Tennis rules for beginners: how to learn tennis as an adult
Want to start playing tennis as an adult? Learn all the rules, from scoring to the court layout, plus practical tips to progress quickly.
You've decided to start playing tennis — fantastic! Tennis is one of the most complete sports in existence: great for fitness, coordination and your social life. But as a beginner, you might feel overwhelmed by all the rules, terms and unwritten conventions. In this article we clearly explain all the tennis rules for adult beginners, give you practical tips to learn quickly and tell you where to get the best start in Amstelveen. Ready to step onto the court? Read on — or go straight to our START programme for adults.
"The best time to start playing tennis was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
The tennis court: lines, zones and dimensions
A tennis court is 23.77 metres long and 10.97 metres wide for doubles (8.23 metres for singles). It's divided by a net that's 91.4 cm high in the centre. The key lines to know are the baseline, service line, centre line and sidelines. In singles you use the narrow sidelines, in doubles the wide ones. The service box is the area between the service line and the net, divided into left and right boxes. As a beginner you don't need to know every detail — but understanding the basic layout helps enormously. In our beginners programme you'll learn this as you play.
- •Singles: 23.77 × 8.23 metres
- •Doubles: 23.77 × 10.97 metres
- •Net: 91.4 cm high in the centre, 1.07 m at the posts
- •Service box: the area between net and service line
- •Baseline: the back line from which you serve
Scoring: 15, 30, 40, game
Tennis scoring is unique and takes a moment to get used to. A game counts as follows: 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, game. At 40-40 (deuce) you must win two consecutive points. You win a set by winning 6 games with at least a 2-game lead. At 6-6 a tiebreak is played. A match consists of 2 or 3 sets. Sound complicated? In practice you pick it up fast — especially with a coach explaining it. In our START programme we practise scoring from lesson 1.
- •Point system: 0 (love) → 15 → 30 → 40 → game
- •Deuce: at 40-40 — then advantage in/out
- •Set: first to 6 games with 2 difference, tiebreak at 6-6
- •Match: best of 2 or 3 sets
- •Tiebreak: first to 7 points with 2 difference
The serve: how every point starts
Every point begins with a serve. You stand behind the baseline and hit the ball diagonally over the net into your opponent's service box. You get two chances: a first and second serve. Miss both and it's a double fault — you lose the point. As a beginner, getting the serve in is more important than hitting it hard. Start with an underhand serve or a gentle overhand serve. In our beginner clinics we devote plenty of time to building a reliable serve.
- •Stand behind the baseline, to the right of the centre line (first point)
- •Hit diagonally into your opponent's service box
- •Two chances: first and second serve
- •Double fault = point lost
- •Start with a gentle serve — consistency beats power
- •Alternate sides (right/left of centre line) after each point
Rules during a rally
After the serve the rally begins. The ball may bounce once before you return it (or you can hit it out of the air — a volley). The ball must go over the net and land inside the lines. If the ball hits the line, it's good (in). If the ball clips the net but still goes over, play continues. The point ends when the ball bounces twice, lands outside the lines, or a player hits the ball into the net.
- •The ball may bounce a maximum of once
- •The line is good (in)
- •A net ball that goes over counts — play on
- •Outside the lines = out
- •You may not hit the ball twice
- •You may not touch the net with your racket or body
Tennis etiquette: unwritten rules
Tennis has a rich tradition of sportsmanship and etiquette. As a beginner you'll make a great impression by knowing these unwritten rules. The most important: be honest when scoring and making in/out calls. In recreational tennis you're your own umpire — and when in doubt, the ball is in. You'll learn this naturally in our beginners programme, where sportsmanship is central.
- •When in doubt, give the point to your opponent
- •Announce the score before serving
- •Return balls via the net when collecting them
- •Wait until a rally on the next court finishes before returning a stray ball
- •Shake hands with your opponent after the match
- •Dress appropriately — most clubs have dress codes
Singles vs. doubles: what's the difference?
In singles you play one against one, in doubles two against two. The court is wider in doubles (using the doubles sidelines). In doubles, communication and positioning are especially important. As a beginner, doubles is often easier to start with: less running and you learn from your partner. Many adult beginners start with doubles in our group lessons.
- •Singles: 1 vs 1, narrow court
- •Doubles: 2 vs 2, full court
- •In doubles: narrow sidelines don't apply for the serve
- •Doubles is more social and less physically demanding
- •Ideal for beginners: more rallies, less running
8 tips to learn tennis fast as an adult
The beautiful thing about tennis is that you can start at any age. Many of our best players only started later in life. Here are 8 tips to progress quickly as an adult beginner:
- •1. Take lessons with a certified coach — self-learning takes three times as long
- •2. Focus on consistency, not power — 10 balls over the net beats 1 winner
- •3. Learn the continental grip for your serve and volley
- •4. Move your feet — good footwork is the foundation of every shot
- •5. Play regularly — twice a week is better than once a fortnight
- •6. Start with doubles — more rallies, less frustration
- •7. Watch tennis on TV — you subconsciously learn from the pros' movements and tactics
- •8. Enjoy it — the 359 philosophy is: Progress. Not perfection.
The right equipment for beginners
As an adult beginner you don't need much to get started. A good racket, sports shoes with a flat sole (not running shoes!) and comfortable sportswear. In our START programme you can even use a free loaner racket, so you can try before you invest.
- •Racket: a light model (260-280 grams) with a large head
- •Shoes: tennis shoes or indoor court shoes (flat sole, no tread)
- •Clothing: comfortable sportswear, preferably white or light colours
- •Balls: provided by the club or coach
- •Grip: have your coach adjust your grip — it makes a huge difference
- •Budget: a good beginner racket costs €40-€100
Start playing tennis at 359.tennis
At 359.tennis in Amstelveen we offer the START programme specifically for adult beginners. You'll learn the basic rules, techniques and tactics in a relaxed group with experienced, certified coaches. We train indoors on the premium courts at NTC Amstelveen — rain or shine. Including video analysis so you can see your own development. And thanks to our location at NTC Amstelveen you enjoy excellent facilities: changing rooms, restaurant, bar and free parking. View the START programme for adults →
- •START programme: specifically for adult beginners
- •Small groups for personal attention
- •Indoor courts: year-round training
- •Video analysis: see your own progress
- •Free loaner racket for starters
- •Certified coaches with 20+ years of experience
- •Location: NTC Amstelveen, easily accessible from all of Amsterdam South
Key takeaways
- ✓Tennis scoring goes 15-30-40-game, a set to 6 games
- ✓The serve is diagonal — consistency is more important than power
- ✓The line is good (in), when in doubt give the point to your opponent
- ✓Doubles is ideal for beginners: more social and less running
- ✓Playing regularly and taking lessons accelerates your progress enormously
- ✓At 359.tennis you get a free loaner racket and video analysis in the START programme
Ready to start playing tennis? Discover our START programme for adult beginners at NTC Amstelveen. Including free loaner racket and video analysis.
