-------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUPER TENNIS© FAQ v 1.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by Arun Kishan E-mail: kshriniu@margarita.engr.ucdavis.edu NOTE: -------- This FAQ is in no way copyrighted, so feel free to distribute it amongst your friends. I do ask, however, that you do not edit this file in any way prior to distributing it. TABLE OF CONTENTS: ------------------------------- A. Introduction B. How To Play C. Techniques D. Tips and Tactics E. Conclusion INTRODUCTION: ----------------------- Hello all, and welcome to my Super Tennis® FAQ. This FAQ serves as both a manual and a FAQ, in that it covers everything necessary to play the game and it provides some extra pointers. Sometimes these pointers, tips, and secrets are regarded as spoilers by many, so I have collectively grouped these tips and tactics into a group (cleverly named "Tips and Tactics"). Reading this section is entirely up to you. With that said, I shall begin the FAQ without further ado! B. HOW TO PLAY: ------------------------ The references found below are indeed references to the standard Super Nintendo Entertainment System® controller. By this I mean that "A" refers to button "A" on the controller, "B" to button "B" on the controller, and so on. The Control Pad serves to move the player around and change ball direction. The A button has a variety of uses. It can be used to toss the ball during service, hit a slow serve during service, slice the ball, or hit a light volley at the net. The B button is very similar to the A button. The only difference is that the B button will hit a fast serve during service, hit a strong volley, and play a solid ground stroke. The Y button hits a lob. The X button hits a top spin shot. The L button offers a left spin on the ball. The R button offers a right spin on the ball. The Start button displays a set up screen which allows you to set such features as ball color, activate music, turn the indicator on/off, etc. The screen is displayed only if the button was pressed prior to service. The Select button displays a data screen which displays various game statistics such as the number of service aces, % of first serves in, number of double faults (D.F.), etc. The screen is displayed only if the button was pressed prior to service. Now that you've mastered the controls, you are ready to play! The Singles mode offers either 1P vs. COM (you against the computer) or 1P vs. 2P (you against, for instance, your friend). The Doubles mode offers 1P+2P vs. COM (you and your friend against the computer), 1P vs. COM (you and a computer buddy against a computer controlled duo), or 1P vs. 2P (you and a computer buddy against your friend and his/her computer buddy). The Circuit mode lets you take on the worlds best players in several grueling tournaments. There are two different circuits: the men's and the women's circuit. The latter is generally easier. In either the Single or Doubles mode, you'll be allowed to choose which type of surface you wish to play on: Hard, Lawn, or Clay. "Hard" is the standard court and is perhaps the easiest to play on. On lawn courts, the ball doesn't bounce nearly as well as on the other two types. On clay courts, the ball loses a tremendous amount of speed after it bounces. Now, playing Super Tennis® is quite easy if you have some idea of how tennis works. If you don't, here is a quick overview: One player starts with the ball. He/she serves the ball diagonally across the court into the appropriate box on his/her opponent's side. Then the server switches sides and serves again. This continues until one party wins the game, and the serve is turned over to the opponent. If the game was an "odd" game (i.e. it was the first, third, fifth, etc. game played), the players will switch sides. In the diagram below, "S" represents the server, O the opponent, and P the partner (in doubles only). "X" marks where the serve should land. --------------------------------------------------- |-----------------------|--------------------------| | | P | | | S | | | | | | |------------ |--------------- | | | O |XXXXX | P | | | |XXXXX | | | |------------------------|-------------------------| --------------------------------------------------- Doubles is almost exactly like singles except the long alleys along the sides are considered "out" in singles and "in" in doubles. A point in tennis is won when one of the following occur: - You/your opponent serves incorrectly twice. - You/your opponent hits the ball out of bounds. - You/your opponent hits the ball into the net. - You/your opponent don't hit the ball before it bounces twice. Normally you are allowed two chances for a serve. However, if one of your serves bounces off the top of the net and lands in legal territory, it is called a let, and does not count as a fault. The second time you do it, however, it does. Zero points in tennis is known as "Love". If you win a point, your score goes to 15, then 30, then 40, and if you win one more point, you win the game. However, if you reach 40 points and your opponent also gets 40 points, this situation is referred to as a "deuce". To win, you must score two consecutive points. If you win a point, and then your opponent wins a point, however, the score is reset to deuce. A set is won when one party wins a total of at least 6 games. They must have won at least two more games than the other party. This means that the final score of a set can be 6-0, 6-4, but not 6-5. The winning score must be 7-5. If the game is tied at 6-6, a tie breaker game is played and the winning score will be 7-6. A match consists of either 1, 3, or 5 sets. C. TECHNIQUES ----------------------- A ground stroke is either a forehand or a backhand that is usually hit from near the baseline of the court. A volley is a powerful "punch" that is hit in the general vicinity of the net. A top-spin shot adds spin to the ball, and a slice glides through the air and bounces low. A lob is very high hit used to counter aggressive net play on your opponent's behalf. If executed properly, the ball will land behind and beyond the reach of your opponent. Occasionally, your player may hit a powerful smash if the ball is situated directly above his/her head. The trick to mastering Super Tennis® is to learn where control pad motions hit the ball on the tennis court. You can virtually aim the ball with the control pad prior to contact with the ball once you get accustomed to the game. Furthermore, the rate at which you press the button affects where the ball will go on the court. To win every match, it is important to quickly master these combinations. You should practice these techniques against a wall (i.e. a non-existent second player) before playing any real (or should I say "virtual"?) matches or tournaments. Of all techniques a player has, perhaps the serve is the most important. After all, it is the serve that begins the game and it will do you no good to keep hitting double faults. Practice your serve and learn how to use the combined action of the control pad and the L&R buttons to create devastating serves. Once a play has begun, try to close in on the net and volley your opponent's hits. However, be sure to ready to react if your opponent decides to hit a lob! D. TIPS AND TACTICS ------------------------------ Here are a few tips and strategies to help you win at Super Tennis®: - Try to hit a curve shot down the line (use L if you are on the right half of the court, R if on the left half) during your service. This will usually cause the computer to dive to hit your ball, and it will be a high flying ball which (in singles) would land in the alley and be counted as out. To be really fancy, run quickly over to the net diagonally across from where you served. Now, intercept the ball before it lands in the alley and slam it diagonally across the court just as your opponent gets up off the ground. This really impresses spectators. I've found that this little strategy works best when you are on the top half of the court. - Try to hit a curved serve using the same control pad motions and spin buttons (i.e. use left and L or right and R) to hit a corner shot. Sometimes this will easily ace your opponent. - Return your opponents hits with a top-spin while holding down on the control pad. This will cause the ball to bounce earlier than your opponent will expect, and you will usually win the point. This works best if both of you are at the base line. - Try hitting the ball (on a serve) when it is high in the air. When you combine this little tip with the above mentioned tactics, you can create an extremely hard to return serve. - Try winning all the major tournaments. If you do so, you will be awarded with a special surprise. Remember, if you need to stop playing, take your password at the earliest chance you get. I know that they are unnecessarily long in Super Tennis®, but after you've beaten 3 tournaments or so, you'll be glad that they're there. E. CONCLUSION ----------------------- Well, that's about it. If you enjoyed this FAQ, found something useful in it, found something wrong with it, or have any suggestions in general, please send me an e-mail at the above mentioned address and I'll be glad to respond. Super Nintendo Entertainment System® is a registered trademark of Nintendo of America, Inc. Supper Tennis® is copyright 1991 Tokin House and Nintendo.