# Why is tennis scoring so weird? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [December 23, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tennis-scoring-so-weird/220572 "2003-12-23T01:56:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![parker01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@parker01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parker01)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tennis-scoring-so-weird/220572/1 "2003-12-23T01:56:59Z")
Funny, I thought the early players used a large clock to show the scores. Hence 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. Later they tired of saying fourty-five so they cut it back to fourty. Hence 15, 30, 40 game. * * * Link to column: [Why is tennis scoring so weird?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_304a.html) – CKDH ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tennis-scoring-so-weird/220572/2 "2003-12-23T12:51:01Z")
Clocks in that era had no minute hands, so that theory’s out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tennis-scoring-so-weird/220572/3 "2003-12-24T00:51:24Z")
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board, **parker** , glad to have you with us. When you start a thread, it’s helpful to others if you provide a link to the column that you are discussing. Helps keep everyone on the same page. No biggie, I’ve edited it in for you, and you’ll know for next time.