at all, which scores his opponent a point.  While a game in tennis consists of four points, the simple numbers from one to four are not used.  The points run 15,30, 40, game, when one side makes them all.  Or it may be “15-30,” “15 all,” and so on, the score of the server being mentioned first.  Where one side has nothing their score is called “love.”  When one side has scored four points the game is won—­with this exception:  When both sides are tied at 40, or “deuce,” as it is called, the winners must make two points more than their opponents to win.  In this way the game may be continued for a long time as the points are won first by one side and then by the other.  The score at deuce, or “40 all,” will be denoted as “vantage in” or “vantage out,” depending upon whether the server’s side or the other wins one of the two points necessary to win from “deuce.”  If first one side, then the other, obtains one of these points the score will be “vantage in” or “out,” as the case may be, and then “deuce” again, until finally when two points clear are made it is “game.”  A set of tennis consists in winning six games, but in this case also there is a peculiar condition.  Where each side wins five games it is necessary in order to win the set to obtain a lead of two games.  The score in games is then denoted just as in a single game, “deuce” and “vantage” games being played until a majority of two is won.

[Illustration:  Photographs of Tennis Strokes Taken in Actual Play]

[Illustration:  (a) the right and (b) the wrong way to hold a tennis racket]

To learn the game of tennis, first obtain a proper grip of the racket.  It should always be held firmly and as near the end as possible, the leather butt being inside the hand.  A loose grip will absolutely prevent a player from becoming expert, as the accuracy and quickness that are a part of tennis can never be obtained unless we have the racket under perfect control.  The various backhand, high and low strokes will only come from constant practice.  The most important stroke to master as well as the most difficult is a swift, accurate service.  A player who is otherwise a fair player can easily lose game after game by not having mastered his service stroke, and thus he beats himself without any effort on the part of his opponent.  The various “twist” services have almost passed out of use.  Even the best players employ a straight, swift overhand ball.  To fail to serve the ball over the net and in the proper place is called a “fault.”  The player has two chances and to fail in both is called “a double fault.”  A common mistake is to attempt a swift smash on the first ball, which may fail half the time, and then to make sure of the second ball by an easy stroke which a skilful opponent can return almost at will and thus either extend us to the utmost to return it or else make us fail altogether.  It is better to make sure of the first serve than to attempt a more difficult serve than our skill will permit.