With all the odd scoring and numerous rules surrounding tennis, it's no wonder that people sometimes confuse the rules. To that end, we've created this article to help you to know the answer to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the game of tennis. All rules discussed in this article reflect the stance of the International Tennis Federation, a governing party of the sport.
Q: What happens when the ball bounces off of a line on the court?
A: When a ball bounces off of a line on the court, it is generally considered to be a bounce on the inside of the court that it is protecting. If your opponent hits a ball right around the outside line, and you cannot for sure determine that the ball is out, general rules stipulate that the opponent should be given the benefit of the doubt and they should receive the point.
Q: What happens if I hit a ball that hits the net post or another court entity and then bounces onto the opponents side of the court?
A: If you hit a ball off of either the net post, the scoring device, or any other outside entity besides the net before bouncing onto your opponent's side, you lose the point due to the fact that the ball hit a permanent fixture before landing on the opponent's side of the court.
Q: When should players change what side they are playing on?
A: Players should switch sides of the court after every six points and after a Tiebreak. During the tiebreak, the change must be made immediately with no opportunity for break or delay.
Q: What's a foot fault? How can one be called for a foot fault?
A: A foot fault occurs when a player's feet are at rest before hitting the ball, but they are moved before the shot so that a foot hits one of the following positions:
- the court, including the baseline
- any part of the imaginary extension of the outer mark
- anywhere beyond the imaginary extension found outside of the singles guideline or the doubles guideline, depending on the match type.
To avoid being called for a foot foul, you should ensure that your server is relaxed and stationary. This means that you should avoid any type of serve that involves more than one foot's movement to avoid being called for the foul.
