The Basics
Tennis Basics: The Beginner's Guide to Rules, Scoring, Strokes and Court Surfaces
Chloe · 21 June 2026 · 12 min read
Tennis is simpler than it looks. Yes, the scoring sounds unusual at first. Yes, there are a few rules that take a moment to click. But once you understand how the court is laid out, how points are counted, and what the main shots are called, you have everything you need to get on court, enjoy a lesson, and follow a match.
This guide covers the five things every beginner should know: the court, the rules, the score, the strokes, and the surfaces. Read it once before your first lesson and you will feel considerably less lost. If you have not already, you might also want to read the guided reading path for new players: it explains what to bring, what to buy, and what to wear before you step onto court.
The tennis court, explained
A singles tennis court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide. Doubles adds a 4.5 foot alley on each side. The net divides the court in half. Getting familiar with the key zones (the service boxes, the baseline, the tramlines) makes the rules significantly easier to follow.
In play
The ball must clear the net and land within the opponent's court boundaries. A player may return it before it bounces (a volley) or after a single bounce. A second bounce ends the point immediately. A ball that clips the net cord during a rally and lands in bounds remains in play.
Losing a point
A player loses the point by failing to return the ball before the second bounce, hitting it outside the court, driving it into the net, or missing it entirely.
The serve
The serve must land diagonally in the opponent's service box. A delivery that clips the net and lands in the correct box is a let: it is replayed without penalty. Players change ends after every odd game within a set.
Seen from above
Seen from the side
How tennis scoring works
Tennis scoring has its own language, and it is admittedly peculiar. Here is what you need to know.
Points within a game progress: 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, game. When both players reach 40–40, the score is deuce. The next player to win two consecutive points from deuce takes the game. The first player to win six games wins the set, provided they lead by at least two games. At 6–6, most sets are decided by a tie-break. Matches are played over the best of three sets, or five sets in men's singles at the Grand Slams.
The word "love" for zero is widely believed to derive from the French word l'oeuf (the egg), a zero resembling an egg. Whether or not that is true, it is a useful image to remember.
The main tennis strokes beginners should know
You do not need to master all of these before your first lesson. But knowing the names and what they mean will help you follow coaching instructions and watch matches with more understanding.
Serve
The shot that starts every point. Hit diagonally into the opponent's service box. You get two attempts.
Forehand
A groundstroke played from your dominant side. For most players this is their strongest, most natural shot.
Backhand
A groundstroke from your non-dominant side, hit with one or two hands on the grip. Takes a little more practice to feel natural.
Volley
A shot played before the ball bounces, usually struck close to the net to end the point quickly.
Overhead
A powerful shot hit above the head, used to put away a high ball. Think of it as a serve from inside the court.
Topspin
A shot hit with heavy forward spin, causing the ball to dip sharply over the net and bounce up high.
Slice
A shot hit with backspin, causing the ball to travel lower and slower. Useful for defensive play and changing pace.
Tennis court surfaces: clay, grass and hard courts
Tennis is played on three main surfaces, each with a distinct character. The surface affects how the ball bounces, how fast it travels, and what style of play tends to win. Most beginners play on hard courts: they are the most common and the most predictable.
Clay
Low pace, high kick. Clay slows the ball down and produces a heavy, high bounce. Points are longer and sliding footwork is common. This is the surface of Roland-Garros and the European clay season.
Where it's played
Roland-Garros
Grass
Fast and low. Grass produces a skidding, unpredictable bounce and rewards powerful serving and net play. Points are often short. Wimbledon is the most famous grass court in the world.
Where it's played
Wimbledon
Hard
Consistent, true bounce at medium pace. Hard courts are the most common surface worldwide and the most suitable for beginners. The US Open and Australian Open are both played on hard courts.
Where it's played
US Open · Australian Open
Further reading
This guide covered the court, the rules, the score, the strokes, and the surfaces. Each of the topics below goes deeper on a specific area.
- Tennis Scoring Explained for Beginners — an interactive deep dive into points, deuce, advantage, tiebreaks, and how to call the score correctly.
- Tennis Etiquette for Beginners — court manners, line-calling, ball returns, and the unwritten rules that make you a good playing partner from day one.
- What to Expect at Your First Tennis Lesson — a minute-by-minute guide to your first lesson, what your coach is watching for, and how to feel confident before you step on court.
- What to Bring to Your First Tennis Lesson — a complete checklist of what to pack, wear, and prepare before your first session on court.
- How to Choose Your First Tennis Racquet — head size, weight, grip, strings, and honest beginner recommendations at every budget.