Court Layout & Lines

Learning the names of court lines makes every coaching cue click.

Key lines

• Baseline — the back line. Points start behind it.
• Sidelines — inside lines are singles; outer lines are doubles.
• Service line — parallel to the baseline, halfway to the net. A serve must land in front of this.
• Centre service line — divides the two service boxes.
• T — where the centre service line meets the service line. Great serve target.
• Doubles alley — the strip between the singles and doubles sidelines.

Zones coaches talk about

• No-man's land — between service line and baseline. Bad place to camp; get in or get back.
• Kitchen / net position — inside the service boxes for volleys.
• Ad side / deuce side — left / right of the centre mark from the server's view.