All You Need to Know to Construct a Tennis Court

There is a lot more that goes into tennis court construction than you would initially think. Tennis court construction takes meticulous planning and preparation to ensure that every requirement is met to make the project a success. Here is a list of everything that will need to be considered to ensure that a tennis court construction goes to plan and that every base is covered.

Set the Site for the Court

The area must be cleared out for the construction of the tennis court. Ensure that the ground is level to avoid any uneven ball bounces or injury to the players from a trip. One issue that may cause problems with the work on the building of a tennis court is drainage. When constructing the tennis court, having a way to prevent standing water on the courts is an absolute must. Once the site has been set, all materials required for building the court should lay completely flat without any disturbance.

Court Orientation

The court’s orientation is of the utmost importance; the way that the sun hits the court will make an enormous difference. When deciding which way, the tennis court will be laid, one must ensure that the sun will not be in the players’ eyes. It is also essential to ensure that there is no interference from any other elements, such as trees shedding their leaves, birds’ droppings, and that the tree roots won’t damage the soil underneath the court, causing unevenness. Lastly, when considering the tennis court’s orientation, the direction of the wind, and if there is a barrier to protect from the wind. Heavy winds can affect the game’s enjoyment if it blows the ball around while people are playing.

Surface type

One of the hardest decisions that need to be made is the type of material that will be used for the courts’ surface. In order to make this decision, one needs to understand the differences between the surface types. Let us take a close look at each option:

Grass court: Grass courts, also referred to as lawn tennis courts, are known for being slippery, which causes the ball to skid, making for a faster game. Grass courts need to remain dry, so using this surface in an area where rain is common is not recommended. Wimbledon is the most famous of all the tournaments played on grass courts.

Clay Court: A clay tennis court is considered to be more on the slow side than most and will cause a higher bounce. The clay courts are popular because they cost less than others to construct; however, it is essential to know that maintenance is more expensive as the surface needs to be rolled to ensure flatness. The French Open is played on this type of court.

Asphalt Court: An asphalt tennis court is considered a hard court, meaning that it is constructed of two asphalt layers on top of a crushed limestone base. Hard courts are more likely to create a faster game with lower bounces on the ball. This type of court is home to the Australian Open.

Carpet Court: Carpet courts are made from polymeric or textile rolls. This type of surface is the second-fastest type of tennis court, behind grass. This type of cover is no longer allowed in the ATP or WTA tennis tours. In fact, the last tournament played on this type of surface was the Tournai de Quebec in 2018.

Size of Court

The size of the tennis court you are constructing needs to be determined before construction can begin. A tennis court’s length is 26 yards (23.8 m) long by 12 yards (11 m) wide when set up for doubles. When you are constructing a singles court, the measurements are 26 yards long by 9 yards wide.

Depending on the number of courts being placed in one area, the backspace required behind the court is 7 yards, and the side space needed is 4 yards. It is recommended that there is at least a seven-and-a-half-yard gap between courts whenever possible.

Position of the net

The tennis court’s net is placed in the exact center to ensure that both sides of the court are the same size. The net is set at a 3 ft 6-inch height at the net post and 3 feet at the court’s centre. The net posts are positioned 14 yards apart for a doubles court and 11 yards apart for a singles court.

Fencing

When constructing a tennis court, you need to ensure that there is fencing surrounding the perimeter to ensure balls are not lost. There are several different types of tennis fences to select from including, chain-link fencing, vinyl mesh, and advanced PVC material are all materials used in the construction of tennis court materials. The height of the fence around a tennis court is 10 feet.

What Else Should You Know?

This list covers almost all the areas that are required when considering the construction of a tennis court. It is also important to consider what the codes for construction are to the extent that the court is going to be made in. Regulations vary from region to region, and special requirements may have to be put in place to fall within them. All of the conditions listed above would be if you were to construct an outdoor tennis court.

There is always the option to construct an indoor tennis court if that is more suitable. An indoor tennis court’s benefits are that you don’t have to worry about the weather or nature having an effect on the court or preventing the venue’s use. The indoor court will require air control units, and maintenance of the playing surface is somewhat expensive. Another option would be to cover an outdoor tennis court, and this would keep it protected from the elements while still allowing the players the experience that many crave from a game of tennis. The parameters for tennis court construction will vary depending on if it is for commercial or residential use.