Beginner tennis terms book: Mudri X Professor Kim Tennis Master Class
In short
Mudri X Professor Kim Tennis Master Class (머드리 X 김교수 테니스 마스터 클래스) is a Korean tennis primer by coach Lee Hyung-taik and language-education expert Professor Kim Tae-woong, explaining 98 core tennis terms, along with their origins and background, across 6 chapters. The blogger had only taken a few lessons as a child, but after reading Tennis Master Class the terms stuck naturally and the blogger now watches matches differently. Tennis Master Class suits anyone just starting tennis or picking up a racket again.
Good to know
- Subtitle
- The complete tennis lesson in one book (한 권으로 끝내는 테니스 레슨)
- Authors
- Coach Lee Hyung-taik and language-education expert Professor Kim Tae-woong
- Structure
- 6 chapters: Racket, Court, Technique, Equipment, Tournaments, Strategy
- Terms covered
- 98 core tennis terms
- Special sections
- Mudri's Point, Master Feedback, Mudri's Legend Episodes
- Who it's for
- Complete beginners through intermediate and advanced club players
Prices as written by the tester on Jun 8, 2026 · not updated automatically
I took tennis lessons when I was little, but honestly, I didn't really know anything properly, lol. Back when Chung Hyeon was just rising, tennis caught my eye for a moment, and I ended up as someone who didn't know the terms and just watched from a distance. Then this book caught my eye: Mudri X Professor Kim Tennis Master Class.
What kind of book is Tennis Master Class?
Mudri X Professor Kim Tennis Master Class is a tennis beginner's book with the subtitle "Tennis lessons in one book." It was written by Coach Lee Hyung-taik together with language-education expert Professor Kim Tae-woong, and it walks you step by step through 98 core tennis terms across 6 chapters: Racket / Court / Technique / Equipment / Tournaments / Strategy.
The big plus is that anyone can read it, from total beginners to intermediate and advanced club players, no matter how long you've played!
How does the book explain tennis terms?
Tennis Master Class explains tennis terms in a friendly way, with word origins and background knowledge. One reason tennis feels hard is the terminology, right? The sport started at Wimbledon in 1877, so all the terms were established in English, and apparently many club players use them vaguely without knowing the exact meaning.
Like knowing "support" but not "no man's land," or knowing "deuce" but not what a "lucky loser" is. But this book explains those terms with their origins and background, so as you read you naturally go, "Oh, so that's what it means!"
The fun part is that each chapter also includes global tennis conversation phrases! You pick up English expressions while studying tennis terms, haha. It's English study and tennis study in one, two birds with one stone, hehe.
What was it like to actually read each chapter?
Chapters 1–2: Racket and court basics
Chapters 1–2 of Tennis Master Class cover racket and court basics, like how to choose a racket head size and how string tension affects your shots. They hold detailed knowledge you don't get in a short lesson. For someone like me who only took a few lessons as a kid, it felt like filling in gaps: "Oh, so that was a thing."
Chapter 3: Key techniques
Chapter 3 neatly sums up tennis's signature techniques such as the forehand, flat serve, volley and approach shot. Moments I used to watch and think "what was that?" slowly started to make sense, haha.
Chapter 4: Training equipment
Chapter 4 introduces gear like tennis shoes, wristbands and grip enhancers, along with basic training methods for improving your game.
Chapter 5: Tournament formats and the Grand Slams
Chapter 5 introduces tournament rules and the four Grand Slam events, so you feel like you know more when watching matches.
Chapter 6: Strategy for becoming a pro 🔥
Chapter 6 was personally the most useful chapter in Tennis Master Class! It gives concrete mental-management tips and match strategy, and this chapter really made me feel that tennis is a mental game too. Every sport is a battle of the mind.
Why are Coach Lee Hyung-taik's legend episodes so fun?
The real charm of Tennis Master Class is the "Mudri's Point," "Master Feedback" and "Mudri's Legend Episode" sections attached to each topic. They include Coach Lee Hyung-taik's vivid personal stories, and they are really fun!!!
The thrilling scenes where he beats a formidable opponent while the crowd has no idea who Lee Hyung-taik is gave me goosebumps even just reading them. Since they're written by a Korean tennis legend himself, it feels less like a tennis textbook and more like reading a sports drama.
Who is Tennis Master Class recommended for?
- Beginners who are just starting tennis
- Club players still confused by the terms
- Fans who want to enjoy watching matches more
- Anyone with a vague interest in tennis
A must-read for tennis fanatics: what changed after reading
What I felt while reading Tennis Master Class is that as the tennis terms started to stick naturally, the way I watch matches itself changed. It's colorful and full of photos, so there's no time to get bored! I'm glad I read it myself.
I didn't know tennis was such a deep and fun world before reading this book. I sincerely recommend it to anyone interested in tennis, and to people like me who think "I should pick up a racket again someday"! They say Korea is in an era of 900,000 tennis players, and I think this one book could put you shoulder to shoulder with them.
