Tennis players must have the ability to make the tennis ball fly a low, arching path over a net. After clearing the net the ball must bounce inside set lines. The ball begins its flight after colliding with a tennis racket. This basic description applies for all shots from a serve to a forehand or a drop shot. This applies to all players from total beginners to professional Grand Slam champions.

To understand the flight of a tennis ball it is important to understand the dimensions and properties of the tennis ball. Since a ball is struck, and later bounces on a surface, it is important to know the same thing about a tennis court and tennis racket.