|
Within Great Britain, and across the world, tennis is enjoyed by millions of people and is followed worldwide by spectators & players from all forms of nationalities. Here in the UK, tennis is one of the most popular sports embraced by the public and is played within schools, clubs and even in the comfort of some homes. This is why here at ETC Sports Surfaces Limited, we offer many types of tennis court surfaces and sizes to suit different needs & specifications for the construction of your tennis court. As a tennis court contractor based in Essex, we are constantly striving to help others decide on what type of surface to choose from in order to suit their needs.
Tennis Court Design With tennis originating from within the United Kingdom and dating as far back as the 19th century, the game itself has changed so much over the last few decades. Not only can you get different types of surfaces for your tennis court construction but even the sizes can be adjusted to help fit your tennis court in your home or tennis club should space be an issue. There are certain guidelines you have to follow should you wish your tennis club or school to host competitive matches on your courts. Here at ETC Sports Surfaces Limited we follow all guidelines strictly and can help you choose what type of sizes you need for your court. Should you wish to find more information on the exact dimensions of a tennis court then you can follow the guidelines provided on the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) or Sports & Play Construction Association (SAPCA) website.
The three most common types of sizes used for tennis courts all have different variations but as a rough guideline we have provided some sizes below:
Home Recreational Use
33.53m x 16.45m
LTA Recommended Minimum
34.75m x 17.07m
LTA Recommended Competitive
36.57m x 18.29m
Tennis Court Surfaces
When modern tennis was first originally played in the 19th century, it was called "lawn tennis" as it had connections with to other various field/lawn games. From lawn tennis, the game then progressed onto new surfaces as technology developed in the 20th & 21st century. Concrete & shale surfaces (which are no longer used) were fairly popular throughout the sports history but with advances in testing & rule changes, other more common surfaces are now played on throughout the world. Such tennis court surfaces include:
Competitive competitions around the world offer different types of surfaces for all participants. The four grand slam tournaments: The US Open, Australian Open, French Open & Wimbledon are among some of the most popular and largest tournaments tennis has to offer. The US & Australian Open both use all weather porous macadam tennis courts whilst the French Open uses a clay surface. Wimbledon, based here in the UK, is commonly known for it's unique and famous natural lawn grass courts.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) lists different surfaces and properties on its website and awards five pace settings from category 5 (fast) to category 1 (slow) depending on the type of surface. Here at ETC Sports Surfaces Limited we know how hard it is to decide what tennis court design or surface you need so we will always provide you with the best possible advice and technical information to help you decide.
All Weather Porous Macadam (Tarmac)
Our ETC Tennis Playmac surface is ideal for use in this country, where the weather is so often un-predictable. It's unique properties make it perfect for tennis court construction as the porous macadam can be played on during poor weather such as large amounts of rain. We call this an "All-Weather" surface. It is ideal for private, club and school use, as it needs very little maintenance throughout the year. It has a medium ball bounce and speed, and is the most practical of all tennis court surfaces.
We can also offer you another form of all weather porous macadam surface. ETC Multi Playmac is less porous than the tennis court macadam and slightly stronger. This macadam is designed for higher impact sports such as football, netball and basketball. The macadam provides a stronger more durable surface, but with this brings slightly less porosity. This surface is extremely popular in schools as the tennis courts or multi-use games areas (MUGAs) are constantly in use throughout the day. As we like to provide our clients with the best possible surface we use some of the best suppliers in the country such as Aggregate Industries, Tarmac, Cemex, Lafarge and many more.
After either surface has been laid, an acrylic colour coating can be applied, which greatly enhances the appearance of the court, prolongs the surface life and makes it less susceptible to softening in very warm weather.
Artificial Sand-Filled Carpet
Artificial Sand-Filled Carpets are becoming increasingly popular in tennis clubs & as home tennis courts. Also known as synthetic tennis courts, the surface is an alternative to the standard porous macadam surface. Although a little bit more expensive, it also allows a club to turn the courts into a multi-use games area for other sports and allows a home owner to allow their children/guests to do the same.
There are various different carpets to choose from in the industry and sometimes it can be extremely confusing and hard to decide. Most sand-filled carpets range from the traditional 15mm to the new 9mm short pile with a high tufts density which minimizes sand movement. Monofilament carpets are recommended for tennis clubs where high use is common. At ETC Sports Surfaces Limited we can offer you free advice and help you with your decision on what carpet to choose. We can provide artificial carpet from some of the best and biggest suppliers across Europe including Desso Sports, Lano Sports & TigerTurf.
Artificial Clay Carpet
Traditional clay surfaces are extremely expensive to maintain and keep in good condition. With the introduction of artificial surfaces for all sports, an artificial clay carpet is a new design concept within the sports construction industry and has many benefits that make it just as effective as any other surface. Many suppliers can offer some form of artificial clay surface but only few suppliers have mastered the exact characteristics to match the play and feel of a natural clay surface. ETC Sports Surfaces Limited have a list of preferred suppliers who provide the best artificial carpets found within the industry. This includes Desso Sports, Lano Sports & Playrite. This type of artificial surface requires very low maintenance (no watering) and can be played on immediately after rain throughout the whole year. Sliding playing characteristics, ball bounce and looks are comparable with a normal clay tennis court.
Artificial Needlepunch Carpet
Needlepunch synthetic surfaces offer a hardwearing, long lasting alternative to natural grass and other surfaces for sport. Needlepunch surfaces can be used both indoor and outdoor, and are suitable for use in all weather as well as a multitude of different sports depending on the final product specification. Although Needlepunch surfaces are low maintenance, they do require some upkeep to ensure the surfaces perform at their best. Without maintenance you can expect a Needlepunch product to last up to ten years and where a maintenance regime has been followed this will add an extra 3 – 4 years to the life of the surface. Playrite are the only supplier in the UK for a needlepunch carpet and offer extremely good rates with quality guaranteed.
Non-Porous Acrylic
This is the term used to describe a surface that is used throughout the tennis playing world which is impervious so is not suitable for outside use. Non-Porous Acrylic surfaces are most commonly found in sports halls and domes where the surface is made up of multiple applications of a coloured acrylic which is laid on a macadam or concrete base. The ball speed can be varied by the final textured surface and cushioning can be provided in different layers.
Porous Acrylic
This has the playing characteristics of the acrylic surface but is porous so ideal for outside use. A porous acrylic surface consists of a 6mm rubber mat laid over the macadam surface and then acrylic spray coating is applied and can be adjusted to various slip adjustments.
Cost of a Tennis Court
Depending on the specification, a tennis court can vary in price and every project is different depending on access, size, type of surface etc. We offer free advice and consultation. If you are un-decided on what you wish to go ahead with, we can provide you with free technical information, a free site visit and free quotation.
For free, friendly and professional advice please contact us.
|
   |
