Tennis Courts
The Ultimate Tennis Court Guide
The Ultimate Tennis Court Guide – Sharing my 30 years of tennis experience playing and coaching on all surfaces!
Steve Davies 11/05/2021
Tennis Courts Blog
Our Tennis Courts Blog has everything you need to know about all of the different tennis court surfaces, and even how to construct them!
Tennis Courts Blog
There are different types of tennis courts available to players, and each one has its own unique set of playing conditions. This article will go over the different types of courts helping you navigate the challenge of playing on different tennis court surfaces!
Tennis Courts in London
There are many Tennis Courts and local clubs situated in London. One of the most popular public places to play is at Hyde Park. The courts there are in great condition and it is always great to walk past seeing them all in use throughout the day. Another great public spot is Regent’s Park, where you’ll find 12 tennis courts available to book online. If you’re looking for a quieter setting, there are plenty of other courts scattered throughout the city at local parks and clubs.
In London alone, there are over 550 Tennis Clubs / Venues according to the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) and over 3000 courts available to play on. Here are some of London’s most prestigious Tennis Clubs:
- All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon.
- The Hurlingham Club, Fulham.
- Queens Club, West Kensington.
- Roehampton Club, Wandsworth.
- Holland Park Lawn Tennis Club, North Kensington.
- Campden Hill Lawn Tennis Club, North Kensington.
- The Gardens Tennis Club, Wimbledon.
There are also many local clubs situated around the suburbs and urban areas of London. Local tennis clubs provide much more than just access to tennis courts. They offer a sense of community and camaraderie that is often hard to find in such a busy city. Club members can come together to socialize, compete internally and against other clubs in leagues, learn from coaching sessions, and support each other through the good times and bad. I myself come from Southeast London where I am privileged to have many local clubs around me including some amazingly kept grass courts from the likes of The Parklangley Club (Where British super star Emma Raducanu began her tennis journey) and the old home of the Queen’s Club Championships – Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club.
London is also home to The Wimbledon Championships, the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and many (including myself) argue that it is the best. The lush green lawns and picturesque setting are certainly a sight to see, but it’s the quality of the competition that really sets Wimbledon apart. The top players in the world all compete at Wimbledon, and the tournament has a history of producing some of the most famous tennis matches in history. Wimbledon is also unique in that the courts are grass – a surface that most players find difficult to play on due to the fast paced and low bouncing balls. As a result, even the best players can be beaten by an underdog who is playing well on grass.
Tennis Courts Dimensions
- Overall Length: 78 feet
- Overall Width: 27 feet (Singles), 36 feet (Doubles)
- Overall Surface Area: 2,106 square feet (Singles), 2,808 square feet (Doubles)
- Length of Service Box: 21 feet
- Width of Service Box: 13.5 feet
- Area of Each Service Box: 283.5 square feet
- Backcourt (No Man’s Land): 18 feet x 27 feet
- Doubles Alley: 39 feet x 4.5 feet
- Net: 3 feet / 3.5 feet high at the net posts
- Centre Line: 4″ long
All Tennis Courts need to have a little bit of extra space outside of the courts dimensions for players to be able to retrieve balls landing outside the lines marked on court. The extra space is also needed for players to not run into the fence or the crowd. At tournament levels of play, there are specific guidelines for how much extra space is needed to ensure the safety of the umpire, line judges and ball boys and if you don’t watch much tennis, you would be surprised to see how much of the outside area of the court professional players use and the amount of ground they cover in a match.
Tennis Courts Clay
The two main types of clay are red clay and artificial clay. Red clay is made of crushed brick or shale, while artificial clay is a synthetic surface made of crushed limestone and other materials.
Red clay is considered the traditional clay surface for tennis, and it offers a number of benefits over artificial clay. For one, it has more traction than artificial clay, which makes it less likely for players to slip and fall. Red clay also creates a more challenging surface for players to hit the ball on and move around the court, making the game more difficult and exciting to watch.
Artificial clay (much more common in the United Kingdom and colder parts of the world) was created in an attempt to recreate the playability of red clay while overcoming its disadvantages, such as poor drainage and the need for frequent maintenance. It is also said to be an easier surface to play on for injury prone players as there is less stress on players backs and knees. Check out our Ultimate Tennis Court Guide for further insightful information on clay courts.
Tennis Courts Types
With so many types of Tennis Courts, there are a few reasons why some countries choose to use different surfaces. The surface of the court can play a big role in how the ball moves and bounces, so some surfaces may be better for certain countries and their climates. For example, clay is often used in Europe because it’s a slower surface that can be more difficult to hit winners on, making the game more strategic. Hard courts are more common in North America and Asia because they offer a quicker surface that makes for more powerful shots.
Here is a list of the main types of Tennis Courts around the world and where they are featured:
- Real Grass Courts (Wimbledon)
- Red Clay (French open)
- Hard Courts (US and Australian Open)
- Artificial / Synthetic Grass / Astroturf (normally found at local clubs or pitches where multiple sports can be played on the surface such as hockey and tennis)
- Artificial Clay (local clubs – especially popular in the UK due to weather conditions)
- Indoor Carpet (Indoor Health and Racquet Clubs)
To find out about the ins and outs of each type of court check out our blog called the Ultimate Tennis Court Guide.
Tennis Court Construction
When most people think about tennis, they imagine a lush green court with white lines running across it. But few people know how a tennis court is actually built.
The first step in building a tennis court is to mark out the boundaries. This is done by using spray paint or flags to create a boundary line. Once the boundary line is marked, the next step is to mark out the centre of the court by using a marker or rope to create a circle. Once the boundaries and centre of the court are marked, it’s time to start laying down the foundation. The foundation can be made from crushed stone, asphalt, or concrete. The type of foundation will depend on the climate and soil conditions in your area and then the layers of the type of tennis court being built start to be placed down before the finishing touches of the lines and the net.
Tennis courts can be built in a variety of different ways, so it’s important to choose the right company for the job. When choosing a company to build your tennis court, be sure to ask about their experience. How long have they been in business? How many courts have they built? What type of courts do they build? You’ll also want to ask about their warranty and what type of materials they use. Be sure to get references from past clients, as well. Once you’ve chosen a company, they will help you design your court and go over the final details you will need to know.
View our latest Tennis Courts Blog Posts
