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Tennis Terminology | P - Q - R

P

Pace

The speed at which the ball is hit. It's commonly used to mean a great deal of speed, but in fact a well-paced shot may be hit rather slowly. A common tactic against a hard-hitting opponent is to vary the pace from one shot to the next.

Pair

A doubles team.

Partner

One of the two players on a doubles team.

Pass

To hit a shot that goes past the opponent, usually when the opponent is at or near the net.

Passing shot

A shot that passes the opponent.

Penalty point

See point penalty.

Pickup shot

Another name for a half volley.

Placement

A shot hit to an area where the opponent cannot reach it.

Poach

In doubles, to hit a ball, usually with a volley, that would ordinarily have been played by the partner.

Point

The basic scoring unit in tennis. The points are numbered "fifteen," "thirty," "forty," and "game." One player serves throughout a game and the first player to win four points wins the game, with the provision that the margin of victory must be at least two points. See advantage; deuce; game; match; set, scoring system.

Point penalty

A penalty which costs the player a point in the current game. The umpire may assess a point penalty for various kinds of unsportsmanlike conduct, such as verbal or physical abuse of an official, using obscenity, or delaying a game through incessant argument of a call.

Puddler

A player who hits a lot of chip shots and drop shots.

Punch volley

A volley hit with a very short, punching stroke.

Put away

Same as kill.

Q

- No Terms Available -

R

Racket

The instrument that's used to hit the ball. It has a long, straight handle and an oval frame strung with natural gut or a synthetic material. Up until the late 1960s, rackets were made of wood, but then steel and aluminum frames were introduced, followed by frames of graphite, fiberglass, titanium, and carbon. Maximum dimensions are 29 ½ inches in overall length, 12 ½ inches in overall width. The hitting surface can be no more than 15 ½ inches long and 11 ½ inches wide. Also spelled racquet.

Rally

An extended exchange of shots between players or sides.

Ready position

The position adopted by the receiver in anticipation of the serve.

Receiver

The player who receives service throughout a game.

Referee

The official who is in overall charge of a tournament. The referee doesn't officiate at matches, but may be called upon by the umpire to interpret a rule.

Retrieve

To reach and return a shot that's difficult to get to.

Retriever

A player who tries to wear down the opponent by concentrating on defense, continually chasing down and returning difficult shots.

Return

To hit an opponent's shot back over the net and in play. After service, every successful shot is a return.

Reverse spin

See backspin.

Reverse twist

A serve that has spin causing it to bounce high and to receiver's right, off a right-handed player's racket. Opposite of American twist.

Round

A series of matches in an elimination tournament, the winners of which advance to the next round.

Round robin

A tournament in which each player meets every other player and final standings are determined by the won-lost records. Such a tournament is sometimes a preliminary round to determine seedings and order of play.

Run around the backhand

To make excessive movement in order to play a ball on the forehand rather than on the backhand.

Runback

The area between the baseline and the backstop.

Run down

Same as retrieve.