LOVE – 15 – 30 – 40 – What’s next? And why?

Oomph. I had hoped for more. ;-)

A vase? Oh. Her? Dang, hand me the racket and I'll serve some balls.

Let's make a deal: You take Crystal, and I'll take crystal. 
To each his/her own, eh? ;-)

The vase is yours. ;-)

Right... Doesn't make much sense. Lol.

Not at all.   I think the French had a little too much Chartreuse and absinth when they devised it.

Those used to be my favorite beverages for awhile.  You can see why I don't touch alcohol any longer.

That's some eccentric boozin'.

That's some 30 years ago.  But I lied. I don't remember ever having Absinthe' come to think of it.  I may have.  My grandparents were European and had all kinds of exotic bottles I may have sampled.  But Chartreuse?  It was the only thing strong enough after awhile.  (sad, I know)

What about Benedictine?

It's the French we have to thank for it? Oomph.

Them or the British.  Tennis is a British variation of a French game.

I think the scoring system is British. But I'm not sure.

I think the "love" part might be but court tennis has pretty much the same silly scheme just slightly more convoluted.

I was just lectured with a lovely story by MrWitch. :-)

It seems the reason for it lies in clock faces being used as a scoring system.  It's a good example of a less than perfect solution, but it was a solution nonetheless.  The tennis scoring system seems odd because we're used to more simplicity.  But it's only strange if you disregard the daily lives of people in the 15th century.  Most would be unfamiliar with the idea of 'visualisations' as we are, having very little to base them on.  But everyone (or at least everyone who mattered) was familiar with the image of a clock face.

So it is a logical, primitive score board.  Perfect.  Except that the rules demand a game be won by 2 clear points.  Which leaves the clock face score board 'short' by 5 minutes.  Practical as ever, the esoterically inclined French, unwilling to abandon such a cool idea as a score board, knocked 5 minutes off and were able to make things fit.   Hence, 15, 30, 40.  If this is true, I wouldn't be surprised if it is also at least partly to blame for the 'advantage' system, which I think is there so people don't become even more confused.

Thank you for an interesting historical explanation. I had to smile several times, not the least with the advantage remark in the end. :-)

More than welcome.  :)  I have a great deal of time for the French.  A truly wonderful people with a unique way of seeing the world.  They really don't care if it doesn't make sense, as long as it makes sense to them.

I got French friends. :-)

So why does Zero=Love? Is love French for zero? Very interesting. 

Indeed interesting how LOVE came into the game. French would be nul or zéro as I recall it. Hmm.