Types of
Court Surface
Tennis courts can be outdoors or indoors, and can have
a variety of surfaces, through these are being increasingly determined by economic
factors. Grass courts, for example, which originally formed the basis of the outdoor game,
are now too expensive to build and maintain and are being replaced by synthetic surfaces
which are cheaper and easier to maintain.
Each court surface, whatever the type, is made up of
several layers, including a drainage layer to counteract rain. The main types of court
surface are described below.
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Grass court
|
Grass courts are becoming
less and less common because of the time and money needed to maintain them. They are
dependent on good drainage.
Fast-playing surface. |
|
Clay court
|
A court with a surface
made of red clay, crushed shale, stone or brick. |
|
Hard court
|
A tennis court whose
surface is made out of asphalt, concrete or a similar material.
Cement court plays fast or slow depending on the texture of the top surface. When it is
left rough the game will be markedly slower. Asphalt court plays faster when sprayed with
green paint. |
|
Synthetic courts
|
A court with a surface
made of artificial grass, polyurethane, synthetic rubber or other synthetic materials.
Can be fast or slow. |
|
Tennis Court Areas
| Alley |
 |
The area of the court between the singles and doubles
sidelines, also known as the 'tramlines'. |
| Backcourt |
 |
Tactically, the area behind and up to the
baseline from which the baseliner plays. |
| Baseline |
 |
The line at each end of the court that runs parallel to
the net and marks the boundaries lengthwise of the playing area. |
Centre line
(centre service line) |
 |
The line between service courts. |
| Centre mark |
 |
A 10.16 cm (4 in) line that marks the centre of the
baseline. When serving, players must remain on the correct side of this mark. |
| First (service) court |
 |
The server must always begin from the right, or first,
service court. |
| Forecourt |
 |
The area of the court between the net and the service
lines. |
| Half court |
 |
The section of the court close to the service line. |
| Left court |
 |
The area to the left of the centre line from the net to
the baseline. |
"No man's
land " |
 |
Incorporates the back half of the court between
the service and baseline also known as a taboo zone. |
| Service court |
|
The space on each side of the net between the service line, service
sideline and centre line. |
| Service line |
 |
The service line runs parallel to the net. Together
with the center line and sideline, it demarcates the boundaries of the service courts. |
| Service sideline |
 |
The boundary line of the service court. |
| Sidelines |
The
boundary lines of the court lengthwise. |
doubles
sidelines
 |
singles
sidelines
 |
| The "T" |
 |
The central area where the centre line joins
the service line. |
Tennis Court
| |
doubles sideline |
|
b
a
s
e
l
i
n
e |
| singles sideline |
|
| "no man's land" |
service court |
service sideline |
|
| service court |
centre service line |
| alley or 'tramlines' |
|
|
b
a
c
k
c
o
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t |
| |
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Dimensions
of a Tennis Court
The singles court is 78 feet (23.77 m) long and 27 feet
(8.23 m) wide. The doubles court is 36 feet (10.97 m) wide (thus the doubles alley are
4-1/2 feet - 1.37 m - wide on each side).
The service lines on either side of the net are at a
distance of 21 feet (6.40 m) from the net. The center service line is halfway between the
singles (or doubles) sidelines.
The net is supported by two net posts (at least three
feet - 0.91 m - outside the doubles sideline - or 3 feet outside the singles sideline for
a singles-only court) to a height of 3-1/2 feet (1.07 m) and supported at the center
service line to a height of 3 feet (0.914 m) by a white strap. Additionally, for
singles matches, the net is supported by two "singles sticks" (posts) about 3
feet outside the singles sidelines to a height of 3-1/2 feet (1.07 m).
The ITF stipulates that for ITF competitions (the Grand
Slams and Davis and Fed Cups) the space behind the baseline should be at least 21 feet
(6.40 m) and the space outside of the furthest sideline should be at least 12 feet (3.66
m).
Rule 1 - The Court
Rule 34 - The Doubles Court
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