MODULE1 Athletics- The Track and

the Field
Athletics
Indoor tracks-Have wooden or
Athletics is the types of sports in which
synthetics surface, and they usually
athletes compete in running, walking,
have banked turn. According to AAIF
jumping and throwing events. Track
rules, the preferred measurement for an
events consists of running and walking
indoor track is 20 meters.
races of various distances.
Athletics- The Track and the Field
Athletics- History
Outdoor tracts Are divided into six or
Athletic contests in running, walking,
eight lanes. Runners must stay in their
jumping and throwing are among the
lanes for all races up to 400 meters and
oldest of all sports and their roots are
until they pass the first curve of 800
prehistoric. Athletics events were
meter races. IAAF rules state that a lane
depicted in the Ancient Egyptian tombs
should measure from 1.22 to1.25 meters
in Saqqara, with illustrations of running
in width.
at the Heb Sed festival and high jumping
appearing in tombs from as early as of Athletics- The Track and the Field The
2250 BC. The Tailteann Games were an Field-Most field events take place in an
ancient Celtic festival in Ireland, founded area enclosed by the track. But in some
circa 1800 BC, and the thirty-day meetings one or more throwing events
meeting included running and stone- are held outside the stadium to protect
throwing among its sporting events. other athletes and spectators who
The original and only event at the first crowed the field area or to avoid
Olympics in 776 BC was a stadium- damaging the artificial turf that covers
length running event known as the many athletic fields.
stadion. This later expanded to include
throwing and jumping events within the
ancient pentathlon. Athletics Athletics- Track Events
competitions also took place at other
Panhellenic Games, which were Track events-Include a variety of races.
founded later around 500 BC. Short races, called sprints, stress
maximum speed, while distance races
Ancient Athletics- The Track and the require more endurance. In certain
Field running races, such as hurdles and
steeplechase, runners must go over
The Track-Outdoor running tracts are
barriers.
oval in shape and usually are laid in a
stadium. IAAF rules specify that an Athletics- Track Events
outdoor running track should measure
no less than 400 meters around – and Running races-On outdoor track cover
most modern outdoor tracks are exactly distances from 100 meters to 10,000
that length. meter. Indoors, races many measure
from 50 meters to 5,000 meters. Cross-
country races and road races are run water at the shallow end of the pit to
outside the stadium soften their landing.
Athletics- Track Events
STARTING FOR THE SPRINT-Hurdle
races are events in which the
Athletics- Track Events
competitors run over obstacles called
hurdles. Most of these races have 10 STARTING FOR THE SPRINT-Walking
hurdles spaced at equal intervals. There Races are events in which athletes must
are two of hurdles races, intermediate follow certain rules of walking. The front
and high. Intermediate hurdles are 91 foot must touch the ground before the
centimeters high for men and 76 rear foot leaves the ground. While the
centimeters high for woman. Men’s high foot is touching the ground, the leg
hurdles are 107 centimeters high. must be unbent for at least one moment.
Woman’s high hurdles are 84 Walkers are entitled to one warning for
centimeters high. Intermediate-hurdle improper from before they are
races cover 400 meters or 440 yards in disqualified. Walking races are also
men’s and woman’s competition, Most called race walking, may take place in a
outdoor high-hurdle races are110 track or a road. Most International men's
meters for men and 100 meters for walking distances cover distances of
woman. Runners can knock over 20,000 meters or 50,000 meters.
hurdles without penalty, but contact with Women's world records are recognized
a hurdle normally slows down the for two distances, 5,000 meters and
runner. 10,000 meters.
Athletics- Track Events Athletics- Track Events
STARTING FOR THE SPRINT-The STARTING FOR THE SPRINT
steeplechase is a race, usually of 3,000
meters over two kinds of obstacles, Relays are run by teams of four runners.
hurdles and water jumps. Runners must The first runner carries a baton about 30
clear 91-centimeter hurdles 28 times. cm. long. After running a certain
These hurdles are sturdier than one distance, called a leg, the athlete hands
used in hurdle races, and runners may the baton to the next team member. This
put a foot on top of them as they pass exchange must occur within a zone 20
over them. Runners must cross water meters long. If the runners do not pass
jumps seven times. A water jump the baton within this zone, their team is
consists of a hurdle and a water- filled disqualified.
pit 3.66-meter square. The Athletics. is the types of sports in which
steeplechaser steps onto the hurdle and athletes compete in running, walking,
leaps across the water. The pit is 70 jumping and throwing events.
centimeters deep at the foot of the
hurdle and slopes up to the track level. Track events. consists of running and
Most steeplechasers come down in the walking races of various distances.
MODULE 2 If the athlete steps past the board before
jumping the jump is a foul. A jump’s
Athletics- Track Events
length is measured from the edge of the
THE RELAY BATON take-off board to the nearest mark an
PASSING/RECEIVING athlete makes in the sand.

(1.) Downward swift The Tripple jump, originally called the

hot, step, and jump, consists of three
(2.) for Visual pass continuous jumps, the first two
(3.) Downward swift completed on the runway. On the first
jump, the athlete takes off one foot and
(4.) For Visual pass lands on the same foot. At the end of the
(5.) Upward swift third jump, the athlete lands on both feet
in a pit of sand.
Athletics- Field Events
THE SCISSORS CUT STYLE
Fields events take place in specially
prepared areas, usually within the oval (from take-off to landing)
track. Typical field competition consists THE WESTERN ROLL STYLE
of four jumping and four throwing
events. The jumps are the long jump, (1) Position during bar clearance
triple jump, high jump, and pole vault. (2) The take-off
The throwing events are the discus,
hammer, javelin, and shot put. Women (3) The landing
do not complete in the pole vault or
High jumpers and pole-vaulters try to
hammer. The IAAF does not recognize
propel themselves over a long thin
the woman’s Tripple jump.
crossbar held up by two posts called
uprights. The athletes land on a cushion
of foam rubber. If a jumper knocks the
crossbar off the uprights, the jump
thletics- Field Events counts as a miss. Three consecutive
misses eliminate the jumper. The winner
Jumping events. In the long jump and is the one who clears the greatest
triple jump, the athletes jump as far height. In case of a tie, the winner is the
forward as they can. In the jump and one with the fewest misses at that
pole vault, competitors leap over a bar height. If still tied, the winner is the one
as high as possible. with fewest overall misses.
Athletics- Field Events high jumper runs towards the bar from
The long jump, once called broad jump, any angle within a large, semicircular
is completed in a single jump into a pit runway. The athlete may use any style
filled with sand. To begin the long jump, of jumping, but he or she must take off
the competitor sprints down a long from one foot. In most popular modern
runway and leaps from a take-off board. style, called Fosbury flop, jumpers go
over with their back to the bar and their some other firm but no slippery material.
head clearing first. The surface of the interior shall be level
and 20mm:t 6mm lower than the upper
pole vaulter uses a long pole usually
edge of the rim of the circle.18—
made of fiberglass. He begins his vault
Measurements. The circle shall measure
by sprinting down a runway, carrying the
2.50 metress (:t 5mm) inside diameter.
pole with both hands. As he nears the
The rim of the circle shall be at least 6
vaulting pit, he rams the far end of the
millimeters in thickness, and shall be
pole into a wood or metal box
painted white.
embedded in the ground. The pole
bends while he hangs with his back to Construction of Discuss Circle
the ground and hid feet up. As the pole
19—A white line 50mm wide shall be
straightens, helping to trust him into the
drawn from the top of the metal rim
air, he pulls himself higher and turns his
extending for at least 0.15m on either
body to face the ground. Before he
side of the circle. It may be made a
releases the pole, he gives a final push
paint, wood or other suitable material.
with his arm to add to his height.
The rear edge of the white line shall
Throwing events require athletes to form a prolongation of a theoretical line
propel an object as far as they can. at right angles to the centre line of the
Competitors in the discus, hammer, shot throwing sector at the rear edge of
put all throw from inside a circle. In the which passes through the centre of the
discus and hummer events, athletes circle.
throw from an enclosure, called cage, to
THE DISCUS (REVOLVING) THROW
protect spectators form wild throws
A discus is a saucer-shaped object
usually made of wood with metal rim. A hammer consists of a steel wire with
The men’s discus measures about 22 a metal ball attached to one end and a
centimeters in diameter and weights at handle fastened to the other end. The
least 2 kilograms. The women’s discuss entire hammer weights 7.26 kilograms
is about 18 centimeters in diameter and and measures about 120 cm. long.
weigh at least one kilogram. The athlete Using both hands, the thrower grasps
grips the discus with one hand, spins the handle and spins around three or
around about 1 times (540 degrees), four times before releasing it.
and release it with a sidearm motion to
jumps are the long jump, triple jump,
make it sail through the air.
high jump, and pole vault.
Construction of Discuss Circle
Throwing events require athletes to
11—Circles shall be made of band iron, propel an object as far as they can.
steel or other suitable material, the top Competitors in the discus, hammer, shot
of which shall be flush with the ground put all throw from inside a circle. In the
outside. The interior of the circle may be discus and hummer events, athletes
constructed of concrete, asphalt or
throw from an enclosure, called cage, to 100 Meter Run
protect spectators form wild throws
Long jump
MODULE 3
Shot jump
A javelin is a spear made of metal or High Jump
wood. The men’s javelin measures from
2.6 to 2.7 meters long and weights at 400 Meter Run
least at least 800 grams. Woman throw Second Day
a javelin that is 2.2 to 2.3 meters long 110m hurdles
and weights at least 600 grams. The Discus
thrower holds the javelin by a cord grip Pole Vault
near the center, runs with it, and then Javelin
releases it with an overhand throw while 1,500 Meter Run
running.
The heptathlon is a seven-event
A shot is a metal ball. The men’s shot competition for women. It also takes
measures about 12 cm. in diameter and place over two days.
weights at least 7.26 kilograms. The
First Day
women’s shot measures about 10 cm. in
100m Hurdles
a diameter and weights at least 4
High Jump
kilograms. Competitors put (push) the
Shot Put
shot rather than throe it.
200m Run
Athletics- MULTI-EVENTS (The Second Day
Decathlon, Heptathlon, and
Pentathlon) Long Jump
Javelin
The decathlon, heptathlon, and 800m Run
pentathlon are combined competitions,
in which an athlete competes in several The pentathlon, a one-day
different events over a period of one or competition of five events, is rarely
two days. The athletes receive a score held today. The heptathlon replaced
for their performance in each event, the pentathlon for woman in 1981. The
based on IAAF scoring tables. The men’s pentathlon events are the long
winner is the athlete who receives the jump, javelin throw, 200 meter run,
highest total score. Thus, the discus throw and the 1,500 meter run.
competition champion is the best all-
around athlete, not necessary the best Athletics- Basic Rules and
competitors in any single event. Regulations
FALSE START
The decathlon is a 10-event  It is a false start if a competitor
competition for men. It takes place over fails after a reasonable time to comply
two days. with the common “set” start before the
pistol is fired.
First Day
 A pistol shot after a false start  The position of the teams at the
recalls the competitors.
 The competitors responsible start shall be retained at each take-over
must be warned. zone. After lanes have ceased to be
 Competitors are disqualified used, runners can move to an inner
after causing two false starts,
or three false starts in the decathlon position on the track as incoming team
and heptathlon. members arrive, provide this can be
OBSTRUCTION done without fouling.
 A competitor who jostles, runs
across or otherwise obstructs  In the event where the first part of
another competitor is liable to
disqualification. the race is run in lanes, the competition,
 After a disqualification the after completing this part, are free to
referee may order the race to be re-run take to take up any position on the track.
or in the case of a heat, permit any
affected competitor to complete in the  After handling over the baton,
next round.
RELAY EVENTS competitors should remain in their lanes
 4x100m relay races are run until the course is clear to avoid
entirely in lanes. obstruction to other competitors.
 In cases up to 4x200m,
members of a team other than the first STEEPLE CHASE
runner may commerce running not
more than 10m outside the take-over  The Olympic steeplechase is a
zone.
men event run over 3,000m.
 In the 4x200m races the first 2
stages as well as that part of the third  It comprises 28 hurdle jumps and
leg up to the exit from
the first bend will be run entirely in seven water jumps.
lanes.
 In the 4x400m races the first lap  Competitors may jump, vault or
as well as the part of the second lap up stand on the hurdles.
to the exit from the first bend will be run
entirely in lanes.  The hurdles numbered (3) and (4)
RELAY EVENTS- Cont’n… are positioned after the competitors
have passed by one the first lap.
 All competitors may break from
their lanes immediately after they have  A steeplechase will be
passed the exit from the first bend. disqualified if he steps to either side of
the jump, fails to go over or through
water, and/or led below the horizontal part of his body or with the pole, without
first clearing the bar.
plane of the top hurdles.  If he knocks the bar off the
supports.
HURDLE EVENTS
 If he, after leaving the ground,
 A competitor is disqualified. If he places his lower hands moves the upper
trails afoot or leg below the plane of the one or moves the upper hand higher on
the pole. It is not counted a failure if a
top of the bar of the hurdle at the competitor’s pole breaks.
instance of clearance.
 If the competitors jumps any MODULE 4
Badminton is a tennis-like a game
hurdles any hurdles not in his own lane. played with light strong rackets that are
 If he deliberately knocks down used to strike a shuttlecock (a feather
any hurdle with his hands or foot. cork missile) back and forth, before it
hits the ground across a high net within
FIELD EVENTS a rectangular court.
 Competitors complete in the History
order drawn by lot. Most authorities feel that game
 Unless competing in a developed from the ancient pastime
simultaneous tract event, a competitor known as battledore and shuttlecock.
missing his turn in a field event is not The game was learned in Indian as
permitted to take trial. ‘poona’. It was brought to England about
 A competitor who unreasonably 1870 by British army officers stationed in
delays a trial is liable to have that trial Indian. The duke of Beaufort introduced
disallowed and the game at his country place,
recorded as a fault. Badminton, in Gloucestershire. Not
 After a second delay in a having a name at that time, the game
competition, he shall be debarred from was referred to as “that Badminton
further trials. game”. This reference was never
LONG JUMP change and badminton became the
 A jump is counted a failure. If the accepted title.
competitor takes off from two feet. The International Badminton Federation,
 If he touches the ground or the world governing body for the sport,
landing area beyond the plane of the was founded in 1934. The premier
uprights without first clearing the bar international men’s team is the
(whether or not he makes a jump), or “Thomas Cup,” which was establish in
knocks the bar off of the supports. 1948 and its counterpart in the women’s
POLE VAULT competition is the “uber Cup,” which
 A competitor fails. If he touches was founded in 1956. Both competitions
the ground, including the landing area are held biennially and the Chinese
beyond the vertical plane through the dominated ever since they began in
upper part of the stop-board with any 1981. In the mind 90’s, Indonesian and
some Europeans stole the supremacy cork head, made of either plastic or
from the Chinese. nylon. Synthetic shuttles are suitable for
recreational games but feathered or
official shuttlecock weighs from 4.74 to
COURT 5.50 grams.
For singles -> 44 feet long and 17 Playing
feet wide Playing consists of volleying (hitting)
For doubles -> 44 feet long and 20 the shuttle back and forth over the net
feet wide without allowing it to hit the ground. The
Facilities and Equipment shuttle is made of feathers or nylon in a
NET cork base. It flies slowly when hit gently.
The net should be made of a dark- But when hit hard and timed perfectly it
colored mosh, 2 1/2 feet deep, with a 1 may travel at more than 300 kilometers
1/2 inch white tape extending across the per hour. However, the shuttle
top. The top of the net should be 5 feet decelerates quickly after a short
above the floor at a point equidistant distance.
from the sidelines; and 5 feet and 1 inch 4 COMMON STROKES IN
in height at point above the doubles BADMINTON
sidelines. A. CLEAR
POSTS Clear is also called lob. The shuttle
5 feet and 1 inch in height from the floor. soars in a high arc and falls into the
RACKET court behind the opponent.
It is light and can be made of wood, Use the forehand overhand position.
aluminum metal or synthetic material Bring the racket from behind the body
such as graphic or carbon. It can be up with the head up. Strike the shuttle at
to 68 centimeters long and it is usually highest point of reach when your arm is
weights about 100 grams. Most strings fully extended.
are made of synthetic such as nylon but B. DROP
world-class players use lamb. Gut is The shuttle falls gently and just clears
more expensive than synthetic and has the net. The flight of the bird is relatively
disadvantages of a short lifespan when slow and is hit using the forehand of
strung tightly or not protected from backhand side with accuracy. Bring your
moisture. String diameter ranges from arm from behind the body and extend
19-22 gauge. Most competitive players completely at the impact of the shuttle.
prefer 21 to 22 gauge strung string at Follow with a snap and let the bird follow
14-15 pounds of tension, that provides straight line and drop just over the net.
power and control. For school and The follow trough is minimum.
recreation use, with 20- gauge string at C. DRIVE
a tension of 12 to 13 pounds is It is a hard stroke hit on a straight line.
adequate. This is a fast moving shuttle that follows
SHUTTLECOCKS a horizontal path from one court to the
It is made from 14-16 goose feathers other. Bring the racket back at shoulder
that are placed in a leather- covered
level followed by a swing in which the o Forearm Rotation – the turning
racket head remains parallel to the floor. can be inward (pronation) or outward
D. SMASH (supination).
It is a hard stroke hit sharply downward. o Wrist action or wrist cock – the
Bring the arm from behind the body with motion can be a bending towards the
the elbow bent. The forcefully extend inside of the forearm (flexion) or bending
your arm overhead to contact the backward the outside of the forearm
shuttle. (hyperflexion).
Underhand stroke – when the
• Shot -is used to differentiate approaching shuttle is low in front of the
flight patterns according to trajectory or player.
elevation and dept. a forehand
underhand stroke may be used to hit a Here are the steps in executing the
variety or shots served. underhand stroke.
• Forehead Stroke – refers to any o In a backswing position, drop the
shot struck on the racket side of the racket hand down and back.
body. o Move the right foot forward in the
• Backhand Stroke – these are direction of the spot where the shuttle
the hosts struck on the side away from will hit the floor, weight will transfer to
the racket/left side of right-handed, right front foot.
side for left handed. o The wrist cocks back during the
backswing, hyperextension on the
Three Parts of Backhand of Forehand forehand side but flexing onto the
Stroke backhand side.
o Backswing – involves all o Move forward the arm while the
movements wrist remains cocked.
of the racket away from the target. o Hit the target shuttle combining
o Hitting Action – includes all the three movements in accelerating
forward motions until the racket contacts with full and rapid upward movement of
the shuttle. the hand toward the target, including a
o Follow-Through – involves all vigorous uncocking of the wrist.
movements from control contact until the
player is back in a position to await the Overhand Stroke – used to return the
opponent’s next shot. shuttle with a high trajectory coming
from the opponent’s court when the
The primary source of power hitting shuttle gets behind you.
action is the accelation of the hand and Here are some steps in executing the
racket. These movements are primary overhand stroke:
responsible for acceleration. o Lift both arms overhead. Sharply
bend the elbow of the racket arm and
o Arm extension move the racket foot in the direction of
the area where the shuttle would hit the
floor.
o The non-racket hand provides 2. SCORING
balance. It should be higher than the
head and points towards the incoming The rally point system is used in scoring
shuttle when you are hitting a forehand, the badminton game which means any
and it will be nearer shoulder level and fault committed by the serving or
behind the shuttle when you are hitting a receiving team gains point.
backhand.
Love – designates a score of zero
o During the execution of a smash
(overhead shot sharply hit forcefully at a Love-all – is called when both
steeper downward angle), the wrist opponents or teams have a score of
sometimes moves fast extending to a zero
flex position during the follow-through.
In Side – is called for the serving player
MODULE 5 or team

Badminton- Playing Out Side – is called for the receiving

player or team
Sidearm Stroke – if the opponent uses
a drive (fast low shot with flat trajectory) Game Point – is the point that server
to hit the shuttle parallel to either won which results to the server’s
sideways and you reach it at a high winning the match.
between your waist and your shoulder,
3. SETTING THE SCORE
return it with a sidearm stride.
If the score tied at 13-all or 14-all (9-all
Here is some step in executing the
or 10-all for women’s singles), the Side
sidearm stroke.
that first scored 13 or 14 has the choice
o Motion of forehead side is similar to of setting (extending) or not setting the
throwing a baseball side arm. game. When the game has been set,
both scores revert to zero, and a player
Badminton- Basic Rules and must win according to the conditions
Regulations illustrated on the next slide.

The official rules of the game follow How to Set the Score
the International Badminton
Points in Score tied at Game may
Federation (IBF) game be set to

1. TOSSING FOR SERVE 11 9-all 3 points

Before a match begins, opponents can 11 10-all 2 points

toss a coin, spin a racket, or toss a
15 13-all 5 points
shuttle to determine who shall get the
choice of “serve” or “side”. 15 14-all 3 points
4. CHANGE OF ENDS o When the score is even at the
Players change ends of the court at the beginning of a half-inning, the players
beginning of the second game and at who started the game in the right court
the beginning of the third game if the should be in the right court and should
third game is necessary. In the third serve first in the half-inning.
game, players change ends when either
player first reaches 8 in a game of 15 o The winning team serves first in
points, or 6 in an all – point game. If the next game. In double matches,
players forget to change ends as either player of the winning side may
prescribed by the rules, they should do serve first in the next game and either
as soon as the mistakes is discovered. player of losing side may be positioned
in the right court to receive.
5.SERVICE ROTATION FOR SINGLES
AND DOUBLES 6. FAULTS

o Singles serve and receive in the o A team that violates the rules is
right service court when the server’s charge with a fault. If the serving team
score is an event number. When the faults, a side-out results; if the receiving
server’s score is an odd number, the team faults, points are for the serving
players serve from the receive in the left team.
service court.
o It is fault (loss of service “hand
o In doubles, the service is out” for the serving, or loss of point for
determined by the serving team’s and by the receiving side) when:
the court position of each player at the
beginning of a game. a. Service is illegal (not correct);

o In the first half inning, the first b. If the serve, in an attempt to

team to serve is entitled for only one serve, misses the shuttle;
service or simply called as “one down
c. If on a serve, the shuttle is caught
initial service.” Thereafter the initial
in or on the net, either before or after
serve, the partners will change service
passing over the net.
each after they lose a rally.
d. If in play, the shuttle lands
o The first service in each half-
outside the boundaries of the court,
inning is always from the right service
passes through or under the net, fails to
court, to the opponent’s right service
pass the net, touches the roof, ceiling, or
court.
outside walls, touches a player or dress
o The server changes court after of a player, touches any object or
every point his team wins. The receiving person outside the immediate
side does not change courts. surroundings of the court, is caught and
held on the racket during the execution
of the stroke.
e. If the initial point of contact with e. The server serves before the
shuttle is not on the striker’s side of the receiver is ready, and
net.
f. A line judge is not present and
f. If when the shuttle is in play, a the umpire is unable to make decisions.
player touches the net or its support with
racket, or body, except on follow- FOOTWORK
through.
Ready position -> the stance you
g. If, during a game, a player assume while waiting for the opponent.
deliberately distracts an opponent by an
action, such as shouting or making  Establish both feet at the moment
gestures. the opponent is hitting the shuttle.

h. If a player is guilty of flagrant or  Feet should be apart, one slightly

repeated misconduct violations, such as ahead of the other for better balance.
deliberately causing a suspension of
 Knees remain flexed at all times,
play, interfering with the speed of the
to move fast around the court.
shuttle, or behaving is an offensive
manner.  Remember to position yourself at
the center court to reach any return.
7. LETS
Moving info hitting position -> the
When lets occurs, players who served
steps you can take in getting into
serves again. The following are
position to stroke the shuttle.
considered lets:
 Consider to take a long first step
a. A shuttlea player from
with the racket foot when moving
an adjacent court
forward in the court for effective
encroaches, thus, interfering
technique.
with play or concentration;
 Pivot your left or right when
b. A shuttle, after passing over the
moving to the rear of the court. If the
net, becomes caught in or on the next
shuttle is hit to your backhand side, pivot
except during service;
is followed by crossover step with right
c. A shuttle hits an obstruction that foot.
hangs over the court and is lower than
 Use shuffle or short steps to
the recommended 24- foot ceiling
reach the shuttle, avoiding further
height;
crossover steps.
d. During service, the receiver and
server both fault at the same time;
Footwork during the hitting action ->  When you have hit from the back
the relationship of the feet during the 8 feet of the court, or your backcourt
hitting action. the first recovery step will also be with
the racket foot.
Forehand:
MODULE 6
 When the shuttle is behind you
on the forehand side or directly Table Tennis
overhead, face the forehand sideline or
front corner. Table tennis is a sport in which two or
for players hit a lightweight ball back and
 During the hitting action, forth to each other with rackets (also
transfer your weight to your sometimes spelled as racquets and
front foot, raising the heel of sometimes called bats or paddles).
your back foot well off the floor. Table tennis is very popular, especially
in East Asia and is among the most
 Powerful hitting could be popular sports in the world in terms of
displayed through hitch kick or scissors player numbers, as well as one of the
kick, in which both feet come off the newest of the major sports.
floor at the same time.
• Ping Pang Qui – is the official
Backhand: name of the sports in Mainland China,
Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
 When the shuttle is behind you,
pivot and cross over so that you face the • Takkyu is the official name of the
backhand sideline or back corner. sport in Japan.

 Transfer your weight onto the foot • Tak-gu is the name of the sport
closet to your target the shuttle. in Korea.

 Back heel will come high off the The game is controlled by the
floor, and the toe of your back foot may International Table Tennis Federation
drag across the surface. (ITTF), founded in 1926.

Footwork during the History

recovery -> returning
to base before your Early Origins of Table Tennis/Ping-
opponent hits again. pong

 If in front court, it is efficient to 12the Century AD – The game of table

recover with a long step with the racket tennis probably descended from the
foot, followed by shuffle steps as game of “Royal Tennis” (also known as
needed. Real Tennis or Court Tennis), which was
played in the medieval era.
1880’s – Some sources claim that the • 1901 – John Jacques registered
sport was once known as indoor tennis, “Ping-Pong” as a trade name in
and was played in the early 1880’s by England. The American rights to the
British army officers stationed in India name are sold to Parker Brothers.
and South Africa. These officers are
supposed to have used cigar box lids as • 1901 – On the 12th December
paddles rounded wine bottle corks as 1901, the Table Tennis Association was
balls, and books for an improvised net. formed in England. Four days later, The
Table Tennis Association was formed in
The name “Ping-Pong” then came to England.
be used for the game played by the
rather expensive Jaques equipment, • 1902 – Englishman E.C Goode is
with in the United States where Jacques credited with putt king pebbled rubber
sold the rights to the “Ping-Pong” on his wooden blade, allowing him to put
name to Brothers. more spin on the ball. This is the
forerunner of the ordinary pimpled
• 1880’s – The game had become rubber racket, which will dominate table
fashionable among the upper classes tennis until 1952.
England.
At the time, when a wed-covered ball
• 1887 – According to the ITTF was used, the game was also called
website, the first use of the name “Table whiff-whaff and gossima. The racket
Tennis” appeared on a board and dice originally was a somewhat clumsy,
the game by J.H. Singer of New York. paddle-shaped frame with a drumhead
skin stretched tightly across it. This was
• 1890 – the earliest existing about the same time the celluloid ball
evidence of a table tennis game is a set was introduced.
made by David Foster, patented in
England, which included table versions • 1903 – On the 1st May 1903, The
of Lawn Tennis, cricket and Football. Table Tennis Association and The Ping
Pong Association “amalgamate, forming
• 1891 – John Jacques of London “The United States Table Tennis and
introduced their “Gossima” game, which Ping Pong Association”. This
used drum-type paddles, a 50mm web association will later revert its name to
wrapped cork ball, and a 30cm high net. “The Table Tennis Association”, before
becoming defunct in 1904.
• 1890’s – Parker Brothers began
making an indoor tennis kit which • 1920’s – In the early 1920’s the
included a portable net, a small ball game began to revive in England and
covered in netting, and paddles. Europe.

• 1900 – Englishman James Gibb is

created with bringing hollow celluloid balls back
to England from the USA, although some others
sources claim they were plastic balls.
• 1922 – The “The Table Tennis
Association” is reconstituted, with the
name “English Table Tennis • 1940-1946 – No World
Association” being adopted in 1927. Championships were held due to World
War II.
• 1926 – The International Table
Tennis Federation is formed. • 1950’s – There was the
introduction of a new stroke. It was
In 1926 the International Table Tennis really an exaggerated topspin where
Federation was organized. In the same there was a greater preparation, follow-
year international team competition was through and wrist action. The ball was
inaugurated when Lady Swaythling of given a finer touch and the stroke was
England donated the Swaythling cup, nearer the vertical plane. The lop drive
which is like the Davis cup in lawn in simpler from had arrived. It had
tennis. Probably the best-known player almost probably been first thought of
to win the world championship singles because players were getting used to
title in table tennis was Fred Perry of their opponents’ services and were able
England, who later won greater renown to return them in such a position that the
in lawn tennis. server could not follow-up a smash.

• 1935 – The American Ping Pong • 1952 – Hiroji Satoch of Japan

Association, US Amateur Table Tennis became notorious for his use of a
Association, and National Table Tennis wooden racket and spin rather than the
Association merged to form the US conventional pimpled rubber rackets. He
Table Tennis Association (which was won’s the 1952 World Championships
renamed USA Table Tennis in 1994). over Jozsef Koczian of Hungary, and
begins a period of Asian male
• 1938 – The ITTF lowered the net domination in the sport which would last
from six and three quarter inches to six until Sweden rose to supremacy from
inches, and banned the finger spin 1989 into the early 1990’s.
serves used with devasting effect by
American players. • 1959-1960 - The ITTF
standardized the thickness of ordinary
Although sponge rackets were being pimpled and sponge rubber.
developed by John Jacques and
Company as early as 1928, the players • 1960’s – In the early 1960’s, the
had limited success with them. Before loop drive was invented and became
1937 certain players used to combine popular around the world.
the effects of the ‘fingerspin’ service and
their sponge racket to produce some
surprising results in leading
competitions. Their services were
almost unplayable and the rallies were
usually very short.
• 1960’s – In the early 1960’s, • 1980’s – In 1985, the two-color
Xhang Xi Lin of China used a “Yin-Yan” rule is adopted to reduce the
bat with normal rubber on one side, effectiveness of combination rackets.
and long pimples on the other – the first
recorded instance of successful • 1988 – Table Tennis becomes an
combination bat paly. Olympic sport, in Seoul, South Korea.

• 1971 – China returned to • 2000 – The ITTF introduces new

International Competition at the 1971 rule changes, including increasing the
world Championships. ball diameter to 40mm and changing to
11-point games.
• 1971 – The US Table Tennis
Team took a “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” trip • 2002 – Table Tennis becomes a
to China, in a world’s first effort to use Commonwealth Games sport, at
sport to establish and improve Manchester, England.
diplomatic relations.
• 2000’s – In the early 2000’s,
• 1971 – Jean-Paul Weber of frictionless long pimples become
France used the first anti-spin rubber in popular among many players, in an
the World Championships in Nagoya, attempt to negate the power and spin
Japan, and enjoyed some success with produce by modern technology and
its use. speed glue.

Table Tennis- Facilities and Variants of the sport have emerged.

Equipment “Large-ball” table tennis uses a 44 mm
ball which slows the game significantly.
THE BALL This has seen some acceptance by
players who have a hard time with the
• 1970’s – Table tennis players extreme spins and speeds of the 40 mm
discover that using bicycle tire repair game. The ball’s mass is 2.47 grams.
glue to put rubber on a blade
dramatically increases the speed and • 2006 – The intended banning of
spin that can be produced. This frictionless long pips and speed glues
discovery is often credited to Dragutin with toxic organic solvents is announced
Surbek of Yugoslavia, and Tibor by the ITTF high-bouncing gas-filled
Klampar of Hungary. This discovery is celluloid ball, colored white or orange,
called speed glue. with a matte finish. The choice of ball
color is made according to the table
• 1980 – John Hilton of England color and its surroundings.
wins the Europeans Championships
using a combination bat of normal THE RACKET
rubber and antispin, twiddling the racket
and playing aggressively. Different Types of Rubber Sheets
• Inverted (non-Chinese): This is In top-flight competition, service is
the most widely used rubber type. The decided by a coin toss at lower levels it
surface is smooth, with the pimpled side is common for one player (or the
facing inwards towards the blade. This umpire/scorer) to hide the ball in one or
enables the player to generate high the other hand (usually hidden under the
levels of spin and speed. table), allowing the other player to guess
which hand the ball is in. the correct or
• Invented (Chinese): Chinese incorrect guess gives the “winner” the
rubbers typically have sticker (or option to choose to serve, or to choose
“tackier”) top sheets. Spin is generated which side of the table to use.
mainly by the top sheet, as opposed to
the sponge, which is relatively more MODULE 7
condensed and firmer.
Table Tennis- Facilities and
• Short pimples (or “pips”): Short Equipment
pimples-out rubbers are usually used by
close-to-the- table hitters (for example, Service
Liu Guoliang). They do not generate as
much spins as inverted rubbers, but also In game play, the player serving the ball
make the user less susceptible to the commences a point. Standing behind
opponent’s spin. Speed generated from the end of the table, with the ball in the
a short pip rubber is generally faster palm of one hand – over the table’s
than the inverted with the same sponge. height – and the paddle in the other, the
server tosses the ball without spin,
• Long pimples (or”pips”): Long upward, at least sixteen centimeters
pimples-out rubbers carry relatively long (approximately 6 inches).
and short pips. They do not have the
ability to generate any real spin of their Hitting the Ball
own, but feed off the opponent’s spin, to
Any hitting of the ball be done such that
allow the user to confuse the opponent
the ball passes over or around the net. If
and upset their rhythm. Long pips are
the ball is struck such that it travels
not very susceptible to the opponent’s
around the net, but still lands on the
incoming spin, and tends to “return” the
opponent’s side of the table, the bit is
opponents spin back upon impact, as
legal and play should be continued.
the pips bend and slide.
Scoring
• Anti-spin: Anti-spin rubbers may
look similar to inverted ones, but the • Points are awarded to the
surface is really slick. Like long pimples, opponent for any of several errors in
they cannot generate much real spin, play:
but just allows the user to produce a no-
spin ball. • Allowing the ball to bounce on
one’s own side twice.
Starting a Game
• Not hitting the ball after it has Service alternates between opponent’s
bounced on one’s own side. every two points (regardless of winner of
the rally) until a player reaches 11 points
• Having the ball bounce on one’s with at least a two-point lead, or until
own side after hitting it. both players have 10 points apiece. If
both players reach 10 points, then
• Hitting the ball before it has service alternates after each point, until
bounced on one’s own side of the table. one player gains a two-point advantage.
• Double hitting the ball. Note that Series of Games
the hand below the wrist is considered
part of the bat and making a good return After each game, players switch sides of
of one’s hand or fingers is allowed, but the table and in the fifth or seventh,
hitting one’s hand or fingers and game “for the match”, players switch
subsequently hitting the bat is a double sides when the first player scores 5
strike and an error. points, regardless of whose turn it is to
serve. In competition play, matches are
• Allowing the ball to strike typically best of five or seven games.
anything other than the bat (see above
for definition of the bat). Recreational Variations

• Causing the ball not to bounce on Some recreational players may choose
the opponent’s half (i.e., not making a to use a volleyball style system of
“good” return). scoring and play. Such variations
include, but are not limited to, allowing
• Placing one’s free hand on the the let serve, not requiring the server to
playing surface or moving the playing hit the ball on his half of the table first
surface. (but still allowing it), allowing the
volleying of returns, and relaxing other
• Offering and failing to make a
small rules in doubles to make the game
good serve (i.e., making a service toss
easier to play.
and failing to strike the ball fairly into
play). Double Game
• Making an illegal serve: (e.g., one In addition to games between individual
preceded by a player’s hiding the bail or players, pairs may also play table tennis.
his failing to toss the ball at least 16 In doubles, all the rules of single play
centimeters (six inches) in the air). apply except for the following. A line
painted along the long axis of the table
• Hitting the net with bat or any
to create double courts bisects the table.
body part, or moving the table.
Grip
Alternation of service
Competitive table tennis players grip
their bats in a variety of ways. The
manner in which competitive players nickname "windshield wiper" due to the
grip their bats can be classified into two motion of the backhand and forehand.
major families of styles. One is
described as penhold, and the other Types of shots
shakehand.
In table tennis, the strokes break down
into generally offensive (producing
topspin) and defensive (producing
• Penhold- The penhold grip is so- backspin). Spin exceptions are the
named because one grips the bat to the smash, block, and lob. The types of
way one holds a writing instruments. strokes include backhand and forehand.
The style of play among penhold players
can vary greatly from player to player. Offensive Strokes

• Shakehand- The shakehand grip A. Speed drive

is so-named because one grips the bat
the way one performs a handshake. The In table tennis it is not similar to strokes
grip is sometimes colloquially referred to of a racket sport like tennis. The bat is
as a "tennis grip" or a "Western grip. primarily perpendicular to the direction
of the stroke, and most of the energy
Table Tennis- Styles of Play applied to the ball results in speed rather
than spin, creating a shot that does not
Unusual grips are much, but is fast enough that it can
be difficult to return.
• V-grip
B. Loop drive
As an experimental style being
developed in China, it is held by forming It is essentially the reverse of the speed
a " V for victory" sign and gripping the drive. The bat is much more parallel to
blade between the forefinger and middle the direction of the stroke ("closed") and
finger, while having the other fingers rest the thus grazes the ball, resulting in a
under and on top of the handle; it large amount of topspin.
requires a modified blade to grip
successfully. Chinese players categorized loop-
drives in 3 variations based on
• Seemiller grip trajectories:

A grip that was made famous by Danny 1. The "Loop"

Seemiller, an American champion. This
grip is a variation of the shakehand grip, (or is called the "ultra-topspin")
the forefinger and thumb are placed on Produces a more pronounced loopy arc,
the same side of the bat, which allows with a higher trajectory and extreme
the backhand shots to use the same topspin and extreme topspin, but is
side of the rubber. This grip also has the typically slower.
2. The "Rush" A. Slice

Produces a flatter trajectory than a The slice is analogous to the speed

typical "Loop" but carries much stronger drive in some respects – it is very
topspin than a regular speed-drive. It simple, usually used for keeping the
can be as fast as a speed-drive, and in point alive and creating offensive
modern table tennis has come to opportunities.
replace it in virtually all cases.
B. Chop
3. The "Hook“
A chop or cut is the defensive, backspin
Similar to a regular Loop., but carries a counterpart of the offensive loop drive. A
titled topspin (or referred as the "top- chop is essentially a bigger, heavier
side" spin), it bounces sideways and slice, taken well back from the table.
downward upon hitting the table. Similar The bat face points primarily
but stronger than the defensive "side- horizontally, perhaps a little bit upward,
drive" described below. and the direction of the stroke is straight
down. The object of a defensive chop is
C. Counter drive to match the topspin of the opponent’2s
shot with your own bat speed. A good
Usually a counter against drives chop will float nearly horizontally rises.
(normally high loop drives). You have to
close the bat and stay close to the ball C. Block
(try to predict its path).
The block or short is a simple shot,
Flip (or Flick in Europe) barely worthyof being called a “stroke,”
but nonetheless canbe devastating
When a player tries to attack a ball that against an attracting opponent.
has not bounced beyond the edge of the
table, he/she does not have the room to D. Push-Block
wind up in a backswing. The ball may
still be attacked, however, and the High level players may use what is
resulting shot is called flip because the called push block or active block, adding
backswing is compressed into a quick speed to the ball (with a small topspin
wrist action. movement). When playing in the
Penhold Grip, many players use push
Smash blocks when being pressured on the
backhand.
The offensive trump card in table tennis.
A player will typically execute a smash E. Side Drive
when his or her opponent has returned a
ball that bounces too high and/or too This spin is alternately used as
close to the net. defensive and offensive maneuver. The
premise of this move is to put a spin on
Defensive Strokes the ball either to the right or the left of
the bat. The execution of this movie is game played between two players
similar to a slice, but to the right or left (singles) or between two teams of the
instead of down. two players (doubles). In mixed doubles,
a man and a woman play on each side

Tennis- History
F. Lob
Most historians agree that the French
The defensive lob is possibly the most originated tennis during the 1100’s or
visually-impressive shot in the sport of 1200’s. the French called it jue de
the table tennis, and it is deceptive in its paume meaning game of the palm. The
simplicity.to execute a lob, a defensive players batted the ball back and forth
player first backs of the table 8-10 feet over a net with the palm of their hand.
(2.5 to 3m, advanced players
sometimes go 20 feet or 6 m or more); Major Walter Clopton Wingfield of
then, the stroke itself consists of simply England is generally considered the
lifting the ball to an enormous height father of Modern Tennis. In 1873, he
before it falls back to the opponent’s introduced the sports –then called “law
side of the table. tennis,” because it was played on a
manicured grass surface for his guests
G. Stop at a garden party on his estate at
Nantelwyd, Wales. It was his adoption of
Stop (or drop shot) is a high level stroke, the court tennis, the ancient game of
used as another variation for close-to- kings that has a 700-year history.
table strokes (like harai and slice). You
have to position the body close to the In 1874, Major Wingfield, an officer in
ball and just let the ball touch the bat the British army, patented the game
(without any hand movement) in a way under the name of Sphairistike, the
that the ball stays close to the net with Greek word for “playing the ball.” The
almost no speed and spin and touches court on which it was played was in the
the other side of the table more than shape of an hourglass, measuring 60
twice if the opponent doesn’t reach it. feet (18.2 m) in long and 30 ft. (9.1 M)
This stroke should be used when wide at the center, where a net was
opponents are far from the table and not suspended. The net was 7 feet (2.1 m)
prepared to get close to the table. high at the ends and sagged to 4 feet 8
inches (1.4 m) at the middle.
MODULE 8
Some historians, on the other hand, feel
Tennis- Introduction that Major Harry Gem of England should
share credit as the sport’s founder. Gem
Millions of people throughout the world
played a form of tennis in 1860’.
play tennis for exercise and recreation.
They pay on courts in public parks and In 1877, the London suburb of Wimbledon,
in private tennis clubs. Players of almost a croquet club that had changed its name to
any age can enjoy the sport. Tennis is a
the all-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet and bounce higher. This makes it more
Club sponsored the first major tennis difficult for a player to hit an
tournament. The Wimbledon tournament, as unreturnable shot (a “winner”) because
it is popularly known, remains tennis’s the opponent has more time to reach
foremost championship event.
and return the ball.
Tennis- Facilities and Equipment
• Hardcourts are generally
The Court considered to be faster than clay courts.
There are many different types of
Tennis is played on a rectangular, flat hardcourts, and, dependent on the
surface, usually grass, clay, or a hard- construction of the court, can be
court of concrete and/or asphalt. The relatively slow or fast.
court is 78 feet (23.77 m) long, and its
width is 27 feet (8.23 m). • Grass is a fast surface and was
the surface used at three of the Grand
Tennis- Types of Court Slam tournaments until the Australian
Open and the U.S. Open changed to
There are three main types of court hardcourts Grass court cause low ball
surface: bounces, which keep rallies short and
gives hard-serving and hard-hitting
• Clay – red clay (used at the players an advantage.
French Open0, green clay (an example
of which is Har-tru and used mainly in Tennis Balls
the U.S.) (in the Commonwealth
countries “Hard court” means “Clay TENNIS BALLS. Tennis balls are
court”) hollow. They are made of rubber and
covered with felt fabric woven of Dacron,
• Hard – examples are concrete, nylon, and wool. A tennis ball must have
rebound Ace (used at the Australia a diameter of more than 2 ½ inches
Open), coated asphant (used at the U.S. (6.35 cm) but less than 2 5/8 inches or
Open) (6.67 cm). it must weight more than 2
ounces (56.7 grams) but less than 2
• Grass – used at Wimbledon 1/16 ounces (58.6 grams). Balls used in
tournaments may be either white or
• Indoor courts are also used so yellow.
play can continue year-round. Common
indoor surfaces are hard, carpet, and TENNIS RACKETS. No rules govern the
clay. Some players are more successful size and weight of a tennis racket, and so
on certain surfaces and are known as the models of various manufactures differ
“specialists” for that particular court. slightly. But nearly all rackets measure 27
inches (68 cm) long. Most men choose a
• Clay courts are considered racket that weights about 14 ounces (397
“slow” because the loose surface grams). Most women select one that
causes the ball to lose speed rapidly weights about 13 ounces (369 grams). Most
young players use a racket that weights
about 9 ounces (255 grams). A typical  The net judge who determines
racket frame is made of fiberglass and whether the ball has touched the net
graphite. The most common striking surface during service.
is a net strung nylon or other synthetic
material.  The line judges, usually those
who would be calling the serve, are
Tennis- Scoring
replaced by electronic sensors that beep
- The running score of each game when an out call would have been
is described in a manner particular to made.
tennis: scores of zero to three points
 The referee, who is
are describe as “love” (or zero), “fifteen,”
usually located off the court, is the final
“thirty,” and “forty” respectively.
authority about tennis rules.
- When at least three points have
 The ball boys may be employed
been scored by each side and the
to retrieve ball, pass them to the players,
players have the same number of
and hand players their towels.
points, the score is “deuce”.
Juniors
- When at least three points have
been scored by each side and a player In tennis, a junior is any player under the
has one more point age of 8 who is still legally protected by
a parent or guardian. Players on the
than his opponent, the score of the
main adult tour who are under 18 must
game is “advantage” for the player in
have documents signed by a parent or
the lead.
guardian. These players, however, are
- A game point occurs in tennis still eligible to play in junior tournaments.
whenever the player who is the lead in
Tennis- Terms Used in Tennis
the game needs only one more point to
win the game.  Ace – serve where the tennis ball
served is served in and not touched by
- A break point occurs if the
the receiver.
receiver, not the server, has a game
point. It is of importance in professional  Ad court – the left side of the
tennis, since breaks are rare enough to court of each player.
create a substantial advantage for the
receiver in the men’s game.  Advantage – when one player
wins a point from a deuce and needs
Tennis- Officials one more point to win the game.
 The umpire may be assisted by  Ajde – a Serbian expression
line judges, who determine whether the equivalent to English “come on”, often
ball has landed within the required part yelled by Serbian players when they hit
of the court and who also call foot faults. a winner.
 All-court – a style of play which that comes across their body with the
is defined as a composite of all the back of their racket hand facing the ball.
different playing styles which includes
baseline, transition, and serve and  Backspin – (also known as slice
volley styles. or underspin), is a shot such that the ball
rotates backwards after it is hit. The
 Alley – the area of the court trajectory of the shot involves an upward
between the singles and doubles force that lifts the ball.
sidelines, also known as the tramlines.
 Bagel – winning (or losing) set 6-
 Allez – a French expression 0.
equivalent to English “come on’ or
Spanish “vamos”, utilized mainly among  Ball Person – a person, male or
French and Belgian players when female, tasked with retrieving tennis
winning a crucial point, or hitting a balls from the court that have gone out
difficult shot. of play, usually juniors at ATP events.

 Approach shot – a shot used as  Baseline – the chalk line at the

a setup at the player runs up to the net, farthest ends of the court indicating the
often using underspin or topspin and boundary of the area of play.
being a much faster than used during
rallies.  Baseliner – a player who plays
around the baseline during play and
 ATP –Association of Tennis relies on the quality of his or her ground
Professionals, the men’s professional strokes.
circuit.
 Big serve – a forceful serve,
 ATP Champions Race – the usually giving an advantage in the point
ATP points ranking system which starts for the server.
at the beginning of the year at the end of
the year mirrors the ATP entry system  Block – a defensive shot with
ranking. The top eight players at the end relatively little backswing, usually while
of the year quality for the Tennis Master returning a service.
Cup.
 Break – to win a game as the
 Australian formation – a receiving player or team, thereby
formation used in doubles wherein the breaking serve. Noun: break (service
net player begins roughly at the center break) (e.g. ‘to be a break down’, ‘to
of the net; used mainly to counter teams have, in a set, one break less than the
that prefer a crosscourt return. opponent’, ‘to be a double break up”
means ‘to have, in a set, two breaks
 Backhand – a method of more than the opponent.’)
wielding a tennis racket where the
player hits the tennis ball with a stroke  Break back – to win a game as
the receiving player or team immediately
after losing the previous game as the in an effort to gain ranking points which
serving player or team. allow them to gain entry to tournaments
on the ATP tour.
 Break point – one point away
from a break (expressed as the score of  Chip – blocking a shot with
30-40); a double break point (or two underspin.
break points) is expressed as the score
of 15-40; a triple break point (or three  Chip and charge – an
break points) is expressed as the score aggressive strategy to return the
of 0-40. opponent’s serve with underspin and
move forward to the net.
 Buggy Whip – Describes a
forehand hit with a follow through which  Chop – a shot with extreme
does not go across the body and finish underspin.
on the opposite side but rather goes
from low to high and finishes on the  Clean the Line/Clip and Line –
same side (similar to the driver of a A shot in which some part of the ball
horse drawn carriage whipping a horse). lands on the line.

 Bye – refers to the round of  Closed stance – hitting the ball

tournament where a player advances with the body facing between parallel to
automatically without facing an the baseline and back turned to the
opponent. opponent; a classic technique.

 Call – an utterance of a line judge MODULE 9

declaring that a play was outside of the
Tennis- Terms Used in Tennis
play area.
 Code Violation – on the ATP
 Cannonball – a somewhat older
tour, occurs when a player commits a
term used to define a hard flat serve.
violation such as voicing an obscenity or
 Can Opener – a serve hit by a hitting a ball into the stands (not during
right handed player with slice landing on the point). The first violation results in a
or near the intersection of the singles warning, the second a point penalty, the
tramline and service line in the deuce third a game penalty, and the fourth
court (landing in the ad court for a left forfeiting the match.
handed player).
 Come on, C’mon – an English
expression commonly shouted out by
 Carve – to hit a groundstroke
players when winning a point normally with
shot with a combination of sidespin and a winner and at occasions with a force error.
underspin. It is considered ill-mannered if the term is
used when the opponent commits an
 Challenge – a tournament/tour unforced error, although the practice is not
which is one level below the ATP tour.
Players compete on the Challenger tour
uncommonly found and is short of making  Deuce – the score 40-40 in a game.
the offending party gain code violation. A player must win two consecutive points
from a deuce before winning the game. See
 Counterpuncher – a defensive advantage.
baseliner. See tennis strategy.
 Deuce court – the right side of
 Court – the area designated for the court of each player.
playing a game of tennis.
 Dink – hitting a shot with no
 Crosscourt – hitting the ball pace.
diagonally into the opponent’s court.
 Dirtballer – a clay court
 Cross-over – a player crossing specialist.
the net into the opponent’s court. It can
either be done in a friendly fashion, or  Double Bagel – two sets won too
done maliciously thereby invoking code love: see Bagel.
violation. The latter sporadically
happens when it is uncertain whether  Double Fault – two faults in a
the ball on a decisive point landed inside row in one point, causing the player
or outside the court when playing on serving to lose the point.
clay, thus leaving behind a mark so that
 Doubles – a tennis game played
the offending party could point out to the
by four players, two per side of the
chair umpire.
court.
 Cyclops – a device used on
 Down the line – hitting the ball
Center Court to detect if a serve lands
straight ahead into the ball lightly
long past the service line. The device
enough to just go over the net; designed
emits an audible noise when the serve is
to catch a player who is away from the
long.
net off guard.
 Dead net (dead net cord) – a
 Drop volley – a drop executed
situation when a player scores by
from a volley.
inadvertently hitting the ball in such a
way that it touches the upper cord of the  Fault – a serve that fails to place
net and rolls over to the other side; the the ball in the correct area of play,
player is said to have ‘gotten (caught) a therefore not starting the point.
dead net (dead net cord)’ and
considered to be lucky which is often  First Service – the first of the two
expressly admitted by the player serves of a tennis ball a player is
himself/herself. allowed at the beginning of a point.

 Deep – a shot that lands near the  Flat – e.g. a flat serve; a shot
baseline, as opposed to near the net. with relatively little spin.
 Follow through – the portion of a  Groundstroke – a forehand or
swing after the ball is hit. backhand shot that is executed after the
ball bounces once on the court.
 Foot fault – when a player,
during the serve, steps on or over the  Hacker – A beginning to
baseline into the court before striking the intermediate player.
ball, which results in a service fault. A
foot fault may also occur when the  Hail Mary – an extremely high
player steps on or across the center lob, for defensive purposes.
hash mark and its imaginary
perpendicular extension from the  Half volley – a volley shot made
baseline to the net. after a short bounce.

 Forced error – when an  Head – (racket) the portion of the

opponent hits a difficult shot that causes racket that contains the strings.
the player to miss. As opposed to the
 Hold – winning the game when
Unforced error.
serving.
 Forehand – a method of wielding
 I-formation – (in doubles) a
a tennis racket where the player hits the
formation where the server and partner
tennis ball with a stroke that comes from
stand on the same side of the court
behind their body with the front of their
(deuce or advantage court) before
racket hand facing the ball.
starting the point.
 Game point – a situation when
 Inside-out – running around
the player who is leading needs one
one side (e.g. the backhand
more point to win a game.
side) and hitting a crosscourt shot.
 Golden Set – winning a set
 Inside-in – running around one
without losing a point.
side and hitting it down the line; less
 Golden Slam – winning the popular that the inside-out.
Grand Slam and the tennis Olympic gold
 Insurance Break – Obtaining an
medal in a calendar year.
overall advantage of two breaks of
 Grand Slam – the four most serve.
prestigious tournaments in a year: The
 ITF – the International Tennis
Australian Open, the French Open (or
federation, the governing body of world
Roland Garros), Wimbledon and the
tennis.
U.S. Open. Winning the grand Slam in
winning all four in a calendar year.  Jamming – to serve or return
straight to the opponent’s body.
 Groundies – see Groundstroke.
 Kick serve – a type of spin  Love - zero (score) (e.g. ‘to hold
serves that bounces high. to love’ means ‘to win the game when
serving with the opponent scoring zero
 Lawn tennis – “regular” tennis, points’, ‘to break to love’ means “to win
as opposed to table tennis or real tennis, the game when receiving with the
the game from which tennis is derived. opponent scoring zero points’). Thought
to be derived from the French
 Let (let service) – when the ball term,”I’oeut”, literally “the egg”, meaning
from a serve touches the net but lands nothing.
in the service court; the serve is void,
and the server gets to retake that serve.  Love game – a shutout game,
won without the opponent scoring.
 Let – a warning exclamation
when multiple matches occur adjacent  Lucky Loser – the highest
to one another and one match’s ball ranked player to lose in the final round
bounces into the court of another match. of qualifying but still gain acceptance
The point is replayed in the offended into the main draw of a tournament due
match. Most often used in high school to a main draw player withdrawing.
and college tennis, although it can also
be used at the major tournaments if a  Mac-Cam – A high speed video
ball falls out of a player’s shorts or skirt camera used for televised instant
onto the court. replays of close shots landing on/near
the baseline.
 Line judge – a person
designated to observe the passage of  Match point – a situation when
tennis balls over the boundary lines of the player who is leading needs one
the court. A line judge can declare that a more point to win the match. If the
play was within or outside of the day player is serving in such a situation, (s)
area and cannot be overruled by the he is said to be ‘serving for the match’.
players. A line judge must defer to an Variations of the term are possible, e.g.
umpire’s decision, even when it championship point is the match point in
contradicts his own observations. the final match of a championship.

 Lob – a stroke in tennis where  Mercedes Super 9 – The former

the ball is hit high above the net. If the name for the 9 ATP Masters Series
opposing player or players are up at the Tournaments.
net, the intention may be an offensive
lob in order to win the point outright in a  Mini-break – to win a point from
defensive lob, the intent is to give the the opponent’s serve in a tiebreak.
player time to recover and get in
position, or, if the opponents are at the  Mis-hit – when the racket fails to
net, to force them to chase down the make contract with the ball in the
lob. “sweetspot” area of the strings.
 Mixed Doubles – a tennis game  Overrule – reversing a call from
played by four players, two males, two the linesperson, done by the umpire.
females, one of each player sex per side
of the court.  Passing shot – A shot the
passes by (not over) the opponent at the
 Moonball – a medium high net (see lob).
offensive lob hit with topspin.
 Poaching – (in doubles) an
 Net – the piece of netting aggressive move where the player at net
stretched across the middle of the court; moves to volley a shot intended for
it is held up by the posts. his/her partner.

 Net point – a point won or lost on  Point – the period of play

approaching the net, as apposed to a between the first successful service of a
point won or lost by a stroke from a ball to the point at which that ball goes
baseline. out of play.

 Net balls – a new set of balls  Pusher – a player who does not
replacing the old ones during the game try to hit winners, but only to return the
from time to time due to the fact that ball safely.
strokes make the ball heat up and alter
its bounce characteristics; the player  Putaway – a shot to try to end
first to serve one of the new balls shall the point from an advantageous
show it to the opponent expressly. situation.

 No-Man’s Land – the area  Qualies – the qualifying rounds

between the service line and the of a tournament where participants
baseline, where a player is most compete for a spot in the main draw.
vulnerable.
 Racquet – a bat with a long
 Open stance – hitting the ball handle and a large looped head with a
with the body facing between parallel to string mesh tautly stretched across it,
the baseline and facing the opponent; a made of wood, metal or some other
modern technique. synthetic materials, used by a tennis
player to hit the tennis ball during a
 Out – any ball that lands outside game of tennis – (see also Racket)
the play area.
 Rally – (Following the service of
 Overhead – (also; ‘smash’) a a tennis ball) – A series of return hits of
situation when the player is hitting the the ball that ends when one or other
ball over his/her head; if the shot is hit player fails to return the ball within the
relatively strong, it is referred to as the court boundary or fails to return a ball
smash (see: Smash); smashes are often that falls within the play area.
referred as simply ‘overheads’, although
not every overhead shot is a smash.
 Receiver – the person that is in such a situation, (s)he is said to be
being served. ‘serving for the set’

 Referee – a person in charge of  Shank – a mishit where

enforcing the rules in a tournament, as the ball contacts the racket frame
oppose to a tennis match (see Umpire) during the swing resulting in as hot
which is usually well out.
 Retriever – a defensive
baseliner. See tennis strategy.  Singles – a tennis game played
by two players.
 Round of 16 – the round of a
tournament prior to the quarterfinals in  Sitter – a shot hit by the
which there are 16 players remaining, opponent which is hit with very little
corresponds to the 4th round of 128- pace and no spin which bounces high
draw tournament, the 3rd round of a 64- after landing thus being an easy shot to
draw, and 2nd round of a 32-draw “put away”.
tournament.
 Slice – (rally0 hitting a tennis ball
 Round Robin – a tournament in with underspin; (serving with sidespin.
which players are eliminated after losing
twice (as opposed to the conventional
single elimination draw tournament).

 Second Service – the second

and final of the two serves a player is
allowed at the beginning of a point.

 Serve – (also, as a noun,

‘service’) to begin a point by hitting the
ball into the opponent’s half of a court.

 Service game – with regard to a

player, the game where the player is
serving (e.g. ‘Player A won a love
service game’ means that Player has
won a game where (s)he was serving
without the opponent scoring)

 Serve and volley – a strategy to

serve and immediately move forward to
make a volley and hopefully a winner.

 Set point – a situation when the

player who is leading needs one more
point to win a set. If the player is serving