Racquet Terms

Face-the striking surface.

Open face-racquet facing upward, away from ground.

Closed face-racquet facing downward, toward ground.

Flat face-racquet facing net, at right angles to the ground.

Back of racquet-opposite side from striking surface.

Tip of racquet-top end of racquet head.

Throat of racquet-wood part of frame just below racquet head.

Handle of racquet-wooden shaft of racquet, gripped by hand.

Plates of handle-the flat sides of the racquet handle.

Front plate-broad plate on same side as striking surface.

Back plate-broad plate on same side as back of racquet.

Top plate-narrow plate on side of handle which faces upward when racquet is held in flat position.

Bottom plate-the side plate which faces the ground when racquet is held in flat position.

Terms Associated With Forward Swing Of Racquet

Flat swing-horizontal swing in which the path made by the racquet is a straight line more or less parallel to the ground.

Downward arc swing-the "scoop" swing, with path of racquet in form of a downward concave line.

Upward arc swing-path of racquet in form of an upward (convex) arc.
Elbow action swing-a downward swing with leverage applied more from the elbow joint than from the shoulder joint.

Diagonal swing in serve-path of racquet forming an oblique line from right of the head to left of the body.

Terms Associated With Wrist Action

Wrist lead or hyperextension-the wrist in advance of the racquet head during the swing.

Racquet lead or wrist flexion-racquet head in advance of wrist, due to definite bending of wrist.

Inward rotation of wrist-rotary movement of forearm which places racquet in closed position in case of forehand, open position in case of backhand stroke.

Outward rotation of wrist-rotary movement of forearm placing racquet in open position in case of forehand, closed position in case of backhand stroke.

Terms Associated With The Ball

Ball flight-direction the ball takes through the air after leaving the racquet.

Top spin-ball rotating forward in the direction of flight as a cartwheel rolls.

Back spin-just the opposite from topspin, with the ball rotating backward, away from direction of flight.

Side spin-ball rotating about its oblique axis from left to right or vice versa.

Various Strokes

Chop or cut stroke-a stroke in which the swing is downward, chopping the back of the ball to impart backspin. The bounce of such a ball is short and close to the ground.

Courtesy stroke-the starting stroke for rallies, and the retrieving stroke in getting the balls back to the server before each point. It consists of a forehand volley taken in a horizontal plane.

Drop shot-a deceptive stroke which hits ball so that it just barely clears the net.

Flat drive-a ground stroke with slight or no top spin which sends the ball over the net in a flight more or or less parallel with the ground.

Ground stroke-a stroke taken after the ball bounces.

Half volley-the stroke which hits the ball so soon after it bounces that sometimes it is difficult to tell whether the racquet touched the ball before it hit the ground or afterward.

Hit-a momentary contact of ball and racquet, so that the ball rebounds off the strings, without being in contact with them except for the impact.

Lob-an upward stroke which sends the ball high over the head of an opponent at the net.

Serve-the stroke used to start the play, usually accomplished by tossing the ball over the head and hitting it with a vertical swing.

Slice-a stroke which imparts side spin to the ball causing it to bounce low to the side in the direction in which it is spinning.

Smash-a downward stroke, often a volley, taken when the ball is high above the head, usually sending the ball so fast that it cannot be returned effectively.

Stroke-the carrying of the ball forward on the racquet strings with a sweeping movement which keeps ball and racquet in contact during part of the forward swing.

Top spin drive-a ground stroke which applies top spin to the ball by the racquet coming over the top of the ball, thus causing its flight and bounce to be in form of a long arc.

Volley-a stroke taken before the ball has bounced.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here….