# Tennis Scores **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886 "2003-07-21T12:08:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![maleinblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@maleinblack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maleinblack)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/1 "2003-07-21T12:08:55Z")
It always baffled me as to why scores in tennis were kept 0-15-30-40-Game. Wouldnt 0-15-30-45-Game be more logical or for that matter 1-2-3-Game? I would be really greatful if fellow dopers help me understand this long time mystery(for me). Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/2 "2003-07-21T12:21:54Z")
Originally, it was 0-15-30-45-game. People started saying “40” for “45” because it was quicker. There is no reason why any of this has to be logical. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/3 "2003-07-21T12:37:19Z")
And to add to the confusion, it’s not “0” it’s “love.” ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/4 "2003-07-21T12:56:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joey P \* > \*\*And to add to the confusion, it’s not “0” it’s “love.” \*\* Just to add to this - the origin of this phrase is that it comes from the French “le ouef” meaning “egg”. Grim ---
**Author:** ![daniel801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@daniel801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daniel801)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/5 "2003-07-21T14:00:08Z")
It’s almost like the scoring is based on a clock’s second-hand. Nitpick: It’s l’oeuf. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/6 "2003-07-21T14:12:33Z")
[This site](http://www.lta.org.uk/projects/origscor.htm) claims that the origins of the scoring system of tennis have been forgotten, but it is generally believed that a clock face was used to keep track of the score during a game. The reason why it makes sense not to use 1-2-3-Game is because then you might get confused between the point score and the game score when you read it out (“Federer is ahead 30-15 and 3-2” is clearer than Federer is ahead 2-1 and 3-2"). ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/7 "2003-07-21T14:23:01Z")
[The Master speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_304a.html) Julie ---
**Author:** ![croakdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@croakdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/croakdale)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/8 "2003-07-21T15:16:42Z")
Here is another interesting site… [http://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/Tennis.htm](http://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/Tennis.htm) It reckons that the l’oeuf etymology is doubtful and suggests that the word may derive from the Dutch/Flemish “lof”, which means honour. ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/9 "2003-07-21T16:25:49Z")
If you want a real belly laugh, take a look at this page that shows what came before lawn tennis: [http://www.realtennis.gbrit.com/history.htm](http://www.realtennis.gbrit.com/history.htm) ---
**Author:** ![maleinblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@maleinblack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maleinblack)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scores/189886/10 "2003-07-21T18:17:16Z")
A big thanks for everyones efforts in making the concept more clearer. Special thanks to **everton** and **Julie** for the great links.