball hit near the opposing player's body resulting in a weak return.
• Jump Smash: jargon for a player's vigorous hit while jumping into the air. A smooth move!
• Kick Serve: term for robust spinning hit resulting in a change of direction when it lands.
• Kill: lingo for a heavy hit that leaves the opponent unable to reach and play it.
  

Tennis Players Terms: L

• Lawn Tennis: name for the original tennis game location, played on grass.
• Let: a ball touching the net on the serve but landing in bounds.
• Line Judge: a person with the responsibility of ruling the ball in or out of bounds.
• Lob: a ball hit high in the air into the opponent's court.
• Long: hit that is called out of bounds as it lands beyond the opposing baseline.
• Love: tennis game where the losing player scores no points. It's lost love!
• Love set: a game set where the losing player won no games.
  

Tennis Players Terms: M

• Match: tennis game that includes games and sets where the winner is declared based on greater number of sets won.
• Match Point: the point in a game where a player can win the entire match by winning the final set with the next point.
• Mini-break: term for a loss of a point on service during a tiebreaker.
• Mixed Doubles: typical doubles tennis played with a male and female on each team.
  

Tennis Players Terms: N

Tennis Words

• Net: suspended from a steel cable, equipment divides a tennis court into halves. Also, the verb, 'to net', refers to hitting the ball into the net.
• Net Cord: cable support for the net.
• Net Judge: game official who monitors and calls lets on service.
• Net Point: a point won by charging and playing close to the net. Usually followed by a definite Yes! with hands into fists motion.
• No-man's land: lingo for the area located between the baseline and service line where it is a challenge to hit groundstrokes or slams.
• Not Up: term for tennis ball hit at a second bound resulting in a point loss.
  

Tennis Players Terms: O

• Offensive Lob: tennis ball hit deep into opponent's court while this player is at the net.
• Open Stance: facing the opponent and hitting parallel to the baseline.
• Offensive Volley: shot taken from above the net.
• Open Tournament: both amateurs and professional tennis players are welcome.
• Open Grip: occurs when racket faces upward and away from the court.
• Open Racket: occurs when racket is held with an open grip.
• Out: term for tennis shot that ends up outside the designated playing area.
• Overhead Smash: the act of hitting down on the ball, typically on a lob with great velocity.
• Overspin: lingo for topspin.
• Over Wrap: a spongy material wrapped around a racquets grip to improve comfort and grip on the racquet.
  

Tennis Players Terms: P

• Pace: refers to the speed that the ball is hit. Do I hear a 'pick up the pace to very high?'
• Pair: doubles tennis team.
• Partner: refers to one of the two players on a doubles team.
• Pass: tennis shot that is hit past the opposing player.
• Pickup Shot: see half volley.
• Placement: strategic tennis hit that the opponent cannot play or reach.
• Poach: jargon for play by one double player that was intended for the partner of the team.
• Point: term for tennis scoring referred to as fifteen, thirty, forty, and game.
• Point Penalty: results in a point loss as determined by the umpire.
• Puddler: lingo for inexperienced player who hits plenty of chip and drop shots.
• Punch Volley: quick hit stroke.
• Pusher: a competitor who plays defensively as opposed to trying to score.
• Putaway: a perfectly placed unreturnable shot.
  

Tennis Players Terms is followed by terms R - Z
Other Sports Clicks
Basketball Players Terms
Golf Terms
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Rules, naming and tennis expressions can seem foreign to new players and to those unfamiliar with competitive play. Below is a list of common tennis expressions, phrases and terminology you may hear on the court.

Abuse

The pleasurable, often therapeutic act of mistreating your equipment (typically a racket) by means of smacking it on the ground, tossing, throwing, smashing, cutting in half with a chainsaw etc. when upset about how awful you're playing. Can also refer to the act of a player verbally abusing themselves or their doubles partner after a bad shot.

Ace

A serve hit so hard and fast or placed so well on the court that the receiver can't hit the ball. Can also refer to the nickname of an opponent you should not wager with, especially for money.

Ad or Advantage
When one player is within 1 point of winning a game. Also refers to the left side of the court (when facing the net) where the second and final point of each game is played.

Approach Shot

A shot hit as a player is approaching the net. Can also refer to taking a shot of booze to calm ones nerves before hitting on someone.

Asshole

Bad name used to refer to any player on the court, a coach, the crowd, a ball boy or girl or umpire, your spouse, parent or child, depending on the situation.

Backspin

The ball being hit so that it spins backwards, from bottom to top in the opposite direction than it's traveling. Can also refer to a celebratory break-dance move where a player spins on their back on the ground.

Table Tennis Lingo

Bad Call

When a ball that was really in is called out. Can also refer to someone's poor outfit choice or hairstyle.

Bagel

When a player is beaten in a set 6-0. Can also refer to a delicious breakfast item.

Ball

The fuzzy round yellow object we try to hit, sometimes more successfully than others. Can also refer to a testicle.

Break

When a player wins a game in which their opponent was serving.

Break Point

The point in a game when a player wins the game off the server.

Bullshit

The English word often said when an opponent makes a bad line call. Can also refer to a player's methods or style of play being less than desirable.

Changeover

The act of changing sides of the court during a set after the first game and every 3 subsequent (odd number) games. Can also refer to switching from Gatorade to vodka when things aren't going well or to a player who keeps changing outfits during a match e.g. 'After every set, George keeps on changeover and over again.'

Cross-Court

A ball hit on the diagonal across the court. Can also refer to walking across the court e.g. 'Don't hit me with a ball, I'm about to walk cross-court.'

Dampener

Also referred to as aTennis vibration dampener or racket shock absorber, a small rubber device installed between racket strings to absorb vibration when a ball is hit.

Deep

A ball hit so it lands very close to the opponent's baseline. Can also refer to someone displaying mental or emotional depth of thought or being philosophical.

Deuce

The score in a game when the players are tied 40-40. Can also be a slang reference to a bowel movement e.g. 'After the next game I need to take a break and go drop a deuce.'

Doubles

Playing as a foursome where two 2-person teams compete and players play together as partners, 2 on each side of the court. Can also refer to doubling up on alcohol consumption during changeovers e.g. 'Hey Sally, after the next point we're doing doubles.'

Foot Fault

When the server steps on or over the baseline while serving and is in violation of a rule. Can also refer to a player's poor choice in footwear style or their shoes not matching the rest of their outfit.

Forced Error

When a player misses a shot as a result of a really good or difficult to return shot being hit by an opponent. Can also refer to making a mistake intentionally when forced to throw a match you've bet on because you owe your bookie money from last week's football and horse racing bets and need to repay him.

Game

A single game where the winner must win by 1 point, finishing with advantage for the winning player. Can also refer to the amount of swagger a player has when interacting with players of the opposite sex and getting them to agree to romantic liaisons.

Gaming or Gamesmanship

The unsportsmanlike act of using mental tricks, delays and other such nonsense to get in the head of your opponent and make them play badly or throw off their rhythm or momentum. This can be intentional bad line calls, faking injury, yelling or grunting unnecessarily during points or other distraction methods, chugging one too many beers during changeovers, taking too much time between points, games, sets or causing other delays, arguing calls, intentionally lobbing offensively just to disrupt 'normal' point play and so on. Can also refer to a player who constantly interrupts play to try to play games or gamble e.g. 'Hey Ronnie, stop gaming, quit playing dice with the other team, it's your turn to serve.'

Grip

The handle or part of the racket we hold onto. Can also refer to a player's hold on reality e.g. 'Bob, I know you missed that easy volley but please, get a grip.' Also slang for having a lot of something e.g. 'Did you see Dave? He has a grip of the new Penn tennis balls.'

Groundstroke

A ball that bounces on the other side of the court before being returned.

Hack or Hacker

Someone who lacks traditional stroke technique and resorts to slashing and chopping away at the ball to create a lot of weird spin to make the ball bounce funny and be more difficult to return so they can try to trick their opponent in lieu of being able to hit better shots. Can also refer to a player who is an actual computer hacker.

Hold

When the serving player wins a game while serving. Can also refer to a doubles partner needing to be hugged and comforted after a particularly upsetting point and/or because they are emotionally needy.

Hooker

A person who 'hooks', also known as making bad line calls and calling balls out when they are really in. Can also refer to a prostitute on the court or in the crowd.

Junk Baller

More or less the same thing as a hack or hacker, someone who can't consistently hit a good ball and instead, uses a slow shot with no spin or a ton of side spin and back spin on most shots to keep their opponent guessing and to frustrate their opponent. Can also refer to a junk dealer who has made a lot of money and reached 'baller' status.

Kick Serve

A serve hit high and/or with a lot of top-spin so it bounces very high after landing.

Let

A serve that hits the top of the net before bouncing into the receiving player's service box.

Lob

Hitting the ball high up in the air in an arc so it goes over the other player's head. Can also refer to an intoxicated player wanting to go for lobster post-match e.g. 'Hey guys, when the match is done let's get some lob...'

Match

A series of sets, generally best of 3 with the exception of professional play which can go to the best of 5 sets.

Match Point

The final point before the match ends.

Mental Tennis

Mental tennis refers to the mental aspect of the game and how a player deals with what happens during play from a mental and emotional standpoint.

Moon Baller

Someone who relies on high arcing lobs as an offensive strategy to frustrate their opponent or try to keep them out of an offensive position. This is not generally considered 'tennis' and is seen a lot at club level and low to mid level USTA league matches. A form of gamesmanship. Can also refer to an astronaut who likes to play sports that include a ball.

Overhead

A high ball you hit in midair while it's over your head. Can also refer to anything happening up in the sky e.g. 'Hey Tina, did you see that giant pterodactyl that just flew overhead?'

Overgrip or Overwrap

A thin, easily replaceable strip of (often somewhat tacky) soft material sold in small rolls that's used to wrap around and cover the racket grip to add a little extra size to the grip and provide more comfort, absorb sweat and allow us to better grip the racket.

Pusher

Someone who does not try to hit winners or offensive shots and relies on blocking back or returning the ball safely to keep play going. Can also refer to a player who tries to sell drugs to the other players.

Set

A series of games where the winner must win the best of 6 games, winning by at least 2 games. Can also be a slang reference to the boobs of a female player or spectator or the testicles of a male player or spectator.

Singles

When two players play against each other. Can also refer to $1 bills.

Smash

Same thing as an overhead shot. Can also refer to smashing your racket during a mental meltdown or to badly beating an opponent e.g. 'Let's smash those guys!'

Tiebreak

The process for determining a set winner in the event of a tie in competitive play when a set is limited to 6 games, usually a 7 or 10 point setup where each player serves twice in a row and the winner must reach 7 or 10 points first and win by 2 points.

Common Tennis Terms

Topspin

A ball hit so that it spins from top to bottom in the direction it was hit, causing a higher and/or more forceful forward bounce when it hits the ground.

Unforced Error

When a player makes a mistake on their own without any outside influence such as a particularly challenging shot by an opponent.

Volley

A ball that is hit out of the air (except when overhead) before it bounces.