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                                | Glossary of Tennis 
                        Terms |  
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                          Tennis 
                          - Glossary of Terms follows below: |  
                          
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                          EF
 
 
                          
                          Eastern Grip   This grip is the 
                          classic grip used most often by beginning students; it 
                          is considered the easiest grip to use when learning 
                          the forehand shot.  Although it is underused by 
                          pro tennis players, in favor of the Semi-Western grip, 
                          it is still used by some.  It places your palm on 
                          the side plane of your handle, parallel to the plane 
                          of your strings.  With your wrist straight and 
                          relaxed, the Eastern grip results in a vertical 
                          racquet face when your racquet is even with your front 
                          hip.  For a classic swing style, this is the most 
                          natural and physically most secure relationship 
                          between body, racquet, and point of contact. The 
                          Eastern is also the most versatile forehand grip, 
                          because you can easily tilt upward for slice or keep 
                          the racquet face vertical to hit topspin. Many players 
                          find that they can hit heavier topspin and better 
                          handle the high kick of the opponent's topspin with 
                          the more western grips, though, which accounts for the 
                          reduced popularity of the Eastern at the pro level.  
                          It is so-named because it was originally developed in 
                          the Eastern United States.
 Error 
                          A shot that fails to cross the net or 
                          lands out of the court, resulting in loss of the 
                          point. See forced error; unforced error.
 
 
                          
                          Fast courts – court surfaces, such as wood and 
                          grass, that allow the ball to bounce faster and lower 
                          than others.
 
                          
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 Flat serve – hit with little or no spin, 
                          usually it is hit with great speed and power.
 
 Follow-through – the finishing motion of the 
                          swing after the ball has been hit.
 
 Face The flat area of the racket formed by the 
                          strings and bounded by the frame.
 Fault 
                          An invalid service attempt. It is a fault 
                          if the serve fails to land in the receiver's service 
                          court; if the server swings and misses the ball 
                          entirely; or if the serve is made from beyond the 
                          baseline or from the wrong side of the center mark. 
                          See also double fault; foot fault; serve.
 Fifteen The first point of a game for either 
                          player or side. See point; scoring system.
 First flight The flight of the ball after it 
                          leaves the racket and before it bounces.
 Flat Descriptive of a low, fast, straight shot 
                          without spin.
 Follow through The motion of the arm and racket 
                          after the ball has been struck.
 Foot fault  
                          Usually a fault caused by the 
                          server's foot entering the court before the racket 
                          contacts the ball. It is also a foot fault if any part 
                          of the server's foot is on the wrong side of the 
                          center mark, or the server is walking or running while 
                          delivering the serve. See also serve.
 
                          
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                          Foot fault judge An official responsible for 
                          calling foot faults. The foot fault judge is 
                          positioned on a line with the baseline, on the 
                          opposite side of the court from the baseline judge.
 Forced error An error resulting from a good 
                          shot by the opponent. See error; unforced error.
 Forcing shot A shot that puts the opponent on 
                          the defensive; often an approach shot.
 Forecourt  The area between the net and the 
                          service line.
 Forehand A shot hit from the racket side of the 
                          player's body; the right side for a right-hander.
 Forty The third point of a game for either 
                          player or side. If both reach forty, it is called 
                          deuce.
 Frame The oval portion of the racket that 
                          contains the strings; an unstrung racket.
 
 
                           
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