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Glossary of Tennis Terms

Tennis - Glossary of Terms follows below:

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EF


Eastern Grip   This grip is the classic grip used most often by beginning students; it is considered the easiest grip to use when learning the forehand shot.  Although it is underused by pro tennis players, in favor of the Semi-Western grip, it is still used by some.  It places your palm on the side plane of your handle, parallel to the plane of your strings.  With your wrist straight and relaxed, the Eastern grip results in a vertical racquet face when your racquet is even with your front hip.  For a classic swing style, this is the most natural and physically most secure relationship between body, racquet, and point of contact. The Eastern is also the most versatile forehand grip, because you can easily tilt upward for slice or keep the racquet face vertical to hit topspin. Many players find that they can hit heavier topspin and better handle the high kick of the opponent's topspin with the more western grips, though, which accounts for the reduced popularity of the Eastern at the pro level.  It is so-named because it was originally developed in the Eastern United States.

Error A shot that fails to cross the net or lands out of the court, resulting in loss of the point. See forced error; unforced error.
 


 

Fast courts – court surfaces, such as wood and grass, that allow the ball to bounce faster and lower than
others.

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Flat serve – hit with little or no spin, usually it is hit with great speed and power.

Follow-through – the finishing motion of the swing after the ball has been hit.

Face The flat area of the racket formed by the strings and bounded by the frame.
Fault An invalid service attempt. It is a fault if the serve fails to land in the receiver's service court; if the server swings and misses the ball entirely; or if the serve is made from beyond the baseline or from the wrong side of the center mark. See also double fault; foot fault; serve.
Fifteen The first point of a game for either player or side. See point; scoring system.
First flight The flight of the ball after it leaves the racket and before it bounces.
Flat Descriptive of a low, fast, straight shot without spin.
Follow through The motion of the arm and racket after the ball has been struck.
Foot fault Usually a fault caused by the server's foot entering the court before the racket contacts the ball. It is also a foot fault if any part of the server's foot is on the wrong side of the center mark, or the server is walking or running while delivering the serve. See also serve.

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Foot fault judge An official responsible for calling foot faults. The foot fault judge is positioned on a line with the baseline, on the opposite side of the court from the baseline judge.
Forced error An error resulting from a good shot by the opponent. See error; unforced error.
Forcing shot A shot that puts the opponent on the defensive; often an approach shot.
Forecourt The area between the net and the service line.
Forehand A shot hit from the racket side of the player's body; the right side for a right-hander.
Forty The third point of a game for either player or side. If both reach forty, it is called deuce.
Frame The oval portion of the racket that contains the strings; an unstrung racket.
 

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