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Tennis glossary

Scoring, strokes, court positions and the Korean expressions you may hear at a local club.

Scoring and match flow

Love: zero. “Fifteen love” means 15–0.
Deuce: 40–40. Under advantage scoring, two successive points are needed to win.
Advantage: one point ahead after deuce; “ad in” for the server, “ad out” for the receiver.
No-ad: one deciding point at deuce, usually with the receiving side choosing the court under the event's rules.
Game, set, match: the successive units of scoring. Standard games need at least four points and a two-point margin; standard sets generally need six games with the required margin or a tiebreak.
Tiebreak: commonly first to seven points, win by two, at 6–6.
Break: win the opponent's service game. Hold: win your own.
Let: replay a serve or point under the rules.
Fault: a failed serve. Two successive faults are a double fault; a foot fault concerns the server's foot position.
Change of ends: usually after odd-numbered games.

Groundstroke: a forehand or backhand after one bounce.
Volley: a shot before the bounce, usually near the net.
Half-volley: contact immediately after the bounce, often at your feet.
Overhead or smash: an overhead finishing shot.
Lob: a high ball over an opponent, defensive or attacking.
Drop shot: a soft ball landing just beyond the net.
Passing shot: a shot past an opponent at the net.
Approach: a shot played while moving toward the net, often deep and low.
Serve and volley: follow the serve forward to volley.
Winner: a shot the opponent cannot return; an untouched winning serve is an ace.
Unforced error: an error without substantial opposing pressure.

Topspin: forward rotation, a dipping flight and a higher bounce.
Slice: backspin producing a low, skidding ball, useful for defense and variety.
Flat: relatively little spin and a direct, fast flight with less margin.
Kick serve: a topspin-heavy serve with a high bounce; slice serves curve sideways.

Racket and string choices influence feel and spin potential. See Gear & apparel.

Baseline: the back boundary.
Service line and box: define the target area for a serve. The T is the center service-line junction.
Alley: the strip between singles and doubles sidelines, used in doubles rallies.
No man's land: the area between baseline and service line where lingering often exposes your feet.
Gut or string: the racket's string bed; natural gut, polyester and multifilament have different properties.
Tension: stringing tightness, often stated in pounds.
Grip size: handle thickness. Overgrip: the replaceable wrap over the base grip.
Dampener: an insert that changes vibration feel and sound.
Sweet spot: the favorable central contact region.

Net player and back player: the forward and baseline roles in doubles.
Deuce court and ad court: right and left receiving sides when facing the net.
Poach: a net player intercepting a crosscourt ball.
Switch: exchange sides after a poach or lob.
I-formation and Australian formation: alternative serving formations that disrupt return patterns.
Crosscourt: diagonal. Down the line: roughly parallel to a sideline.
Chip and charge: follow a sliced return toward the net.

Guryeok (구력): how long someone has played; it does not necessarily indicate skill.
Sinin-bu (신인부): a novice division, often restricted by previous results.
Gaenari-bu (개나리부) and Gukhwa-bu (국화부): traditional women's division names. Eligibility and promotion rules vary by organizer; check the entry regulations rather than assuming an age category.
Open division: a higher-level or less restricted category, subject to event rules.
Jeonguk-gu (전국구) and jiyeok-gu (지역구): informal descriptions of national-level and local competitive strength.
Game fee: a session contribution toward courts and balls.
New balls: a freshly opened can.
One-point lesson: focused coaching on one problem.
Rally: exchanging shots after a serve, also used informally for warm-up hitting.

You may hear informal terms for body shots or drawing errors. See Tournament preparation for entry and divisions.