How To Rise To Net Play Fame With Little, IF ANY, TENNIS ABILITY

I don’t know whether or not you are a tennis buff or to what degree of seriousness you take the game. But believe me there are tennis players out there who are just as dedicated as 24/7 golfers.  Women especially. After taking lessons for three years, my doubles partner got so excited when her first serve went in she went right out and had her tennis shoes bronzed for her husband’s office. (that’s just one touching story of  tennis success, there are many others) 

Sometimes it’s difficult for beginning players to understand the meaning of all the tennis terms, so, because I genuinely want to help,  I have prepared this glossary.

League – four to eight consenting adults who regularly play irregularly.

Serve – an intangible you can neither break nor hold.

Poach  – a greedy impulse you’ll later regret.

Lob – a shot that appears when you least expect it – a natural tennis high.

Smash – net play.

Put-Away – placing the ball back in the can after the game.

Rally – keeping the ball in play until you can hit it out.

Sweet Spot – a spot in the center of the racket untouched by yellow fuzz.

Yours – anything your partner misses.

Return – your chance to do same when hit by your opponent’s ball.

Mis-Hit – a common phenomena in tennis which has two pronunciations – both expressing the same sentiment.

Set Point – the beginning of the end.

Top Spin – what you get when you accidently hit the ball off the edge of your racket.

Foot Fault – last ditch excuse as in “foot’s fault”.

Gallery – a bunch of tennis grandstanders sitting down.

Placement – hitting the ball in the right spot without looking stunned.

Hold Service – a religious event for you and your doubles partner before a tournament.

Service Ace – a miracle.

Dead Ball – the one that dies before you can get to it.

Passing Shot – the one you pass on the way to the net.

Partner – an unreliable teammate.

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