Laws of Tennis

The Laws of Tennis (Revised 2012). © Tennis and Rackets Association. The official version can be downloaded from the T&RA website.

1. Interpretations

In these Laws:-

1.1 References to the "Laws" shall be references to The Laws of Tennis (2011 Revision) as from time to time amended or supplemented with the approval of the Tennis Committee of the Tennis and Rackets Association.

1.2 From time to time the Association, host club or the organisers of an event may lay down special rules relating to a court, a match or to a tournament. In such an event, the Laws of Tennis shall prevail except where they are inconsistent with those rules.

1.3 Subject to Law 21 (THE REFEREE), the decision of the Marker in any match as to the interpretation of the Laws shall be final. In matches where there is no Marker, all calls or other decisions that would otherwise be made by a Marker shall be agreed between the players and these Laws shall be construed accordingly. If no agreement can be reached, a Let shall be played.

1.4 Without prejudice to Law 1.3, the Association may, from time to time, promulgate guidance notes for Markers and Referees. Such notes shall not form a part of the Laws and, in the event of an inconsistency between the Laws and such guidance notes, the Laws shall prevail.

1.5 In these Laws generally:-

• (a) references to the singular shall include the plural and vice versa;
• (b) references to the masculine gender shall include the female; and
• (c) references to a defined term which is a verb shall include all appropriate tenses of that verb.

2. Definitions

In these Laws each of the following terms shall bear the meaning set opposite it in this section.

The Association
The Tennis and Rackets Association.

Back Walls
The walls adjoining the Main Wall between the floor and the penthouse and between the penthouse and the Out of Court Line.

Bandeau
The strip of wall immediately below a penthouse, usually made of the same material as the penthouse.

Chase
See Law 9, which contains all definitions relating to Chases.

Court
The enclosure in which the game is played.

Dead
A ball Served becomes dead when:-

• (a) a Service becomes a fault; or
• (b) a Chase is made; or
• (c) it is Chase Off; or
• (d) the point being played for is won or lost in accordance with Law 11; or
• (e) “Time” is called by the Marker, the Referee, or by any player.

Dedans
The Opening in the Back Wall on the Service Side.

Drop
A ball is said to Drop when, after passing the Net, it bounces for the first time on the floor.

Fall
A ball is said to Fall when:-

• (a) after passing the Net, it enters an Opening; or
• (b) it Drops on another ball or other item on the floor (not being a player’s racquet or any item of a player’s clothing or equipment used or carried by that player in the course of that Rest); or
• (c) after having Dropped and without thereafter being struck, it bounces for the second time on the floor or touches the Net on the far side from that on which the ball was originally struck.

Fault Line
The line on the floor nearest the Grille and extending from the Service Line to the Grille Wall.

Gallery
An Opening below the Side Penthouse. The Galleries are named as follows, starting from the Net:-

• (a) on the Service Side:- the First Gallery, the Door, the Second Gallery, the Last Gallery; and
• (b) on the Hazard Side:- Hazard the First Gallery, Hazard the Door, Hazard the Second Gallery and the Winning Gallery.

Gallery Post
The post between two Galleries. A Gallery Post is considered to be part of the Gallery nearer the Net. The part of the netting that surrounds a Gallery Post is treated as being a part of that post.

Grille
The Opening in the Grille Wall.

Grille Wall
The Back Wall on the Hazard Side below the penthouse.

Half-Court Line
The line on the floor within the Service Court running from the Back Wall on the Hazard Side to the Service Line half-way between the Main Wall and the Side Wall.

Hazard Court
The floor of the Court on the Hazard Side from the Net up to, but excluding the Service Line.

Hazard Side
The side of the Court on the left of the Net when facing the Main Wall.

In Play
A ball served is In Play until it becomes Dead.

Ledge
The lower horizontal surface of an Opening.

Line
The notional line at the Net on the floor of the Court separating the Service Side from the Hazard Side. (It may originally have been the line that supports the Net).

Line Opening
An Opening on either side of the Net Post between the Net Post and the First Gallery, or between the Net Post and Hazard the First Gallery.

Main Wall
The wall that is opposite the Side Penthouse.

Net Post
The post supporting the Net under the Side Penthouse.

Nick
The junction of any wall and the floor of the Court. A ball is also said to "Nick" when the ball, as it Drops or Falls, touches a wall and the floor simultaneously.

Opening
The Line Opening and any Gallery or Winning Opening.

Opening, entering an
A ball In Play enters an Opening when it:-

• (a) touches any post (except the Net Post), netting or Tray of that Opening; or
• (b) touches any article lying in that Opening or partly lying in and partly extending outside that Opening; or
• (c) comes to rest in or on the Ledge of that Opening; or
• (d) in the case of the Grille, touches the woodwork (or other material) forming the back of the framing of the Grille.

Out of Court
Unless any Local Rule provides otherwise, a ball is Out of Court if it:-

• (a) touches any part of the Out of Court Line or any wall, roof or window above it or any lighting equipment, including any ancillary cabling; or
• (b) touches or passes over or through the roof or roof beams or girders or the roof space above the roof beams or girders; or
• (c) exceptionally, where the Court has no roof, touches anything outside the Court or anything which forms the exterior of the Court.

Out of Court Line
The line marking the upper limit of the playing surface of the Court.

Passing the Net
A ball passes the Net when it crosses from one side of the Court to the other.

Receiver
The player who is to take the Service.

Rest
A stroke or series of strokes, commencing when the ball is Served and terminating when the ball is Dead.

Server
The Server is the player who delivers or is to deliver the Service from time to time.

Service
The method of starting a Rest.

Service Court
The part of the floor on the Hazard Side that is bordered by the Side Wall, the Grille Wall, the Fault Line and the Service Line (including those two lines).

Service Line
The line on the floor of the Court which is nearest and parallel to the Grille Wall.

Service Penthouse
That part of the Side Penthouse that is on the Hazard Side, including the line that bisects the Side Penthouse.

Service Side
The side of the Court on the right of the Net when facing the Main Wall.

Service Wall
The wall above the Side Penthouse up to, but excluding, the Out of Court Line.

Side Penthouse
The penthouse opposite the Main Wall up to its junction with the other penthouses.

Striker
The player who last struck the ball.

Tambour
The projection on the Main Wall near the Grille. (The whole of the projection should be called the Tambour though the term is more commonly applied only to that part of it that is at an angle to the Main Wall).

Tray
The inner part of the bottom of an Opening behind the Ledge, usually made of wood.

Winning Gallery
The Last Gallery on the Hazard Side.

Winning Openings
The Dedans, the Grille and the Winning Gallery.

7. Before Play

7.1 Choice of Sides

The choice of sides at the beginning of a match shall be decided by the spin of a racquet or, if preferred by any of the players, by the toss of a coin.

7.2 Warm-up

Players shall be permitted a warm-up period of five minutes commencing from:-

• (a) the scheduled start of play; or
• (b) the completion of the preceding match; or
• (c) the arrival of the last player on Court; whichever is the later.

8. Serving and Changing Ends

8.1 Service

• (a) The player who is on the Service Side always delivers the Service.
• (b) A Service is good if it is not a fault.
• (c) Once a serve has become a fault, the ball is dead and may not be returned.
• (d) A Service is a fault:-
  • (i) if the Server, at the time of striking the ball, fails to maintain contact with the floor or touches the Second Gallery Line or any part of the Court between the Second Gallery Line and the Net; or
  • (ii) if the Server misses the ball or does not definitely strike it or makes a double hit as defined in Law 11.2(e); or
  • (iii) if the ball served, before touching the Service Penthouse, touches any part of the Court except the Side Penthouse or Service Wall; or
  • (iv) if the ball served touches the edge of the Side Penthouse before touching anything else; or
  • (v) if the ball served leaves the Side Penthouse or Service Wall without touching the Service Penthouse or touches the edge of the Service Penthouse without first striking the Service Wall or another part of the Side Penthouse; or
  • (vi) if the ball served goes Out of Court; or
  • (vii) if the ball served, after striking the Service Penthouse and without then having first been volleyed, strikes the Main Wall or Tambour before Dropping; or
  • (viii) if the ball served, after striking the Service Penthouse and without then having first been volleyed, Drops anywhere except in the Service Court or in the Winning Gallery.
• (e) If the Receiver is not ready for a Service and does not attempt to take it, a Let (Law 10) shall be allowed, subject always to the provisions of Law 16(a) - Continuous Play.

8.2 Changing Sides

• (a) During a match the players shall change sides when two Chases have been made or when one Chase has been made with the score on game point.
• (b) If the players change sides before they should, or do not change sides when they should have done, the following provisions shall apply:
  • (i) any points completed on the wrong side shall stand as if no mistake had been made;
  • (ii) no more than two Chases, or one Chase if either player’s score is at forty or advantage, shall be played for after the players change sides;
  • (iii) Any Chase, in excess of the proper number, that is discovered before it has been played for shall be annulled;
  • (iv) Any Chase outstanding after either player has won the game shall be annulled.

9. Chases

The Chase, as defined in Law 9.1, is the procedure by which players gain or lose the Service Side. When a Chase is made, the score in strokes is unaltered but that Chase is marked and played for when the players change ends. The players change ends when two Chases are made or when one chase is made with the score on game point. When the players have changed ends, the Chases are played for in the next one or two (as the case may be) Rests in the order in which they were made. Once those Chases have been played for, the game continues normally.

9.1 Definitions Relating to Chases

Better than
One Chase is Better than another if it is made nearer to the Back Wall on the same side of the Court. In marking Chases, "Better than" means that the ball makes a Chase:-

• (a) nearer to the Back Wall than the line mentioned; and
• (b) nearer to that line than to any other yard or Gallery line.

Chase
A Chase is made whenever the ball Falls in the Hazard Court, or Falls anywhere on the Service Side, or enters either Line Opening or any Gallery, except the Winning Gallery.

Chase the Line
The Chase made when the ball enters the Line Opening. On the floor it is the area between the Net and the First Gallery Line excluding that line. A ball which Drops on the Service Side and then Falls on the Hazard Side is also marked Chase the Line.

Hazard Chase
A Chase made on the Hazard Side of the Court.

Hazard Chase the Line
The Chase made when the ball enters the Line Opening on the Hazard Side. On the floor it is the area between the Net and Hazard the First Gallery Line, excluding that line. A ball which Drops on the Hazard Side and then Falls on the Service Side is also marked Hazard Chase the Line

Marking a Chase
A Chase is marked at the point where the ball Falls.

Worse than
One Chase is Worse than another if it is made further away from the Back Wall on the same side of the Court. In marking Chases, “Worse than” means that the ball makes a Chase:-

• (a) further away from the Back Wall than the line mentioned; and
• (b) nearer to that line than to any other Yard or Gallery line.

9.2 Making Chases

• (a) When no Chase is being played for, a Chase is made if the ball, whilst In Play, enters the Line Opening or any Gallery (except the Winning Gallery) or Falls on the floor of the Court anywhere on the Service Side or within the Hazard Court. When a Chase is made the score in strokes relating to that Rest shall be unaltered until that Chase is played for (Law 9.3).
• (b) A Chase is made at the Line Opening or Gallery which the ball enters or at the Chase Line on which it Falls, provided that if the ball Falls between two Chase Lines, it makes a Chase Better than or Worse than the yard or gallery line nearest the spot where it Fell, except that:
  • (i) it makes chase Better than Half-a-Yard or Better than Hazard Half-a-Yard when it so Falls;
  • (ii) when it Falls Better than or Worse than the Chase Line which is A Yard Worse than the Last Gallery, the Chase is called "Nearly a Yard Worse than the Last Gallery" or "More than a Yard Worse than the Last Gallery" as applicable;
  • (iii) when it Falls Worse than the First Gallery Line or the Hazard First Gallery Line it makes Chase the Line or Hazard Chase the Line, as applicable;
  • (iv) when it Drops or Falls in the Net on the opposite side of the Court from the Striker, or Drops on that opposite side and then Falls on the side from which it was last struck, it makes Chase the Line on the opposite side from the Striker;
  • (v) when it Drops or Falls on another ball or other item on the floor (not being a player's racquet or any item of a player's clothing or equipment used or carried by that player in the course of that Rest), it makes a Chase as if it had Fallen where that ball or item was lying.
  • (vi) when it strikes the Marker, having previously passed the Net, it makes a Chase as if it had Fallen where the Marker was situate at the time of impact.

9.3 Playing Chases

• (a) When the players change sides in accordance with Law 8.2 the Chase or Chases shall be played for immediately in the order in which they were made. The winner of each Chase shall win the point. Unless there is a Let (Law 10), a Chase shall be played for once only.
• (b) When a Chase is being played for:-
  • (i) the opponent of the player who made the Chase (being the Server in the case of a Hazard Chase and the Receiver in each other case) is said to be “Attacking the Chase”. The player who made the Chase is said to be “Defending the Chase”;
  • (ii) the player Attacking the Chase wins the Chase if he makes a Better Chase or loses the Chase if he makes a Worse Chase, in either case than the one being played for; or
  • (iii) if that Chase is on the Service Side; the player on the Hazard Side will lose the Chase to a Chase made on the Hazard Side; or
  • (iv) if that Chase is on the Hazard Side; the player on the Service Side will lose the Chase to a Chase made on the Service Side; or
  • (v) if a player loses the point in accordance with Law 11.2, the Chase is annulled and that Law shall apply; or
  • (vi) if the player Attacking the Chase makes a Chase equal to the one being played for it is Chase Off and the score remains unaltered.
• (c) In cases where it is thought that a Chase may have been wrongly called or there has been a misunderstanding or a mistake:-
  • (i) if it is thought that a Chase has been wrongly called by the Marker, the Server may appeal before delivering the Service, and the Receiver may appeal before attempting to take it. If there is no such appeal, the Chase played for shall be that called by the Marker immediately before the Service is delivered, notwithstanding that this may be different from that marked when the Chase was made; or
  • (ii) if there has been any misunderstanding as to what Chase the Marker called, the Rest as played shall stand or a Let (Law 10) may be allowed, whichever the Marker considers equitable in view of all the circumstances; or
  • (iii) if through any mistake, at the end of a game there is a Chase that has been made and not played for, that Chase is annulled.

10. Let

• (a) Should the Marker, or any player with due justification, call “Time” at any stage during a Rest, play in that rest shall cease immediately.
• (b) The Marker may, at his sole discretion, call "Time" at any stage during a Rest and on resumption of play, the players shall play a Let. The Marker may also allow a Let promptly upon completion of a Rest if he considers it equitable so to do. No appeal shall be allowed by any player against such decision.
• (c) Any player shall be entitled to call “Time” and a Let shall be allowed, if:-
  • (i) as Receiver, he is not ready for a Service and makes no attempt to return it (Law 8.1); or
  • (ii) it is thought that a Chase has been wrongly called and “Time” is called before any attempt is made to return Service (Law 9.3(c)(i)); or
  • (iii) in Doubles play, the Receiver’s view of the Server is obscured by the Server’s partner (Law 14.3).
• (d) If a player calls “Time” at any other time, or for any other reason, the ball shall become Dead and it shall be at the sole discretion of the Marker whether a Let shall be allowed.
• (e) In the case of a Let:-
  • (i) the Rest to which it refers counts for nothing;
  • (ii) if a Chase was being played for, it shall immediately be played for again; and
  • (iii) if there was a previous Service fault, that fault is not annulled.

11. Points, How Won and Lost

11.1 Player Wins the Point

A player wins a point if, during the relevant Rest:-

• (a) he wins a Chase; or
• (b) a ball In Play struck by him after passing the Net, enters a Winning Opening or Falls on the Hazard Side between the Service Line and the Grill Wall or on the Service Line.

11.2 Player Loses the Point

A player loses a point if, during the relevant Rest:-

• (a) he loses a Chase; or
• (b) as Server he serves two consecutive faults for that point; or
• (c) a ball In Play struck by him does not Pass the Net. (A ball does not Pass the Net if it has previously entered an Opening or touched the floor or anything lying on the floor, or touched the Marker or the Net Post, or any Wing Net (See Appendix); or
• (d) a ball In Play struck by him goes Out of Court; or
• (e) he makes a Double Hit. A Double Hit is not made if the player has made one continuous stroke at the ball, unless:-
  • (i) during the course of such stroke the ball has struck another surface of the Court between one contact with the racquet and another; or
  • (ii) the ball remains in contact with the racquet for such a time as to constitute a throw in the opinion of the Marker; or
• (f) a ball In Play touches that player or anything he wears or carries, or has worn or carried in the course of that rest, except his racquet held by him in the act of striking the ball; or
• (g) he strikes a ball In Play on the side of the Net from which it was struck, except that a ball which has Dropped on the player’s side of the Court and bounced back over the Net may be followed and struck by the player as long as he does not break any other Law; or
• (h) he touches the Net when the ball is In Play either before or after striking the ball except that if, in the opinion of the Marker, he deliberately strikes the Net in order to prevent a Chase being made, the Chase shall stand as if he had not struck the Net; or
• (i) as Receiver he volleys a serve, which might otherwise have been a good serve, before it has touched the Service Penthouse; or
• (j) a ball In Play struck by him, after Passing the Net, comes back and Drops on the side of the Court from which it was struck by that player (even if the ball touches the Net before so Dropping).

14. Doubles Play

The Laws for singles matches apply equally to doubles matches and players are, with the following variations, in all cases subject to the same Laws as a player in a singles match.

14.1 Choosing Server and Receiver

Before commencing each set the players on the Service Side shall select which player is to serve. The players on the Hazard Side shall then select which player is to receive Service. The selected players are then the Server and Receiver for their sides throughout the first game and for odd games throughout the set. Their partners are Server and Receiver in the even games.

14.2 Returning Service

A return of Service is not good if made by the Receiver's partner, unless the ball has Dropped in the Service Court between the Half-Court Line and the Fault Line or on either of those lines.

14.3 Clear View of Server

The Server's partner shall not stand in such a position, when the Server is serving, as to prevent the Receiver from having a clear view of the Server and the ball. If the Receiver’s view is obscured and he does not attempt to take the serve, a Let shall be allowed.

14.4 Errors in Player Serving

If an incorrect player serves, whether or not the correct Receiver returns the Service, the Marker shall call a fault, but if the error goes unnoticed, then all completed Rests shall stand as if correctly scored.

14.5 Errors in Player Receiving Service

If an incorrect player returns Service from the correct Server, the Marker shall call a stroke against that player except in cases where the ball Drops in the Service Court between the Half Court Line and the Fault Line or on either of those lines. If an error goes unnoticed, then all completed Rests shall stand as if correctly scored.

14.6 Partner Struck by Ball

In addition to the circumstances described in Law 11.2, a player loses the point if a ball struck by him hits his partner or anything his partner is wearing or carrying.

18. Control of the Match

Save only to the extent that certain specific powers or duties have been delegated to a Referee appointed in accordance with Law 19.2, the Marker shall have full control of the match and his decisions shall be final. Even where a Referee has been appointed, those powers set out in Law 20.1 that have not been delegated to a referee shall be exercised by the Marker.

19. Appointment of Officials

19.1 Appointment of the Marker

Markers and Referees shall be appointed by the Event Organisers.

19.2 Appointment of a Referee

A Referee may be appointed at any time considered appropriate by the Event Organisers or whenever the Marker requests one. If a player wishes a Referee to be appointed, he shall make such request before the start of a match to the Event Organisers whose decision, whether or not to appoint a Referee for that match shall be final.

20. The Marker

20.1 The Duties and Responsibilities of the Marker

The principal duties and responsibilities of the Marker shall be:-

• (a) to be well versed in the Laws, any guidelines for Markers and Referees promulgated from time to time by the Association and any specific rules relating to the relevant match or tournament;

• (b) to notify the players whenever a Referee is appointed and inform the players of any variation in the duties delegated to the Referee from those set out in Law 21.1.

• (c) to carry out the principal duties set out below to the extent that they are not delegated to a Referee for a specific match:-

  Before the start of and throughout the match the Marker shall, to the extent reasonably possible in the circumstances:-

  • (i) ensure that the Net at the centre is at the correct height;
  • (ii) ensure that the court is fit for play;
  • (iii) ensure that balls lying on the floor are removed between rests;
  • (iv) ensure that the ball troughs used by the Server are replenished.

  The Marker shall, to the extent reasonably possible in the circumstances, be responsible for the conduct of the match generally and in particular for:-

  • (v) calling service faults;
  • (vi) marking and calling Chases;
  • (vii) directing the players to change sides at the appropriate time and calling each Chase before it is played for;
  • (viii) calling points won and lost;
  • (ix) keeping and calling the score;
  • (x) giving clarification, when asked to do so, on points of law.

• (d) The Marker shall, to the extent reasonably possible in the circumstances, ensure compliance with the Laws relating to the Conduct of Players (Law 15) and Continuous Play (Law 16).

• (e) The Marker shall, to the extent reasonably possible in the circumstances, ensure that spectators do not disturb the players.

20.2 The Position of the Marker

Unless the conditions of a match or tournament regulations allow otherwise, the Marker shall stand in the Markers Box at the entrance to the Court, as is required for top flight matches. If the Marker is marking from the Dedans, the player on the Hazard Side shall mark Hazard Chases except where an additional Marker is appointed for that purpose.

21. The Referee

21.1 The Duties and Responsibilities of a Referee

The principal duties and responsibilities of a Referee shall be:-

• (a) to be well versed in the Laws, any guidelines for Markers and Referees promulgated from time to time by the Association and any specific rules relating to the relevant match or tournament.
• (b) to carry out those duties of the Marker set out in Law 20.1 which are delegated to the Referee for a specific match. Unless the Event Organiser in consultation with the Marker and Referee shall decide otherwise, the duties to be delegated to the Referee shall be:-
  • (i) to keep a written record of the score and of Chases and to correct any errors in the calling of the score or previously marked Chases;
  • (ii) to call Service Faults on or above the Service Penthouse;
  • (iii) to advise the Marker on all marking decisions where the Marker is uncertain or unsighted, but only in cases where the Marker requests the assistance of the Referee;
  • (iv) to give clarification when asked to do so on points of law.
  • (v) with the assistance of the Marker, to be responsible for all matters involving breaches of Law 15 (Conduct of Players) and Law 16 (Continuous Play);
  • (vi) to ensure that spectators do not disturb the players.

21.2 The Position of the Referee

Unless the conditions of a match or tournament regulations allow otherwise, the Referee shall be seated to the right of centre in the Dedans.

22. Powers of the Marker and Referee

22.1 Breach of Law 15 (Conduct of Players)

If, in the opinion of the Marker or the Referee (if this power has been delegated to a Referee), the behaviour of a player is contrary to the letter or spirit of the provisions of Part VI, he shall warn the offending player that a continuation of such behaviour would result in forfeiture of the match. Should that player continue to offend, the Marker or (as the case may be) the Referee shall award the match to his opponent(s) forthwith. In the case of gross misconduct on the part of any player, the Marker or as the case may be the Referee may, at his sole discretion, award the match to that player's opponent(s) without a warning.

22.2 Breach of Law 16 (Continuous Play)

The Marker or (if such power is delegated to a Referee) the Referee has the power:-

• (a) to order any player who has left the Court with or without permission under Law 16, to return and play on;
• (b) to order any player to resume or to expedite play; and
• (c) at his absolute discretion taking account of all the circumstances, to give a warning to any player and, if that warning is not heeded, to award the match to that player's opponent(s).

The Marker or, as the case may be, the Referee shall be free to exercise any or all of the foregoing powers at such time or times as he considers appropriate.

Note: - There are a number of Tennis Terms which appear in the main body of these Laws and which appear as Definitions in Law 2. These have not been repeated in this Glossary.

Advantage
See Law 12.

Ais
In a Jeu Quarre Court a narrow board approximately 3 metres high and 30 cms wide is situated on the Service Side on the Back Wall at its junction with the Gallery Wall. If a ball played from the Hazard Side strikes the Ais without first touching the penthouse, the Receiver wins the point.

Attacking a Chase
See Law 9.3(b)(i).

Bar all the Walls
Also called Touch No Walls, see "Cramped Odds".

Bar the Openings
See "Cramped Odds".

Bar the Winning Openings
See "Cramped Odds".

Battery Walls
The walls built within the court which support the Penthouse and house the Openings. The Battery Walls at either end of the Service Side and Hazard Side constitute the lower part of the Back Walls of the court and are known as the Dedans Wall and Grille Wall respectively. The Battery Wall opposite the Main Wall is known as the Gallery Wall. The portions of the Battery Walls between the Openings and the floor used to be known as the Batteries.

Better
See Law 9.1.

Bisque
See Law 23.3.

Boast
A return that is struck against the Back Wall on the same side of the Net as the Striker or against one or other of the side walls.

Boasted Force
A boast that Drops in a Winning Opening. The term is usually employed only for a force to the Dedans.

Bobble Service
A slow Service that should bounce several times on the service penthouse and Drop near the Grille Wall.

Boomerang Service
A Service that touches the Service Penthouse, the Grille Penthouse, the High Back Wall on the Hazard Side and then returns to the Service Penthouse before Dropping close to and moving parallel to the Grille Wall.

Calling a Chase
A Chase is called when the Chase that is to be played for is stated.

Chandelle
See Drop Service.

Chase
See Law 9.

Chase Off
See Law 9.3(b)(vi).

Coup de Bosse
A return which strikes the Main Wall and then enters the Dedans.

Coup de Breche
A straight force that Drops in the Dedans near to one of its outer edges.

Coup de Cabasse
A return that Drops in the Dedans after first striking the wall between the Last Gallery and the Dedans wall (called after a French Professional of that name who played this difficult stroke).

Coup de Chandelle
A lofted return that Drops or (more usually) Falls in the Dedans.

Coup d'Orleans
A return that is struck against the Service Wall and Drops directly in the Dedans (called after Philippe Egalite, Duc d'Orleans, who invented or practised this stroke).

Coup de Poteau
A straight force that enters the Dedans at the centre post.

Coup de Temps
The stroke usually attempted off the back wall when the ball is too near to the wall and floor for an ordinary return to be made. The stroke is commenced before the ball reaches the wall, so that immediately it leaves it the stroke can be completed with the minimum amount of further movement and acceleration of the Racquet.

Cramped Odds
Handicaps that prohibit certain strokes or Services. Unless specifically stated the limiting conditions of Cramped Odds do not apply to Service. Cramped Odds may be such as are fixed by the handicapper but the more usual forms are as set out under this heading.

• Bar the Openings
  The giver of the odds loses a point whenever a ball returned by him enters an Opening.

• Bar the Winning Openings
  The giver of the odds loses a point whenever a ball returned by him enters the Dedans, the Grille or the Winning Gallery.

• Half-Court
  The players shall agree or the Handicapper decide to which half-Court, on each side of the Net, the giver of the odds shall play. He loses a point if a ball returned by him Drops in the other Half-Court or in an Opening or in half the Dedans in the other Half Court. A ball that Drops on the Half-Court Line does not lose him a point. After the ball has Dropped the ordinary Laws apply.

• Round Services
  The Receiver may refuse to take Services that do not come immediately off the Grille Penthouse. If he attempts to take such a Service that Service becomes good. If he does not it is a fault.

• Touch No Side Walls
  The giver of the odds loses a point if a ball returned by him enters a Gallery, or touches the Side Wall, the Service Wall, or the Main Wall, before Falling.

• Touch No Walls

  • (a) The giver of the odds loses a point whenever a ball returned by him enters an Opening, or touches any wall before Falling.
  • (b) A penthouse is not a wall.
  • (c) A Bandeau is part of a wall.
  • (d) The above odds are also given in the form that the ball must Drop before touching a wall, etc., but after Dropping it may touch them without penalty. In this form it is usually called "Touch No Walls Full Pitch".

Dedans
See Law 2.

Dedans Wall
The Back Wall on the Service Side below the penthouse.

Defending a Chase
See Law 9.3(b)(i).

Deuce
See Law 12.

Door
See Law 2 - Gallery.

Double Hit
See Law 11.2(e).

Doubles
See Law 14.

Drop Service
A high Service, delivered from near the Main Wall, that should Drop near to the Grille Wall.

Du Tout
The score of a player who requires one stroke to win the set (cf. game-ball).

Enter a Gallery
See Law 2.

Enter an Opening
See Law 2 - Gallery.

Fault
See Law 8.1.

Fifteen
See Law 12.

First Gallery
See Law 2.

First Stroke
The return of the Service.

Fly Net
In some old Courts fly nets were erected above the Out of Court Line in each of the four corners. A ball striking the fly net was not out of Court. Rarely used in modern Courts.

Force
Originally any stroke that Drops into an opening, usually a Winning Opening. The term is now used to indicate a stroke hit with power at any Opening - usually the Dedans.

Forty
See Law 12. Originally this score was forty-five, but was subsequently called forty for the sake of brevity.

Four-handed Game
Doubles.

Gallery Lines
Chase lines on the floor that correspond to Galleries (see Law 6).

Gallery Net
The Net attached to a Gallery Post to separate a Gallery from the one next to it.

Game
See Law 12.

Giraffe Service
A high underhand Service delivered from near the Side Penthouse. After bouncing on the Service Penthouse the ball should Drop on the floor near to the Fault Line and to the Grille Wall).

Good Service
See Law 8.1.

Grille Penthouse
The penthouse on the Grille Wall.

Half a Yard
See Law 6.

Half-Bisque
See Law 23.4.

Half Court
Either half of the Court divided by a notional line drawn on the floor between the Back Walls and bisecting those walls on the floor.

Half Odds
See Law 23.2.

Hazard Chase
See Law 9.

High Back Wall
That part of each Back Wall above the penthouse.

Joues
The inner vertical walls of the Dedans, the Grille, the Winning Gallery and the Last Gallery. A ball in touching a Joue is not thereby deemed to have entered an Opening (see Law 2).

Jeu Quarre
A form of Court formerly common in France which has no penthouse on the Back Wall on the Service Side and which usually has two or more Lunes and an Ais. There is no Tambour.

Last Gallery
See Law 2.

Let
See Law 10.

Line
The cord that supports the Net.

Line, Chase the
See Law 9.1.

Love
The score of a player who has not yet won a stroke in the game or a game in the set in question.

Love Game
A game won by a player in which his opponent does not score a stroke.

Love Set
A set won by a player in which his opponent does not score a game.

Lune
A Winning Opening that was found in some old Courts. There was no standard size, shape or position for Lunes, but they were usually placed above the Dedans and Grille Penthouses.

Marker's Box
The area designated for the Marker to stand when marking from the Net Post.

Nick
The junction of any wall and the floor of the Court. A ball is also said to be a "nick" when the ball, as it Drops or Falls, touches a wall and the floor simultaneously.

No Strokes
The score at the beginning of a game before any points have been won or lost. In Handicap play the Marker may call no strokes even though the score is not love all.

Odds
Any form of Handicap is called Odds (see Law 23).

Penthouse
The sloping roof above the Dedans, Galleries and Grille, extending along three sides of the Court.

Pique Service
The Server stands near to the Main Wall and to the Second Gallery Line. He serves overhead on to the Service Penthouse and as near as possible to the Service Line on the penthouse. After striking the Service Wall the ball should Drop near to the Grille Wall and the Fault Line.

Play Line
The line painted on the walls to mark the upper limits of the area prepared for play (see Law 2 - Out of Court).

Post
See Law 2 - Net Post and Gallery Post.

Rabats
In some old Courts netting was mounted above each end penthouse to prevent balls from going out of court. A ball striking the Rabat was not out of court. Rarely used in modern Courts.

Railroad Service
An overhead Service usually delivered by the Server standing near the side wall between the Last Gallery and the Dedans wall. The ball follows a trajectory close to the edge of the penthouse and may bounce one or more times. On leaving the penthouse the ball should strike the Grille Wall with twist on it that brings it back towards the side wall. A less common form of Railroad Service has the opposite twist on the ball so that it bounces in the direction of the Tambour after Dropping.

Referee
See Laws 19 and 21.

Rough
The side of the racquet on which the trebling is rough or from which the knots protrude.

Second Gallery
See Law 2.

Set
A match is won by the player who first wins an agreed number of sets. Each set is a separate unit and no game won in one set has any effect on another set. The method of scoring by sets appears to have been adopted in the 16th Century. Prior to that, games only were scored. At first 2 games won the set. Later, 3, 4, 6 and 8 game sets were played.

Side Wall Service
Delivered from near the Side Penthouse. The ball usually touches the Service Wall before the Service Penthouse but need not do so. The twist on it should be such that it remains near to the Grille Wall after Dropping.

Smooth
The side of the Racquet on which the trebling is smooth and there are no knots.

Striker-Out
The Receiver.

Stroke
A point is sometimes called a stroke.

Thirty
See Law 12.

Touch No Walls
See Cramped Odds.

Touch No Side Walls
See Cramped Odds.

Twist Service
An underarm Service normally delivered from near the Side Penthouse with side spin. The ball does not usually touch the Service Wall. Variations in the twist imparted, the trajectory of the ball and the number of bounces on the penthouse produce a wide range of results

Tray
See Law 2.

Uneven Odds
When points given and/or received are not the same in each game and/or when one or more Bisques or half-Bisques are given.

Wing Net
A net put up in some Courts for the protection of the Marker in front of the Net or Gallery Post and attached to the underside of the Service Penthouse.

Worse
See Law 9.1.

Yard
See Law 6.