SESKStuff Everyone Should Know

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Stuff Every Tennis Player Should Know

Scoring, rules, line calls, etiquette, strokes and avoiding tennis elbow.

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⏱ Timed practice exam

SESK practice exam: 50 questions, 50 minutes, pass with 40 right (80%).

Take it like the real thing: a countdown, no hints until you finish, then your score by topic, every miss explained, and a readiness score from your last 3 exams.

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  1. In tennis scoring, what does the word "love" mean?
    Show the answer

    Zero points. The Rules of Tennis call no points "Love." So 15 to love means the server has one point and the receiver has none.

  2. In a standard tennis game, what score comes after 30?
    Show the answer

    40. Points go love, 15, 30, 40, then game. The third point is called 40, not 45, even though the first two jumped by 15.

  3. When calling the score in a tennis game, whose score is said first?
    Show the answer

    The server's. The Rules of Tennis say a game is scored with the server's score called first. So 30 to 15 means the server is ahead.

All 65 practice questions

The first 50 are free, with the answer, why it's right and the official sources. The other 15 (🔒) are for SESK members. Or play them as a game and track what you've learned.

Show all 65 questions
  1. In tennis scoring, what does the word "love" mean?
  2. In a standard tennis game, what score comes after 30?
  3. When calling the score in a tennis game, whose score is said first?
  4. In tennis, when is the score called "deuce"?
  5. In a standard tennis game, a player wins the point after deuce. What is the score called?
  6. You have the advantage, then your opponent wins the next point. What is the score now?
  7. In a normal tennis set, how many games do you need to win?
  8. In a tie-break set, at what game score is a tie-break played?
  9. How do you win a standard tennis tie-break game?
  10. How are points counted during a tie-break game?
  11. Both players have won two points in a game. How is the score announced?
  12. In a best of three sets match, how many sets do you need to win?
  13. At the four Grand Slams, what happens at 6 games all in the final set?
  14. In a tie-break, the first player serves one point. Who serves the next two?
  15. What happens when a server misses both the first and second serve?
  16. Under standard ITF rules, a serve clips the net and lands in the correct box. What happens?
  17. You miss your first serve, then your second serve is a let. What serve is next?
  18. While serving, your foot touches the baseline before you hit the ball. What is it called?
  19. In every standard game, which side of the court does the first serve come from?
  20. Where must a serve land to be good?
  21. How far from the net is the service line on a tennis court?
  22. How wide is a tennis court for doubles, counting the alleys?
  23. In singles, may you serve standing behind the doubles alley part of the baseline?
  24. A ball lands touching the edge of the line. Is it in or out?
  25. The ball bounces twice on your side before you hit it. What happens?
  26. Can the receiver volley the serve, hitting it before it bounces?
  27. During a rally, your racket brushes the net. What happens?
  28. Can you reach over the net and hit the ball before it crosses to your side?
  29. You hit the ball on your side, and your racket follows through over the net. Is that OK?
  30. When do tennis players switch ends of the court during a set?
  31. During a standard tie-break, how often do players change ends?
  32. In no-ad scoring, what happens when a game reaches deuce?
  33. During a rally, your shot clips the net and drops in. What happens?
  34. A serve that does not touch the net hits the ready receiver before it bounces. Who wins the point?
  35. Who makes line calls on your side in an unofficiated tennis match?
  36. According to The Code, when should you make your line call?
  37. What should you call if you are not sure whether a shot was out?
  38. In an unofficiated match, can you ask a spectator to help make a line call?
  39. When is it correct to walk behind a court during a match?
  40. A ball from the next court rolls over to you while they are mid-point. What do you do?
  41. For a right-handed player, which side of the body is the forehand on?
  42. Can a tennis backhand be hit with two hands?
  43. When do you hit a volley in tennis?
  44. What is an overhead shot in tennis?
  45. What is a lob in tennis?
  46. What is a drop shot in tennis?
  47. What kind of swing puts topspin on a tennis ball?
  48. What kind of spin does a slice shot use?
  49. Which grip is commonly used for serves and volleys?
  50. Which four tournaments make up the tennis Grand Slam?
  51. Which Grand Slam is played on grass courts? 🔒
  52. Which Grand Slam is played on red clay courts? 🔒
  53. What kind of court is the Australian Open played on? 🔒
  54. Compared with grass and hard courts, how does red clay usually play? 🔒
  55. On Wimbledon's grass courts, what mostly decides how high the ball bounces? 🔒
  56. What part of the elbow hurts in tennis elbow? 🔒
  57. What typically causes tennis elbow? 🔒
  58. What should you do if elbow pain does not improve? 🔒
  59. How can players reduce tennis elbow risk? 🔒
  60. What is a basic rule for staying safe in hot weather? 🔒
  61. Which signs mean you should stop and cool down? 🔒
  62. How should you start a tennis session? 🔒
  63. How long is the standard official tennis warm-up? 🔒
  64. What should you do if you realize you made a wrong call? 🔒
  65. When should you call a ball out under The Code? 🔒