Tennis FAQs
Own the court by prepping for victory with our tennis FAQs. Warm up to face your opponent by getting to grips on rackets,
acing the score system and kitting yourself out for court in in expert tennis clothing, footwear and accessories.
Serving
How Many Types of Tennis Serve are There?
What is a Racket Grip Size?
A racket’s grip size is the circumference of the handle of the racket – and the size you need will depend on the size of
your hand. You should be able to fit the index finger of your other hand between your fingers and thumb. While the grip
size is measured in inches, they are often converted into numbers ranging from Grip Size 0 to 5, or L0 to L5. You can
find the perfect racket to suit here.
Will Grip Size Affect How I Play?
Grip size will largely impact how your racket performs. A too-small grip will need more muscle strength to keep the
racket from twisting, whereas a grip which is too large will make changing grip difficult.
Stock up on a selection of tennis grips from the likes of Dunlop and Wilson and enhance your game.
Stock up on a selection of tennis grips from the likes of Dunlop and Wilson and enhance your game.
Scoring
What was the Longest Match in Tennis History?
The longest tennis match lasted for 11 hours and 5 minutes and was contested over three days between John Isner and
Nicolas Mahut at 2010 Wimbledon.
Tennis Kit Essentials
Which Tennis Racket do I Need?
Different tennis rackets suit different sizes, strengths swing types and playing styles. Consider the below:
Our full range of tennis rackets for beginners, intermediate and advanced players can be found here.
Use our tennis racket size guide to find your perfect match.
There’s also a wide variety of junior rackets here, available in a variety of lengths, head
sizes, and shapes. As a general rule when considering the appropriate racket length for your child, stand the racket,
handle upwards, next to their foot on their playing side. They should be able to comfortably hold the tip of the handle
with their fingers without leaning over.
Which Tennis Shoes Do I Need?
Tennis shoes are crafted to differ from leisure wear trainers in that they have over extensive lateral support in comparison,
to reduce the risk of turning over on the ankle, as well as a sole pattern designed specifically to grip the tennis
court.
All court tennis shoes can be worn on all types of court. They have a herringbone grip pattern
Grass court shoes are designed for exactly that – real or artificial grass courts
Clay court shoes have a zig zag patterning
Indoor tennis shoes have totally smooth soles and so are only suitable for indoor carpeted courts
Lightweight tennis shoes are the most popular option – these can include tennis shoes for any surface
Get yourself a specialist pair of tennis shoes here, in a range
for men, ladies and kids of all levels of play. Brands include adidas, Asics, Nike, Slazenger and Mizuno.
How Do I Dress for Tennis?
Tennis clothing is crafted to move with the player at every stretch, twist, jump and run.
Traditional men’s tennis wear sees a combination of a polo shirt and shorts.
Women wear a polo shirt and skort, skirt or shorts or a dress
Tennis headbands, visors and sweatbands are also popular pieces.
Unleash your inner tennis champion with our expert collection of functional tennis apparel
for any age and level from top brands Babolat, Slazenger, Nike,
adidas.
Top Tennis Accessories
Be sure to tick off these must-have tennis accessories too and
get set for centre court
Glossary
Ace
A serve which doesn’t touch the receiving player’s racket, meaning the server wins the point immediately
Backhand
A shot in tennis when you hit the ball with your arm across your body and the back of your hand facing the
ball
Baseline
A line at the end of the court, parallel to the net, that marks the playing area boundary, lengthwise
Centre Line
The line running through the direct centre of the court and connecting the two service lines that sit
either side of the net
Drop Shot
When the ball is hit over the net softly, meaning it lands in the opponent's court so short that the
opponent should not be able to get there before the ball bounces twice
Foot Fault
Occurs if the server, whilst serving, touches the baseline or court with either foot, touches with feet
the area beyond and imaginary sideline extension, touches the imaginary extension of the centre mark, changes position
by either walking or running
Grand Slam
The world's four most important annual tennis events - U.S. Open, Australian Open, French Open, and
Wimbledon
Grip
The way in which the player holds the racket. There are three standard grips in tennis: the eastern, continental, and western
grips
Groundstrokes
A forehand or backhand shot that is executed after the ball bounces once on the court
Lob
A shot that aims to push the ball high and deep into the opponent's court
Overhead
A shot hit above the hitter's head with a serve-like motion during play. The overhead is also known as a
‘smash’
Passing Shot
A stroke taken that sends the ball to one side of the court, out of reach of the opponent
Serve
An action by which a player hits the ball to their opponent to begin the rally
Sideline
Court lines perpendicular to the net, defining the widest margins of the court
Spin
The rotation shot of the ball, affecting its bounce and the trajectory. This is commonly used to catch the
opponent off guard
Volley
A shot where a player returns the ball before it bounces. These are usually played at the service line or in
a position closer to the net