What equipment to choose around the tennis court

Playing the game requires a minimum of equipment. On the one hand, there are those governed by standardsOn the other, you'll find accessories that can be chosen with greater freedom.

The indispensable net

The net is, of course, the most important piece of equipment on your tennis court. It's essential that it's flexible, so that the balls retained remain in an area close to the net. Standard NF S 52-311 defines the specifications for this element.

To begin with, your net must be dark in color. It should also be approximately 12.70 meters long and 0.99 to 1.04 meters high. In terms of mesh, you can choose between a diamond or square shape, with each side measuring approximately 45 millimeters. According to the same standard, a white strap 10 to 13 centimeters wide forms the net's band. The cable that secures the net to the posts runs inside this band, which is folded back on itself. Added to this is a white strap called a "regulator", with a maximum width of 5 centimeters. Its role is to keep the net at the ideal height, i.e. 91.4 centimetres above the ground.

The posts

It's impossible to secure the net if you don't install support posts. You can opt for removable or fixed posts. However, they must be able to withstand a tension of around 150 kg without deformation. The net cable and the players will exert a certain amount of tension during the game.

The posts should be positioned so that the net attachment cables are 1.07 meters above the ground. Care must also be taken to ensure that balls cannot pass between the posts and the net during play.

Standard NF S 52-311 also defines the mandatory characteristics of poles.

The referee's chair

The referee must have an excellent view of the game. To ensure his comfort, a chair is essential. The height of the chair should be between 1.70 and 1.80 meters for optimum visibility.

The umpire's chair is placed in line with the net, but outside the playing area. If you have an outdoor court, it's advisable to opt for a removable chair. It will be easier to position it on either side of the court, taking into account the position of the sun. In addition, load-distributing glides placed under each leg of the chair will ensure optimum protection of the court surface against the risk of punching.

The fence around the property

Balls can scatter depending on the strength of the players' shots and the intensity of the wind. It's therefore a good idea to install a fence at least 3 metres high around the pitch.

This fence consists of 3 elements:

- Posts: these are used to hold the grill/net in place. You'll need 30 rounded posts with a diameter of 48 millimeters or more. Each post must be made of metal 2 mm thick or more. Anti-corrosion treatment is required. The maximum spacing between two posts is 3.60 meters.

- Fencing: you can choose between galvanized fencing or fencing that is both galvanized and green plastic-coated. Mesh size must not exceed 45 mm. A minimum diameter of 2.4 millimeters is required. Please note that the fence must be at least 3 meters high.

- Accessories: you can install garbage cans, signs restricting access to the court and many other elements around the fence. You can also install windbreaks on the fencing at the back of the court and on the sides to reduce the disturbance caused by the wind during play.

Material governing access

Tennis outside the private courts is reserved for those with badges. You can therefore provide personalized badges (name + photo) for club members and more traditional badges for guests. The duration of access can also be indicated on these accessories.

The management of these badges will be optimized by a storage board whose capacity is extremely variable (from a dozen to over fifty badges). A master key is required to easily unlock each badge attached to the board in question.

Other must-have accessories

Don't forget the scoreboard. It can simply show the score itself or include the players' first names, especially if it's an electronic version. In the same spirit, there are chair scores to be placed on either side of the referee's chair, to help keep track of the progress of the game.

Other equipment such as cones to facilitate learning, baskets and buckets to hold the ball stock or planters to decorate the pitch can also be installed.

All these products are available on our website, if you'd like to see a visual of how they're used and installed.