Question about playing Tennis

[Swanny]

Ok, I have a question about playing tennis games.

I've found that in a "real" match the players play six games, serving one whole game at a time, and using rally scoring (anytime the other player misses, you score).

My question is about if you're not really playing a set of games, just one or two. It was my impression that you then switch who's serving everytime the server misses. It was also my impression that you could only score on the serve.

Tonight, I was playing that way with some friends (who all agreed with me) when another friend showed up and said that the games should be rally scored. Is this the case? How does everyone else play it?



Thanks,
Swan

P.S. Please let me know if I'm not making any sense. It's a little late a night.

 

[Crazymofo]

I dont know the answer but I really wish I could find a place to play after midnight!!

 

[mugs]

I've never heard of playing it volleyball/badminton style like that, but why do you have to be constrained to the rules in this case? There's nothing wrong with playing it that way, it actually makes more sense to play that way when you're only playing a few games, because it takes away the serving advantage.

 

[KK]

I've always played where you swap after each game no matter how many games you intend on playing.

KK

 

[xchangx]

Usually if you play a few games, you just play the regular way. One server the whole game.

Use the regular scoring as well. The scoring system you were talking about is in volleyball, never seen it played in tennis.

 

[Crappopotamus]

Originally posted by: Swanny
My question is about if you're not really playing a set of games, just one or two. It was my impression that you then switch who's serving everytime the server misses. It was also my impression that you could only score on the serve.

usually you just play 'rally'/regular scored games. if you dont wanna play a lot, just play best of 3 or whatever. or ive seen people use a tiebreak set up if they just wanna play a short time. not common though. what youre talking about is... never used.

 

[esun]

Originally posted by: KK
I've always played where you swap after each game no matter how many games you intend on playing.

KK

Same, although I usually play a whole set at least (a typical game takes ~ 5 minutes or less, so unless it's a really close set it is usually very easy to get at least one set in).

And I've never heard of that other scoring method used in tennis, ever.

 

[SXMP]

From my own years of high school tennis -

High School Men's State matches consist of:

Best of 3 sets;
First to 6 games in a set (Win by 2 games - if it gets to be 6-6, you play a 11pt tie breaker);
4 points a game (15-30-40-game);

For short matches (like in a "round-robin" tourney), we'd play games called "Pro-8 Sets":

1 set,
Best of 8 games.
Same scoring. In 4-4 situation, you play tie-breaker game.

For Mens Pro, same as HS, except with 5 sets.

All games are rallying scoring, meaning either the server or reciever can score. Serve is transferred after every game. You switch sides of the court on every odd game score (ie. 1-0, 3-4, 5-7). Agreeing with everyone else, I've NEVER heard of scoring only if you serve.