Introduction to Tennis
Tennis is a popular sport enjoyed by millions of people around the world. It is a game of two players competing against each other, or two teams of two players, on a rectangular court divided by a net. The objective of the game is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court so that your opponent is unable to hit it back. The game is played using a racquet and a felt-covered hollow rubber ball.
History of Tennis
The history of tennis can be traced back to the 12th century in France. It was originally called “jeu de paume” meaning “game of the palm”. The game was played by striking the ball with your hand. It was popular among the French aristocracy and eventually spread to other parts of Europe. By the 16th century, the racquet had been introduced to the game and it was becoming more popular.
Scoring System
The modern day game of tennis is played using a scoring system known as “Love”, “15”, “30”, “40” and “game”. The objective of the game is to win four points in total to win the game.
Why Does Tennis Go By 15?
The reason why tennis goes by 15 is because the original scoring system in tennis was based on the French term “quarante-et-un”, which translates to “forty-one”. This term was used to refer to the highest possible score one could achieve in the game. When the scoring system was simplified to “Love”, “15”, “30” and “40”, the number 15 remained as a reminder of the original system.
Love
Love, or zero points, is the starting point in tennis. This is the score when neither of the players has won a point.
15
The score of 15 means that one of the players has won a point. The player with the score of 15 has won one point.
30
The score of 30 means that the player has won two points. The player with the score of 30 has won two points.
40
The score of 40 means that the player has won three points. The player with the score of 40 has won three points.
Game
The score of “game” means that the player has won four points and the game is over. The player with the score of “game” has won the match.
Advantages of Using 15 Point System
The 15-point scoring system has several advantages over other scoring systems used in other sports.
- Simplicity: The 15-point system is easy to understand and remember, making it easy to follow for players and spectators alike.
- Flexibility: The 15-point system allows for a variety of scoring options. This is particularly beneficial in doubles matches, where teams can choose to play either single or double sets.
- Variety: The 15-point system allows for different types of matches and scoring formats. This allows for a greater variety of matches and an increased level of competition.
Disadvantages of Using 15 Point System
Despite the advantages of the 15-point system, there are some disadvantages as well.
- Time Consuming: The 15-point system can be time consuming, as it requires more points to be played before a game can be won.
- Unfair Advantage: The 15-point system can give the player who scores first an unfair advantage, as they have more chances to score during the match.
- Inconsistent Scoring: The 15-point system can lead to inconsistent scoring, as the number of points won can vary greatly from game to game.
Conclusion
The 15-point system used in tennis is a simple and effective way of scoring a match. It allows for a variety of scoring options and is easy to follow for both players and spectators. However, it can be time consuming and can give an unfair advantage to the player who scores first. Despite these disadvantages, the 15-point system remains the most popular way of scoring a tennis match.