Week 007
Tennis
Week 007: Tennis
Background of Tennis
• Tennis can be played in singles or doubles.
• Its aim is to send the tennis ball to the opponent’s
court using a racket in a way that the opponent
cannot hit it back to your court.
• Tennis is from the French phrase Jeu de Paume,
which means palm game.
• Originally, the hands are used to strike the ball. As
time passed by, it was replaced by rackets.
• Major Walter Wingfield intro
Early tennis costumes. Image retrieved from:
https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/6e8
8ya/tennis_players_costumes_of_early_days_ca_1900/
Week 007: Tennis
Popular Tennis Tournaments
• Wimbledon (England) – the most prestigious tennis
tournament.
• US Open (USA)
• French Open (France)
• Australian Open (Australia)
The game and scoring system of tennis was simplified
in the 19th century.
The four popular tennis tournaments. Image
retrieved from:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5729423838157
45177/
Week 007: Tennis
Facilities and Equipment
• Racket
• The tool used to hit the ball
• A player must consider the racket’s weight,
material, handle size, the strings, balance and
frame quality.
Tennis racket. Image retrieved from:
https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/6e88ya
/tennis_players_costumes_of_early_days_ca_1900/
Week 007: Tennis
Facilities and Equipment
• Ball
• Bright yellow in color
• Should be of good quality brand
• If a ball’s fuzz is removed, it needs to be replaced
because of the ball’s change in aerodynamics.
Ball. Image retrieved from:
https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/6e88ya
/tennis_players_costumes_of_early_days_ca_1900/
Week 007: Tennis
Facilities and Equipment
• Court
• Court size is dependent on game being played.
• Singles- 78 ft. x 27 ft.
• Doubles- 78 ft. x 36 ft.
• Parts of the court
• Baseline- the line parallel to the net marking
the boundary of the court (27 ft and 36 ft)
• Center mark- divides the baseline into two.
The point not to be crossed during a service
(4 inches)
Tennis court. Retrieved from: http://www.ilycats.us/a-
diagram-of-tennis-court-dimensions-layout-awesome/ on
April 10, 2018
Week 007: Tennis
Facilities and Equipment
• Court
• Parts of the court
• Service line- line parallel to the net between
the baseline and the net. This sets the
boundaries for services (27 ft)
• Center service line- two lines perpendicular to
the net and extends for 42 ft, 21ft on each
side. This line marks two service areas.
Tennis court parts. Retrieved from:
https://www.sportscourtdimensions.com/tennis/
Week 007: Tennis
Facilities and Equipment
• Court
• Parts of the court
• Service line- line parallel to the net between
the baseline and the net. This sets the
boundaries for services (27 ft)
• Center service line- two lines perpendicular to
the net and extends for 42 ft, 21ft on each
side. This line marks two service areas.
• Single side lines- boundary lines that run
perpendicular to the net in singles (39 ft on
both sides)
Tennis court dimensions. Retrieved from:
http://www.ilycats.us/a-diagram-of-tennis-court-dimensions-
layout-awesome/ on April 10, 2018
Week 007: Tennis
Facilities and Equipment
• Court
• Parts of the court
• Double side lines- similar to the single side
lines in terms of length and direction. They
are slightly situated a few feet away compared
to single side lines.
• Left and right service boxes- players are to
serve within this box (21 ft x 13.5 ft)
• Doubles alley- space between single and
double sidelines (39 ft. x 4.5 ft)
Real tennis court. Retrieved
from:https://tigerturf.com/uk/sports/tennis
Week 007: Tennis
Facilities and Equipment
• Court
• Parts of the court
• No Man’s Land- the largest space on the court
mostly avoided by players because it’s too
close to a groundstroke and too far for a volley
between baseline and service line (18 ft. x 27
ft.)
• Net- divides the court into two parts (42 ft x
3.5 ft)
• Net post- hold the net (3.5 ft high)
Net. Retrieved from: https://www.netsportique.uk/tennis-net-
3mm
Week 007: Tennis
Basic skills in Tennis
• Forehand Grip
• Eastern Grip- holds racket handle as if shaking
hands. Allows maximum power with minimal
effort.
• Western Grip- the broad part of the racket will lie
flat on the palm of the player. The swing is
downward.
• Continental Grip- requires a great amount of
wrist strength. Similar to the eastern grip but
slightly tilted to the left.
Tennis grips. Photo retrieved from:
http://www.irasabs.com/?p=6554 on March 13,
2018
Week 007: Tennis
Basic skills in Tennis
• Strokes
• The body should be sideways to the net.
• The feet set comfortably apart
• The backswing should be executed with an
extended arm and firm wrist
• The racket head should be at hip level.
• With the forward swing of the racket, the weight
of the body is transferred from right to the left.
• Do not reach out for the incoming ball.
• Always move your body forward with a swing and
a good follow-through is very important because
Forehand stroke. Photo retrieved from:
it will direct the flight of the ball. http://protennistips.net/how-to-tennis-forehand/
Week 007: Tennis
Basic skills in Tennis
• Strokes
• Backhand stroke
• Used in baseline rallies and in approach shots
• Let tennis backhand come along with the ride.
• The body should help initiate the backswing
on the backhand
• The hands and racket should do minimal work
in taking the racket back.
• Feet are turned sideways on the preparation.
• Extend outwards with the arm and racket
towards the intended direction of the ball.
Backhand stroke. Photo retrieved from:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/340092209345588
269/
Week 007: Tennis
Basic skills in Tennis
• Strokes
• Two-handed backhand technique
• Backswing- bring the racket back and then
turn sideways and be prepared to step
forward with the left foot.
• Down Swing- The movement causes the racket
face to brush off the ball producing top spin.
• Body is facing the net with the feet doing the
same and racket held in both hands.
Two-handed Backhand. Photo retrieved from:
http://www.unleashyourtennis.com/4-steps-great-
two-handed-backhand/
Week 007: Tennis
Basic skills in Tennis
• Strokes
• One-handed backhand technique
• Backswing- from the ready position, the feet
should face the net. Step forward using the
dominant foot and anticipate ball movement.
• Forward swing- Take out the left hand from
supporting the racket once the ball comes and
swing forward with the racket.
One-handed Backhand. Photo retrieved from:
http://www.tennisserver.com/turbo/turbo_01_04.ht
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