Ever wondered what it takes to build a tennis court? It’s easy to watch the Wimbledon final and think that Centre Court has always been there. After all, it’s one of the most iconic British sporting venues. There is, however, a tried and tested method to building a court which requires a lot more than just a net. So, what do you need to get your very own ‘Centre Court’?
Playing surface
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is what playing surface you want. Aside from the classic grass pitches seen at Wimbledon and Queens, there are a good many other options seen around the world. You’ve got clay courts, hard courts and artificial grass but which is best for you?
Grass
Despite being the most classic surface for a traditional court, grasses’ popularity is quickly dwindling. In essence, this all comes down to how difficult grass is to maintain, after all, we’re not talking about your font lawn here! Grass pitches have to have a good foundation and be in perfect condition to make sure the ball bounces quickly over its surface.
Clay
Found most often in Europe, clay courts have two main construction forms. There’s red courts which are usually made from crushed brick and then there’s green courts which use crushed metabasalt. The defining nature of clay courts is how slow the ball bounces making it perfect for players that prefer to use spin in their shots.
Hard courts
Probably the best all-round surface, hard courts are made from a solid underlayer such as concrete or tarmac and then covered with a thin acrylic layer. You’ll find hard courts at both the Australian Open and the US Open.
Artificial grass
This surface is very similar to grass and not just in looks! Artificial grass has many of the same properties as its natural cousin. The ball moves quickly and usually stays low to the net.
Equipment
Now you’re clued up on all the different court surfaces you’re probably wondering what you need to complete your court. Here’s a little list to get you started.
Tennis net
First things first you’re going to need a net. Net’s come in many different variations of thickness. The thickness refers to the width of the string squares that make up your net and essentially it all comes down to your preference.
Tennis post
After you’ve chosen the net you’ll need something to hold it up! Modern tennis posts now come in all different shapes and sizes. Some even feature easy fold mechanisms.
Umpire chairs
To get your court really looking professional you need a bit of class and what better way to do that than with an umpire’s chair? In reality though, if you want to get serious about tennis you’ll need an umpire and a tall chair helps them see every aspect of play.
Tennis is often seen as the fourth most popular sport in the world and there are thousands of courts around the world. Fancy a court all to yourself or want to start a club of your own? Get in touch today!