The Unwritten Rules of Tennis

Tennis has plenty of official rules but ask any experienced player, and they will tell you there is another set of rules that never appear in a rulebook. These unwritten rules help keep matches fair, enjoyable and respectful, whether you are playing in a tournament, a league match or a friendly Saturday morning doubles game. Here are a few of the unwritten rules that every player should know.

The Warm-Up Is Not Practice

The pre-match warm-up is meant to help both players find their rhythm, not to test out your biggest serve or rip winners from the baseline. Hit the ball directly to your opponent, rally cooperatively and remember that the goal is for both players to feel ready when the match begins.

Open New Balls in Front of Your Opponent

It may seem minor, but opening a fresh can of balls in front of your opponent assures everyone that the balls are new and ready for play.

Wait Until the Returner Is Ready

Before serving, make sure your opponent is prepared. Quick serving while someone is turning around or getting into position may win you a point, but it won't win you any friends.

Call the Score Before Every Point

Few things cause more confusion than losing track of the score. The server should clearly announce the score before every point to keep everyone on the same page.

Don't Celebrate Your Opponent's Mistakes

Avoid celebrating after your opponent dumps an easy volley into the net or double faults. Most players appreciate competitors who win points rather than celebrate errors.

If You're Not Sure, It's In

Any part of the line counts as in. If you are not 100% certain a ball landed out, you should give your opponent the benefit of the doubt.

Make Calls Immediately

If a ball is out, call it out right away. Waiting several seconds and then deciding it was out is frustrating for everyone and creates unnecessary disputes.

Never Call a Ball Out Before It Lands

This may be one of the biggest etiquette violations in tennis. No matter how far out you think the ball is going, it isn't out until it actually lands out.

Respect Your Opponent's Calls

In matches without officials, players are responsible for their own side of the court. You may not always agree with every call, but arguing rarely improves the situation.

Be a Good Ball Kid

When returning balls to the server, roll them gently or feed them directly to their racquet. Don't fire balls into the fence, hit them carelessly across the net or make your opponent chase them down.

Say Sorry for Net Cords

Nobody expects a heartfelt apology for a lucky net cord winner, but a quick raised hand or "sorry" acknowledges that luck played a role in the point. It's one of tennis's oldest traditions.

Let the Server Restart After Interruptions

When a point is interrupted by a ball rolling onto the court, a distraction or another significant interruption, give the server a moment to reset before beginning again.

Never Walk Behind an Active Court

Wait until the point is over before crossing behind another court. What seems like a harmless walk can be a major distraction during a point.

Keep the Noise Down

Friendly conversation is great. Excessive chatting between points about last week's shopping trip, vacation plans or anything unrelated to the match? Maybe save that for the clubhouse afterward.

Shake Hands at the End

Win or lose, meet your opponent at the net, look them in the eye and shake hands or tap racquets.

At the end of the day, nearly every rule on this list can be summed up in one simple principle: Don't be "that player." Instead, be honest. Be respectful. Be considerate.

Tennis is one of the few sports where players are trusted to officiate themselves, manage disputes and compete with integrity. People may forget the score. They may forget who won the third-set tiebreak. But they will always remember what it was like to share the court with you.