Tennis nets are an integral part of the game, as they divide the court into two halves. The net's primary function is to serve as an obstacle that the players must volley the ball over to get it into the opponent's side of the court. Nets come in two lengths: a shorter length for singles matches and a longer length for doubles matches.
Dimensions
For singles matches, the net is to be set 3 feet outside the width of the court, which makes it 33 feet wide. Doubles matches require a net that is 42 feet wide. Each net's posts are required to hang the net at a height of 3.5 feet; the net dips to 3 feet at the center of the court. Regulations also state that the cord at the top of the net should have a maximum diameter of a third of an inch. The maximum width of the white strap that's covering it should be 2 inches.
Tennis Court Size
Tennis courts are required to be 78 feet long for both doubles and singles. Singles courts are slightly smaller in width at 27 feet wide; doubles courts are 36 feet wide. Ideally, there will be a 12-foot-wide sideline on both sides of the court and a 21-foot-long backcourt at each end of the court. The net is placed directly in the center of the court: 39 feet from the ends. The service line measures half that distance. Courts are then divided into left and right service courts, with each being 13.5 feet wide for singles or 18 feet wide for doubles.
Clay and Hard Courts
There are three general types of tennis court surfaces: grass, clay and hard courts. Clay courts are courts surfaced with crushed bricks or red clay. They create a different surface texture and alter the feel and pacing of the match. The clay tends to slow down the ball because of surface friction and the clay that adheres to the ball itself. Clay courts need less water and maintenance than grass courts, but they also need to be groomed after every match in order to redistribute and even the clay out after play. Hard courts are usually made of a combination of acrylic plastic and rubber composite. This gives the tennis ball a much higher bounce than on clay courts, and it increases the speed of the ball. The acrylic also increases the grip on both the ball and the player's feet.
Grass Courts
Tennis began on grass courts, and there's a long history of play on them. Grass courts have been known to test a player's skill. The uneven texture of the grass causes tennis balls to travel at higher speeds than on clay, but they bounce extremely low (and often unpredictably). Grass courts are also notoriously difficult and expensive to maintain. The grass itself is usually a premium blend, and precise mixtures of water for fullness and drying for firmness must be maintained. Grass courts are most common in the United Kingdom, with Wimbledon perhaps being the most famous.
Member Comments