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How to Build the Perfect Domestic Tennis Court in 2020

Building a tennis court is easier than you might imagine at first, but it is still a huge challenge in terms of logistics. You need a yard of the right size, proper sports equipment, and extra feature like floodlights.

The investment has a million other trivialities, but in the end, you will get a private replica of Wimbledon’s Centre Court to enjoy with your friends. In fact, tennis is a sport whose popularity is on the rise in 2020 (Have you watched the newly-established ATP Cup in January?), so building a domestic tennis court will prove to be a hit.

Selecting the right location

Depending on the size of your property, the most basic requirement for a domestic tennis court is for the land to be perfectly flat. If there is a slight incline of up to 3%, it can be amended, but anything more than that makes it unsuitable for a court because of safety issues. Tennis is a sport that involves a lot of running, so a hillock is the least safe location for a domestic tennis court.  

If you own a large piece of land, then try to build the tennis court away from neighboring houses and roads because there will be balls flying all over the place, despite the safety nets. Furthermore, you should choose a spot on the east side of the property and preferably with the vegetation as far as possible. Such a location will ensure you use the most of daylight to play tennis.

Dealing with local legislation and neighbors

Regardless of the fact that the court will be situated on private property and that it’s a sporting venue closed for the public, you may need to get certain permits. Local governing bodies like a council most often issue them.

In addition, you should check the tennis court idea with your neighbors if you live in an urban or suburban community. Most people will be OK with it, but there are always grumpy folks that can report you to the council or, even worse, the police. That’s why you should get all the permits before the first shovel goes in the ground.

Fencing off the court

Fencing Court
Image by HeungSoon from Pixabay

The first thing the neighbors are going to ask is whether you will be erecting a fence. A surrounding barrier is mandatory for all domestic court because you don’t want your tennis balls flying through your neighbors’’ windrows or hitting passersby in the head.

After you check if permits (here we go again) are necessary for certain types of fences, choose the fence you’ll encircle the court. Unlike the white picket fence around your house, the barrier around the tennis court will have to be at least 3 meters higher. Click here to learn more about the different types of fences made from different materials that you can choose from.

Ideally, the fence should enclose the court on all four sides, but the fence behind both baselines should be the highest. Because the fence will take up a lot of vertical square meter, we recommend that you use a wire mesh fence.

Playing at night

Court at Night
Image by Kathy Bugajsky from Pixabay

Building a domestic tennis court without the ability to play at night is a waste of time, money, and effort. If you can fund a tennis court in your backyard, you can surely pay for LED tennis court lights to be installed. Typically, these powerful floodlights are installed on four columns that sit in the four corners of the rectangular court.

In terms of the quality of light and maintenance costs, LED floodlights are way better than old incandescent floodlights. They can be instantly turned on and off, alongside the existence of a phone app that allows you to control lighting levels and receive reports on power usage remotely.

In addition, don’t forget about investing in the best portable tennis net. A portable tennis net allows you to play tennis on the go. Setting up for a nighttime tennis game without any tools is relatively easy. You can set it up everywhere, like in your backyard, parking area, driveway, or lawn. Moreover, a portable net is easy to pack, perfect for playing tennis at a relative or neighbor’s house. 

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned tennis player, investing in a tennis ball machine is advisable for solo nighttime tennis practice. Because a tennis ball machine is consistent after entering your desired settings, you won’t get complacent about working on your game mechanics and form. If you desire a more challenging tennis workout, you can set the machine to a random setting to increase the difficulty level.

Select the surface you wish to play on

If you’re a fan of tennis, then you know that this “white” sport is played mostly on clay, concrete (hard courts), and grass. Once you level the ground, you install the surface of your choice. Hard courts account for faster tennis, so they might not be the best solution, as well as clay courts that require a lot of maintenance.

Synthetic grass courts are our recommendation for a domestic tennis court for several reasons. Firstly, you won’t have to repaint the lines after every rainfall because the lines are really blades of plastic grass colored white. Moreover, these lines won’t fade when exposed to strong sunlight.

Secondly, synthetic grass dries faster than normal grass, and it is less slippery than most surfaces. Last but not least, it provides excellent shock absorption for your ankles as it is soft enough for your feet to sink it, yet hard enough to make the ball bounce like on any other surface.

A polyurethane, prefabricated tennis mat also provides superior shock absorbency. That way, you can play for hours, especially if you’re an aspiring tennis athlete. A sports surface system made of polyurethane utilizes a multi-layered cushion design, reducing back and leg strains. 

If you desire eco-friendly flooring, modular panels are durable and stylish with various colors and textures, allowing you to create a unique tennis-playing surface at home. Modular flooring is made of recycled materials, and you can install it on concrete and other existing floor surfaces. 

Installing proper drainage

Like we’ve said earlier, a typical court will need to have foundations dug up, regardless of how shallow they might seem. The reason for this is to install a proper drainage system under the surface of the court. The last thing you need are puddles in the middle of the court after every rain.

The year 2020 is ideal for building a domestic tennis court. The game has never been more popular across the globe, so you’ll have no trouble finding a partner or rival among your friends, family members, and even neighbors. Follow the six steps we have listed to build the perfect tennis court in your backyard!