Rules of Tennis

Whether you are looking to start a new sport, or wanting to brush up on your skills, knowing the basic rules of tennis makes this game a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. Here are some basics about tennis to get the ball rolling.

Point scoring

Points increase in increments of 15, from 15 to 30 to 45 to 60 or the win. A zero score is called "Love" and a tie score between both sides is called "Deuce." The player must win by two or more points. When one team is at 45 points and is about to win by 2 or more points (for example, 45 to 30 points), it is called match point.

Location on the court

When serving the ball, the player must hit the ball over the net without hitting the net or letting the ball bounce on his or her side. There are two parts of the court, the front and back court, denoted by a line dividing that side of the court in two. In a team game, one person stays on the front court, and the other on the back court. In a single player game with only one player on each side of the court, the player can move between the front and back court.

Hitting the ball

The ball can bounce once after making it to the opposite side of the court and over the net before it is hit by the opposing player. If the ball bounces more than once, it is the point of the player who hit the ball. If the ball bounces outside of the court, it is the point of the player who did not hit the ball. If the ball bounces on the boundary line, it is considered on the court, and the opposing player must hit it to avoid given his or her adversary a point.

These are just a few simple rules to help any player get into the game of tennis. It is a fun sport that is riddled with exercise to get the heart pumping.