Building Indoor Tennis Courts

Building Indoor Tennis Courts gives you year-Top location to play wonderful alice in landed Pakistan Game. It protects you from the elements but may change the dynamic of your game. On an indoor court, ball speed is increased, which forces you to better control your shots. Building an indoor tennis court is a large undertaking, requiring enough floor space to house the court and enough height to accommodate overhead lobs. This is not a job you probably want to do on your own, but it is important to know what is involved so you can stay on top of a contractor doing the bulk of the work.

Determine if you have a building large enough to house an indoor tennis court. The floor plan must be able to fit a tennis court with dimensions of 78 by 36 feet, 18 feet behind each baseline and 12 feet on each side of the sidelines to give players enough room to safely run. You also need at least 35 feet from the floor to the ceiling at the center net line, according to the United States Tennis Association court regulations. There can be a slant to the ceiling as long as there is at least 20 feet over the baselines.

Determine your budget. It may take 16 to 28 weeks or longer to build the structure and cost from $15 to $75 per square foot, according to Indoor Courts of America.

Hire a contractor to construct your indoor tennis court. If you are starting from scratch, you will need permits and approval to build the structure. There are three basic structures considered: a bubble, a steel-covered court and a permanent building. Choose the structure based on your overall budget.

Choose your court surface. You can choose from concrete, carpet or sport-court flooring.

Build the structure and lay the foundation required for your court surface. Your contractor will be able to guide you on the required depth of the court foundation to accommodate frost conditions.

Net posts should be set with the foundation. Posts should be 42 feet apart along the center court line.

If you are using concrete, you may want to use two colored concretes to make the interior court stand out from the exterior court.

Lay your court. If you are using concrete, this means painting your lines. If you are laying carpet, you will lay a 1-inch pad and then the carpet before you paint the lines. Be sure the seams are kept smooth to prevent fraying. Sport courts are usually laid in pieces with the lines already on the pieces.

Install the net. Nets lace up along each net post, pulled taut so that the net is 39 inches tall at the net posts and 36 inches in the center of the net. You can adjust the center net height with the center strap provided with your net purchase.

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Applied tennis gift ideas

Plenty of gifts are available for a guy who likes tennis. The hardest part is deciding whether to give him a gift that shows off his love of the sport, something he can use while playing or an item that may help improve his game.

That fuzzy yellow ball is on all sorts of items from T-shirts to smartphone cases. If you want something different than a key chain, tote or playing cards, money clips also come in fuzzy yellow. A tennis-playing robot would be a clever addition to his desk. If he likes Wimbledon, give him flip-flops with the famed tournament’s logo. A "Tennis Evolution" T-shirt shows his love of tennis with humor and a catchy design.

For tennis supplies, a trip to a sporting goods store may help. If you don’t have a garage door to practice against, give him a tennis trainer -- a ball on a string. High-tech towels are specially made to keep him cool. He may appreciate vacuum ball-saving containers or a wire-mesh ball tote that picks up balls without his having to bend over.

Books may help improve his game. Maybe he needs to up his game with “Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis.” Or a subscription to a tennis magazine along with a gift certificate from an online tennis supplier might be a good choice. To go with the tennis books, add a pair of bookends that look as if they are held up by a small tennis racket.

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Rule of Tennis for Kids

Learning the fundamentals of tennis at any age proves to be a challenge. Kids in particular need additional time as their motor skills and muscles are still developing. However, before learning proper technique, form and strategy, it’s imperative that you explain the rules of the sport to your kids so that they can maneuver around the court with proper conduct. Rules are a big part of the game and it’s critical that your kids understand the importance of etiquette and following regulations. The following is a list of rules you might want to review with your kids before picking up a racket.

Purpose
The purpose of the game is to score more points than your opponent by hitting the tennis ball to strategic locations on the opposite side of the court so that your opponent is not able to return the shot. Explaining this concept to kids may be difficult so you must keep it as simple as possible.

Inform kids about the two types of courts that exist. The quick-start court measures about 36 feet, and then there is the standard court. The difference between the two is that the quick-start courts do not have doubles alleys, so boundaries are different. The quick-start courts are usually used by kids under the age of eight. The standard court can be used for older kids where traditional scoring applies.

Serving
In order to put the ball in play one person must serve the ball, from behind the baseline, this person is called the “server,” the person on the opposite side of the net who is receiving the ball is called the “receiver.” Demonstrate that when you serve the ball you get two attempts to put the ball in play. After the second failed attempt, a point is awarded to your opponent.

If the server steps on the line while serving this is considered a foot fault and the server must try again. If the foot fault comes during the second attempt, the point is awarded to your opponent. If the ball touches any part of the boundary line it is considered a fair ball.

Be sure to remind your kids to call out the score prior to each service attempt.

Scoring
The scoring system is like no other, and at the beginning it takes time for kids to grasp the concept. Explain the scoring system before playing tennis, while you are watching a match on television and while you are playing a set. Explain to kids that tennis players play a match, which is comprised of sets, which consist of games, which are made up of points. The more you review the concept the faster your kids will comprehend it.

For the quick-start court the player who earns seven points first wins the game. The player, who wins two sets, wins the match. In this type of scoring, kids do not use the traditional 15-love scoring method that is used in adult play. Kids use a simple 1-2-3 point pattern for every serve.

The first player serves for two points, then his opponent serves for two points, they then switch sides. They keep alternating until one player reaches seven points. In quick-start tennis there is no deuce and players do not need to win a game by two points.

This type of scoring system is used for kids 10-and-under. However, children 8-and-under use the quick-start court, and children 9- or 10-years-old use a 60-foot court, children ages 11-and-older use the traditional-size court. Children, ages 9 and 10 use the same scoring system, but they play the first two sets up to four points, and the third set if necessary is played up to seven points.

Children 11-and-over use the traditional 15-love scoring method, where points are added in increments of 15.

You can lose a point if the ball hits the net or you serve it out of bounds. You can also lose a point if you hit the ball more than once during a rally.

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Get Tennis Equipment Sponsors

If you or your child is a top-ranked player, tennis can become a very expensive sport, as you quickly tear through shoes, clothes, rackets and strings. Whether you're a pro or an amateur, gaining sponsorship helps alleviate some of the expenses associated with the life of a tournament player. Partial sponsorships provide products at a discount or less-than-wholesale rate, while full sponsorships provide all your tennis needs for free. Many companies have sponsor programs in place to promote their brand through professional representation and promotional opportunities, so they are happy to sponsor promising players.

Determine the type of equipment you want to have sponsored. Sponsorships can include shoes, clothing and practice equipment from companies like Nike, Adidas, Yonex, Fila and many others. Racket companies like Prince, Wilson, Head and Yonex provide rackets, strings, grips and carry bags to promising athletes. You will probably want to accept equipment you feel confident competing with, but changing products may be worth it if you get them for free or at a preferred discount.

Compete and win as many tournaments as possible. Tennis product manufacturers will find you and present you with a sponsorship if you are proven to be a consistent champion in your age division. All manufacturers look at sponsorships as a promotional opportunity and on-court advertising, so it is in their best interest to sponsor only the best. Amateur players with a top ranking in their respected age division can expect to receive a partial or percentage discount from sponsors or if they are very dominant, a full sponsorship. Professional players usually receive a full sponsorship and in some cases also receive payments from the sponsors to use their equipment in tournaments. Most professional players have agents who will seek sponsorship opportunities. If you are not highly ranked, however, you will usually gain at least a percentage discount.

Show a winning attitude. The sponsored player reflects the image of the company, so it is important to be well behaved and show the attitude of a good sportsman. Achieving dominance in your age division and holding a top state or national ranking will almost guarantee either a full or partial sponsorship.

Make a tennis resume that includes your age group rankings and highlights of tournament wins: Be sure to include all national events, as these are the qualifications most companies require.

Make contact with manufacturers and corporations. The most important step is to present or sell yourself to the company by letting them know why you deserve to be represented. Each major manufacturer has a tennis department that deals with managing their respective athletes. Make a prioritized list of the companies you want to contact and call the general customer service number for the tennis department in your region. Ask the operator to transfer you to the person in charge of tennis sponsorships. Introduce yourself, or your child, and explain the reason you feel that sponsorship makes sense.

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Maintain Clay Tennis Court

Traditional clay courts are composed of natural or processed clay that is mixed, crushed, screened, and blended with sand and salt. A less expensive alternative is similar in texture, but is composed of natural stone, brick, or tile that is crushed, ground and screened. Both types of clay provide a softer playing surface than hard courts. Most recreational players, particularly those over the age of 50, prefer playing on clay. However, maintenance is much more time intensive and more expensive than hard courts. To maintain them, you must be diligent in following a regular schedule.

Brush the entire court surface using the drag brush. Use a drag mat if the court has excess leaves, pine needles, stones, or other large debris particles. Brush after each match or, if the courts have not been used, brush at the end of the day

Clean the lines/tape with the line sweeper. Be sure to roll the sweeper over the center of the lines and completely brush the clay off of the tape.

Water the courts thoroughly and uniformly. Most clay courts will have some sort of sprinkler system installed. If there is no such system, a garden hose with an adjustable nozzle will work. Set the nozzle to a medium-fine spray and gently water the courts. Avoid over watering and forming puddles on the court. Also avoid spraying the water too hard, which can cause the courts to erode.

Roll the courts using the court roller. This helps compact the clay and reduce erosion. It also helps improve moisture retention and court drying time.

Patching Depressions and Holes (As Needed)
Scarify the low area with a lute or other scarifying equipment. To "scarify" is simply to rough up and loosen the compacted clay. A lute is a special, heavy duty aluminum rake with reinforced teeth on one side and a smooth straight edge on the other. It is used to scarify, level, and spread the clay.

Spread new clay onto scarified low area and level with the smooth edge of the lute.

Hand water and roll the low area. If the low area is particularly deep, you may need to repeat this process.

Top Dressing the Courts (Monthly/Annually)
Scarify the entire court surface and patch any low area/depressions/holes as described in previous section (make sure the court is dry).

Apply new clay using a spreader.

Level the newly spread material.

Water and roll the court.

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Build Clay Tennis Court

Clay tennis courts are popular in Europe and South America, though not as popular in the U.S. However, clay does offer some advantages to the recreational tennis player. Most notably, it is a softer surface, making the game much less taxing on the joints and muscles. However, clay does require some maintenance.

Plan the location for your court. The playing surface for a doubles-based tennis court is 36-by-78 feet. When you factor in the space needed outside the lines, having 60-by-120 feet is ideal. The area should be level and on firm ground. A north-south orientation is ideal for most play.

Decide on the type of clay court you want. While the red clay of the French Open readily comes to mind when considering clay for a surface, there are other types of clay, including Har-Tru, which was the surface for the U.S. Open from 1975-1977, and synthetic clay.

Part of this decision will be based on your geographic location. Clay requires constant watering, so it does not dry up and crack, so a red clay court is not practical in a desert-type locations.

Consider hiring someone with experience building clay courts. Clay courts are not practical as a do-it-yourself project because the construction of a traditional clay court requires multiple layers underneath the playing surface. For instance, the fast-dry clay of the French Open has five layers: the top layer of crushed red brick, followed by a limestone layer that is about 5-cm thick, a layer of iron ore slag, a layer of crushed stones, then a base layer that has been treated flat. Synthetic clay courts, however, are built on top of a pavement layer.

Plan for any amenities you might want on the court, such as a water fountain, benches and a place to store equipment. Discuss with the contractor whether you want a full-size fence all around the court or only at the back.

Plan your maintenance of the court. After the contractor has built the clay court, you will need to maintain it. The court should be compacted with a roller once a week. After playing on the court, you should water it to maintain the condition of the clay, unless it is synthetic clay. The court will need to be swept and the lines cleared with a special line brush.

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Become Tennis Line Judge

When you here the word "out" cracked loud and hard, it's likely that a line judge has had her eagle-eye trained on your tennis game. Within the United States Tennis Association, there are many tennis official certifications and several levels within each. A USTA line judge can work at the local, national or professional level; each one has specific training, testing and on-court requirements.

Obtain the current "Friend at Court," a booklet containing the rules of tennis, the code and USTA tournament regulations, or access it online at the USTA website. You will need to know and thoroughly understand the rules.

Join the USTA, a requirement for all USTA officials. Visit the USTA website to obtain information on membership and contact information for the chairman of officials in your area. Contact your USTA sectional or district chairman of officials to obtain information regarding umpire training and testing.

Become a provisional umpire, an entry level official. This does not require attending a USTA training course, but you may be required to attend a training session in your area and pass an open book test. Obtain a data card after completing the test, from your sectional chairperson. Fill it out. Have it signed by the chairperson. Turn it in to the USTA official's office indicating you have taken the test for the provision umpire classification. This will add you to the USTA's database of certified tennis officials.

Get involved in local tournaments to become familiar with USTA tournament and officiating regulations. Attend the required training courses and pass the written tests appropriate for this type of classification to get certified as a USTA line umpire. Officiate for a minimum of 10 days as a line umpire with a satisfactory evaluation. Keep a data card updated with the events you worked and have the event chief of umpires or referee validate your card. Turn in your card each October to your sectional chairman.

Maintain your USTA line umpire certification and work 20 days as a line judge at national, ITF, and professional tournaments with satisfactory national evaluations in order to become a national line umpire. Record all the tournaments and training sessions you attend on a data card. Have it validated by the chief of umpires or referee at each event you work and submit it to your sectional chairman each October.

Maintain your USTA national line umpire certification and work 50 days as a line judge at professional tournaments with prize money of at least $50,000 in order to become a professional line umpire. Some of the matches you work must have prize money of at least $150,000. Record the events you work on your data card, have the card validated and submit it to the national chairperson of officials.

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Average Cost of Tennis Court

The mortgage, a two-car garage and the white picket fence; that's the American dream to some. To others, having an on-property tennis court is a sign of prosperity. And if you're the court-dreaming type, you'll have to earn it. Building your own tennis court isn't cheap.

Variable Cost
It can cost you anywhere from $40,000 to more than $100,000. The price depends on a few factors, such as your land. If the contracting company needs to do extensive leveling and foundation work, it'll add to the cost. Then you'll have to choose the surface -- asphalt, concrete, cushioned, grass or clay. Permanent hard courts cost more up front but require considerably less annual upkeep, though a resurfacing can cost up to $6,000. The cheapest hard court is asphalt, but it requires 5 times more maintenance work over concrete or cushioned surfaces. Clay and grass soft courts need weekly work, but are the cheapest to install.

Add-Ons
Tennis courts require a net, and a surrounding fence is highly recommended, adding to the cost. Tennis court contractors offer different-quality nylon nets and different types of fences made of metal or vinyl. Optional lighting requires at least six light posts for adequate visibility. You can even choose to install cabanas, windscreens, water fountains or backboards. Contractors commonly sell equipment for upkeep; practice; and play; such as hand rollers, line scrubbers, water removers, ball machines, score-keeping units, shoe cleaners, benches, bleachers and judges' stands. With all the add-ons available, the price is really up to you.

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Australian Tennis Open Court

The venues and court surfaces of the US Open tennis tournament has changed several times since the first events in 1899. The change in venue was due to the increase in participants and to more events, such as doubles and mixed doubles, being added to the tournament. The court surface changed to accommodate the players and for ease of maintenance.

History
The US Open tennis tournament got its start in the 1800s. Prior to 1968, the men's events were held in Rhode Island at the Newport Casino. It was known as the US National Singles Championship for men. In 1887 the US Women's National Singles Championship began, with the events played at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. In 1968 the events were combined into what is now called the US Open.

Grass Surface
Both the US National Singles Championship for men in Rhode Island and the US National Singles Championship for women in Philadelphia were played on grass courts. In 1915 the tournament outgrew the Newport Casino venue and was moved to the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y., however grass remained the court surface of the tournament.

Har-Tru Surface
Throughout the years, tennis players criticized how the ball bounced on the grass courts of the West Side Tennis Club. In response to their concerns, the court surface was changed to Har-Tru clay courts for the 1975 US Open tournament. Har-Tru is a green clay made from a gray-green crushed stone.

DecoTurf II Surface
In 1978, the US Open tennis tournament changed venues again and moved to Flushing Meadows, N.Y., where it continues to be held as of 2010. The courts were changed to a hard court surface called DecoTurf II. This is a durable hard court surface and the fairest surface for playing tennis because of its consistent speed of play. In 2005, the color of the color surface was changed. The inner court was changed to blue with the surrounding outer court a green color. It is believed that this color scheme makes it easier for players, fans and television viewers to track the ball.

Interesting Facts
Jimmy Connors is the only player to have won the US Open championship on all three surfaces. He won on grass in 1974, on clay (Har-Tru) in 1976 and on hard court (DecoTurf II) in 1978. Chris Evert in the only woman to win the US Open championship on clay, having won in all of the three years--1975 to 1977--it was played on Har-Tru.

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Love in Tennis Match

The exact origin for the use of the word "love" in tennis is not clear. Many believe it has a French origin, others think that the English first used the term and still others claim it is of Dutch origin. Love in tennis, no matter its roots, means zero, nothing or it could simply refer to playing for the love of the game. It is used to designate the score within a game, within a set and in the final score of a match.

French Origin
The most likely story for the origin of the term "love" is from the French word "oeuf" which means egg. The French thought that a zero resembled the oval shape of an egg and used the word "oeuf" for "no score" or zero points. Over time the word became "love".

English Origin
Another possible explanation for the term "love" is that as the sport of tennis spread throughout Europe, the English imported the game and they mispronounced the French word "oeuf". Over time it gradually became the word "love". It was also thought that players who scored zero and were not that skilled would play for the love of the game.

Dutch Origin
Some claim that the word "love" comes from the Dutch/Flemish word "lof", which means honor. Tennis matches were many times played for money and when players were unable to win and scored zero points, the expression "omme lof spelen" would be used. This meant that a player "played for the honor" or in other words, played for nothing.

Score Within a Game
The score within a game is announced at the beginning of each point. Players start with zero points at the start of each game and this would be announced as love, love. The points of a tennis game are 15, 30 and 40. The server's score is always announced first. For example, if the server has won zero points and the opponent has won two points, the score would be announced "love 30" at the start of the next point.

Score Within a Set
During a match, the game count is announced prior to the serve of each game. This is the number of games each player has won. For example, if at the start of the third game one player has won three games and the other player has won zero games, the game score would be announced as "three games to love". A "love" set means that a player has won zero games in that set.

Final Match Score
At the end of a match when the final score is announced and a player has not won a single game in any given set, the word "love" is used. For example, if a player loses a match and has won three games in the first set and zero in the second, the score of the match is written as 6-3, 6-0. This would be announced as "six three, six love". An expression among tennis players, "getting bageled", refers to a person losing a two-out-of-three set match with a final score of 6-0, 6-0, and this would be announced as "six love, six love".

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Female Prize Money in Tennis

According to Forbes magazine, eight of the world's top 10 highest-paid female athletes are tennis players. Professional female tennis players earn nearly as much as their male counterparts. The primary reason male tennis players earn more is that the Association of Tennis Professionals, which governs men's tennis, pays out more prize money than the Women's Tennis Association. Therefore, disparity in pay has more to do with negotiations with the ATP and the WTA than discrimination.

Separate and Unequal
Most of the year, the WTA and ATP tours operate separately. They have different tournament schedules. Sometimes they even host events, simultaneously, on different continents. The tours come together for grand slam matches — Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open — and a few large tournaments, including those in Miami; Indian Wells, CA; Cincinnati; and Madrid. The ATP and WTA also negotiate separate television deals. Therefore, although men and women receive equal prize money in grand slam tournaments, there is a disparity in annual earnings. Serena Williams, the 2014, No. 1 women's player, won one Grand Slam, seven titles and the WTA year-end championship. Her 2014 earnings were $9,317,298. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, the year's No. 1 men's player, won one Grand Slam, seven titles and the ATP year-end championship. He earned $14,269,462.

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Rules for Playing Tennis

Tennis is an old-fashioned game that is played recreational and professionally by many around the world. There are many rules that are standard to the game despite the level of play. Basic rules pertain to scoring of a match, equipment, serving and different penalties that can be issued during a match.

Equipment
Tennis rackets can slightly vary in length depending on the height of the player. The regular sized racket measures 32 inches long and 11 1/2 inches wide. Standard tennis balls are of a yellow color and in some instances a white color. Players also have the option to use vibration dampening devices on their rackets.

The Court
A standard tennis court should measure 78 feet long from end line to end line. The net in the middle of the court should measure 3 feet in height. A game can either be a singles or a doubles match. In a singles match, the court measures 27 feet wide. In a doubles match, the court measures 38 feet wide. Court material varies among asphalt, concrete, clay, grass and sometimes materials such as wood or other synthetic materials.

Scoring
Tennis matches usually consist of either a best of three sets or a best of five sets. A standard set consists of the first player to reach six games. In the event of a tie at six games, players will play a tiebreaker, where players alternate services and sides until one wins seven points and by at least two points. A game follows the scoring system of 0 or "love," 15, 30, and 40 points. If a player has 40 points and wins the next point, he wins that game unless the players become tied at 40 points, called "deuce." When either player wins the next point following deuce, it becomes their "advantage." If they win the next point, they win that game. However, if they lose, then the score goes back to deuce and the same scoring procedure follows.

Serving
Players alternate services. A player has two attempts to get his serve into the service box, diagonally across from where they are serving from. A serve that either does not make it over the net or into the box is a "fault." If this occurs two times in a row, it is known as a "double fault" and the receiver wins the point. If the ball clips the net and lands in the service box, it is known as a "let" and the serve attempt is retried. During a serve, the player may not hit the ball twice or step on the baseline during the serve, otherwise this is considered a fault.

Penalties
Penalties in a tennis match include touching the net or the opponents' side of the court with the racket or body part; carrying the ball or catching it in the racket; hitting the ball two or more times before it crosses the net; and throwing the racket.

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Replace Battery on Tennis Tutor

Tennis Tutor is a portable ball machine capable of letting the user adjust the trajectory, speed, and even the time interval between feeds. From time to time you will need to replace the battery of the Tennis Tutor to keep it functioning at optimum performance. Replacing the battery in a Tennis Tutor is quick and easy and will get you back on the court in the shortest amount of time possible.

Lay the Tennis Tutor on its side in the typical functioning position.

Use the screwdriver to remove the six screws holding the two large pieces of plastic casing together.

Remove the additional three screws holding the top half of the plastic casing together with the metal framework.

Take out the metal framework and the wheel right next to it. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws from the exposed switch plate.

Use your hands and pop the top half of the case off.

Unscrew the screws attached to the metal strap protecting the existing batteries and remove the old batteries.

Install the new batteries and secure the metal strap to keep the new batteries fastened and protected.

Reassemble the other parts of the Tennis Tutor in the reverse order that you removed them.

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Difference Between Racquetball & Tennis

Despite the obvious similarities between racquetball and tennis, there are many differences in the sports. The most noticeable is the fact that in racquetball the game is played in an enclosed room and that both players hit the ball against the same wall, as opposed to in tennis, where the players hit the ball back and forth directly to each other. The two sports have a lot in common, but slight variations in the two make both games unique.

History
The roots of tennis can be traced back thousands of years. It began as a simple game played without rackets, the ball being hit back and forth using the hand. It developed slowly to include nets, rackets, lines and a progressive set of rules. Essentially, tennis gave birth to all of the racket games we know today, such as squash, table tennis and, of course, racquetball. Racquetball is said to have originated during the Korean War (1950-53), when a man named Joe Sebek conceived the original technology and aesthetics of the game as a means to be able to play a racket sport in considerably tighter quarters.

The Courts
A tennis court can be either indoors or outdoors, the playing surface being made of either clay, grass or cement. The dimensions of the court are 78 feet by 39 feet, and there is a net that extends across the entire width of the court and stands roughly 3 feet high. Any ball that is hit and lands outside of the court is considered out of bounds and a point is conceded.
A racquetball court has four 20-foot high walls, which are all part of the game-play. The court is typically 40 feet long by 20 feet wide. The ball is served against the opposing wall and any surface that it may bounce off of is considered legal and taken into effect.

The Rackets
Both sports use a similar racket, with a head, face, handle and butt. In tennis the rackets are considerably larger, often around 28 inches from end to end. In contrast, official USRA rules dictate that a racquetball racket cannot be longer than 22 inches.
In both sports the modern racket is most commonly made of a graphite frame, a rubber grip, and the string mesh that stretches across the face is usually a synthetic nylon.

Rubber Balls
Tennis and racquetball both use a hollow ball. A tennis ball is made of rubber and is covered in a fuzzy wool. These are typically fluorescent yellow in color and 2.7 inches in diameter. Racquetballs are also made of bouncy rubber, but are smaller (2.25 inches in diameter) and are not covered with any type of wool or nylon. They range in colors but the most common is blue.

Scoring
Racquetball scoring is comparatively simple. A player can only score on the serve and each success is one point. Matches are played as best of three sets, the first two being the first to reach 15 points and the last being the first to reach eleven.
In tennis, both players can score no matter who serves, a single success being worth 15 points. The first to reach 60 points wins the game. A player must win six games to take the set, and three sets (two for women) to win the match.

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List of Tennis Game Equipment

The game of tennis requires a long list of necessities, which can be categorized into court apparatus, apparel and game equipment. The game equipment is perhaps the most technical of all the necessary gear and primarily includes balls, racquets and string. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the organization that sets and communicates equipment standards and governs the world's tennis associations.

Racquets
Racquets are the most technical pieces of equipment used in tennis. Over time, their construction has gone from wood to metal alloy to carbon-fiber composites. Because they're designed for the playing techniques and physical needs of an individual player, the marketplace offers countless custom options. The two most important racquet qualities for most players are control and power. Advanced players are more interested in control since they possess more developed power skills. Racquets come in a wide variety of sizes and weights. A lightweight racquet with a heavy head is harder on a player's arm than a heavier racquet with a light head. The spot on the racquet that best hits the ball is called its "sweet spot." Less energy is lost and more control is generated when the ball connects to the sweet spot. Large-headed racquets have bigger sweet spots, which is one reason they're preferred by beginners.

String
The importance of racquet string can't be underestimated; its task is to connect with the ball and send it back across the net with precision. The type of string put on a racquet can effect a player's wrist and arm---either protecting against or causing fatigue. String type also has an impact on racquet power, control and spin. The most widely-used string types include natural gut, which is widely considered the best option for power, control and injury prevention; synthetic string with a solid core, which gives a racquet inexpensive control and playability; and synthetic string with multifilament construction, which is an economical version of natural gut string. All racquets have a recommended string tension range. Adjusting strings to the low end of the range will result in long shots, while the high end of the range results in short shots. According to doIttennis.com, "the wrong string type and inappropriate tension can make a $207 racket feel like a wooden club even to the most skilled of players."

Balls
In adherence to the strict regulations of tennis balls' physical characteristics, the ITF has approved approximately 200 brands for play. The industry has come up with numerous different tennis balls that are meant to interact with the court on which they're used. Since distinct court materials play "fast" or "slow," balls are chosen based on court type. Type 2 balls are standard, useable on any type of court and in any location. Type 1 balls are harder, faster and newer to the game; they're reserved for courts made of materials known to slow ball speed. Type 3 balls are slightly larger and slower, and utilized on courts known to speed up the game. Tennis balls made for specific use on high-altitude courts were introduced to the game in 1991.

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Summary of Tennis Rules

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body for the sport of tennis worldwide, including the United States. Per the United States Tennis Association (USTA), players in the United States abide by the ITF's official rules. Whether you play tennis or just enjoy watching it, a knowledge of the rules is helpful.

Serving
Your first serve in a game is from the right side of the court. Your feet should be behind the baseline, between the center mark and the sideline. If your feet touch or go beyond either mark, you've committed a foot fault. The ball should go over the net and land in the service box that lies diagonal from yours. When either you or your opponent win that point, your next serve is from the left side of the court. Serves alternate sides for the rest of the game. If the ball hits the net but lands in the correct service box, you receive a "let" and can repeat your first serve. If the ball lands out of bounds, hits a net post or any other permanent fixture, your serve is a fault. Serving two faults in a row results in the loss of the point.

Switching Sides
The ITF and the USTA rules require you to switch sides of the court with your opponent after every odd game in a set. You also switch at the conclusion of a set unless the set ended with an even number of games. If the number of games is even, you switch after the first game of the following set.

Scoring Points
The name for zero points in tennis is "love." One point equals "15," two points equals "30" and three points equals "40." If you win four points, you win one "game." The first player to win six games with a two-game advantage over her opponent wins a set. To win a point, you must hit a ball that your opponent either hits out of bounds or into the net. If your opponent cannot return your shot, you win a point. You lose a point by hitting a ball into a permanent fixture, such as a net post, by double faulting and by letting a ball bounce two times before returning it.

Tiebreaks
If you and your opponent both score six points in a set, a tiebreaker determines the winner. To win, you have to score seven points with a two-point lead over your opponent. Instead of 15, 30 and 40, the points in a tiebreaker are standard numerals: 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on. Winning the tiebreaker means you've won one game and the set.

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Beginner Soccer Tennis Rules

Soccer tennis is a soccer-specific sport that incorporates some aspects of tennis and volleyball. It does not use rackets or tennis balls; however, it is played on a tennis court. Players who want to improve their soccer skills and technique will find soccer tennis a nice change from routine practices and repetitive drills. Once the basic game rules and concepts are learned, players start to develop tactics and strategies, making match play very competitive.

Court and Equipment
Soccer tennis is played on a regulation size doubles tennis court, 78 feet long and 36 feet wide. The court is divided in half by a tennis net that is 36 inches high in the middle. A size 5 soccer ball is used for ages 12 and older. Shoes that mark or damage the court, such as cleats or studded shoes, are not allowed.

Match Format
A match consists of two out of three games. The first team to score 15 points wins the game. Three players from each team compete. Two substitutes per match are allowed for each team. In a co-ed match, at least one female player must be on the court at any given time. After each game, teams are allowed a 3 minute break and switch sides.

Kick-Off
A coin toss starts the match. The winner of the toss can choose to serve first or pick the side to start play on. The serve is referred to as a kick-off. The player who starts the kick-off must stand behind the baseline and has two attempts at getting the kick-off in play. He can kick the ball out of his hands or drop-kick the ball, allowing it to bounce before kicking it. The ball can land anywhere on the opponent's side of the court. If the kick-off hits the net and goes over, it is replayed. If the ball fails to go over the net or land within the courts boundaries in the two attempts, a point is awarded to the opposing team and they will start the next point.

Game Rules
Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their arms or hands, but any other part of their body, including shoulders, is allowed. Teams are allowed up to three touches and two bounces. All three touches do not have to be taken before returning the ball. It is legal to return the ball after one touch. If three touches are taken, all three players do not need to touch the ball. For example, player A passes the ball to player B who then passes it back to player A, who then returns it to the opposing team.

Ball Bounce Rules
The ball is allowed to bounce only once before a player touches it. With three players on a team, this means the ball can bounce only twice. The ball does not have to bounce; a player can elect to return the ball only after one touch. An example of three touches and two bounces is when player A touches the ball, the ball bounces, player B touches the ball, the ball bounces a second time and then player C returns the ball back to the opposing team.

Scoring
A team does not have to serve or kick-off in order to win a point; the winner of a rally wins a point. Teams are awarded points when the opposing team commits a fault. Examples of faults are hitting the ball outside the court's boundary lines, a player touches the ball with his arm or hand, the ball is hit into the net, the server steps onto the playing field before or during the kick-off and a team has too many touches or bounces before returning the ball.

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Women's Tennis Rule Guide

Women's tennis, though similar in technique and skill set as men's tennis, has its own set of rules and regulations that set it apart from the men's tennis circuit. Although some of these rules are designed to make the woman's game less physically taxing than the men's game, many of the rules seen in women's tennis are as a result of very old, sometimes archaic forms of etiquette which many clubs and tournaments cling to.

Set Scoring
The women's professional tennis league, known as the Women's Tennis Association, establishes for almost every WTA sanctioned match that women play what's called a "best of three" match. The three set match means that the first player to win two sets, or "the best of three" wins the match (each set is played to six games, and must be won by two, and each game consists of four points, and also must be won by two). This differs from the "best of five" match scoring used in the men's league, which often results in much longer, more endurance-based match play.

High School Advantage Scoring
At amateur USTA and high school level play, many women's leagues play with "no advantage" scoring. This means that, unlike the professional league's use of ad scoring, which can often feature extremely long sets that alternate between ad-in (or one more point until the server wins the game), deuce (or two consecutive points must be won by either player in order to win the game), and ad-out (or one more point until the player receiving serve wins the game), high school women's leagues stop the game after one deuce point. This rule is intended to alleviate the taxing level of endurance that ad scoring can call upon a player.

Dress Codes and Formalities
Many professional tennis tournaments have very strict dress codes and formalities which they require the women who participate in the tournaments to abide by. Although often these forms of etiquette exist in the men's game as well, they are typically more stringent in women's play. Wimbledon, for example, requires that all women who participate in the tournament must wear white skirts. Wimbledon also requires that all women who play in the tournament must curtsy to the Queen of England whenever she is present.

Prize Money
Since the women's tennis league generally receives less public attention than the men's game, women's tournaments typically offer substantially less prize money to the winner than men's tournaments. In 2006, for example, the men's Wimbledon winner won $1.170 million, while the women's winner won $1.117 million. Although there has been a substantial increase in women's prize money particularly in major slams over the last several decades, the disparity is still evident in smaller tournaments, largely due to a disparity in media coverage.

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Tennis Ladder Rule Guide

Tennis ladders are designed to give players the opportunity to meet others of similar ability and to improve their skills. There is no one kind of tennis ladder, and there is no one way to run one. There are ladders for singles or doubles, juniors, adults, men only or women only. The key to a successful ladder is to enforce the time rules, encourage players to make challenges regardless of their position and to keep it updated on a regular basis.

Organizing the Ladder
Tennis ladders can be set up based on a player's NTRP (National Tennis Rating Program) rating. This is a system designed to rate players in several levels according to their skill level and playing style. Other ladders are set up using a totally random order regardless of skill level, while others position players depending on their registration date and time.

Challenge Rules
Some ladders may only allow players to challenge three positions above. For example, if you are in position number 10, you can only challenge players in positions seven, eight or nine. Other ladders are set up so that players in the top 10 positions are allowed to challenge players as many as four positions ahead. Players in positions 11 through 20 are allowed to challenge players as many as six positions ahead; however, they cannot challenge higher than position seven.

Format Rules
A ladder may have players play a regular best-of-three-set match with regular scoring and a 12-point tiebreaker if the score becomes tied at 6 games each. An alternate format is to have players play a 10-game pro set. With this format, the first player to win 10 games, with a margin of two games, is the winner. If the game score becomes tied at 10 games each, a 12-point tiebreaker is played to determine the winner. The winner of the tiebreaker must be the first player to win seven points with a margin of two. In the tiebreaker, if the score is tied at 6 points each, play continues until one player has a two-point lead.

Ladder Movement
Players move up and down the ladder according to the results of their challenges. If a player challenges and wins, he takes over the challenged player's ladder position and everyone between the two players moves down one spot. For example, if player number four challenges and beats player number two, player number four takes over position two, player number two moves down to position three and player number three moves to position four.

Miscellaneous Rules
The USTA rules of tennis are used for all matches regardless of the format. Challenged players must respond to a challenge within a reasonable amount of time to keep the ladder moving. This can be 48 hours, 72 hours or 5 days. If there is no acceptance of a challenge, it is considered a forfeit by the challenged player. Both players should provide a new, unopened can of balls. One can will be opened and used for the match. The loser takes the used balls and the winner takes the unopened can. The winner of the challenge reports the score to the ladder administrator within a specified time, such as 24 hours or 48 hours. Players are not allowed to make a new challenge until a previous one has been completed.

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Parts of Tennis Court

A tennis court has 9 distinct regions, each with a specific role for dictating game play. To the novice tennis spectator, it is not always clear why a ball is called out or how a player faults a serve. Fortunately, with a little studying, it is easy to understand the layout and parts of a tennis court.

The Baseline
The baseline forms the very top and bottom boundaries of a tennis court. Players serve from just behind the baseline and can receive serves from on, just in front or behind baseline.

The Doubles Sideline
The doubles sideline is the outermost line on either side of a tennis court. This is the boundary for doubles play. If you hit a ball that lands outside this line, the other team wins a point.

The Singles Sideline
The singles sideline is the line just inside the doubles sideline, and runs parallel the doubles line. If you hit the ball in between the singles and doubles sidelines in singles play, the ball is out of bounds, but in doubles play, the ball is still in. This area between the two lines is called the doubles' tramline.

Baseline Center Mark
This line divides each baseline into two sections. When serving, a player will stand just to the right of left of this line, depending on which side of the court he's currently playing.

The Net
The net divides the tennis court in half, separating the competitors' sides. The net itself is somewhat lower in the middle than on the outer edges. Players are not allowed to hit the net with the ball while serving.

Service Lines
There is one service line on each side of the court. Service lines run parallel to the baselines and are located between the net and baseline. The center service line runs straight down the middle of the court, parallel to the sidelines and in between the two service lines. Served balls must land inside or on the service line and the center service line in the correct service box to be called in.

Service Boxes
There are four service boxes on a tennis court. These boxes are formed by the intersections of the net, the service lines, and the center service line. When serving, a player must land the ball in the service box diagonally across from him on the opposite side of the court.

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