Installing a backyard tennis court can increase the value of your property considerably. However, the convenience of enjoying their favourite sport right at home is the main reason homeowners install a tennis court on their residential property. Notably, tennis court construction requires considering several factors, with one of the most important ones being orientation. If orientation is not factored in, players might struggle to perform or even enjoy their game. This article highlights reasons why tennis court orientation is essential during the construction phase.
Avoid Sun Glare
Like most sports, tennis competitions are played in the mornings and evenings when the sun is low. Although playing in mid-afternoon might seem ideal since the sun is high up and does not affect either player's sight, it is the wrong time as far as comfort and safety go. Thus, professionally constructed tennis courts usually face the north-south direction. The reason is that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west; therefore, a tennis court facing either of these directions puts one player at a disadvantage. For instance, if you plan a mid-morning match, the player on the west end of a court will struggle to play with the early morning sun glare on their face. However, with a north and south orientation, players do not have to worry about the sun blinding their sight. It helps maximise a court's usability all year round.
Eliminate Shadows
Shades are an essential part of tennis court construction since players need somewhere cool to take a break. However, shadows encroaching into a tennis court throughout the day can be a nuisance since they blur the baselines and sidelines, making a tennis match anything but enjoyable. If trees surround your property partially and you construct a tennis court in an east-west direction, you have to deal with intermittent and uneven shadows. Moreover, the sun tends to appear and disappear as you move about an east-west direction facing a court surrounded by trees. It is why a north-south orientation is a preferred choice since buildings and trees cast minimal shadows on a court.
Prevent Wind Issues
Wind in outdoor sports can be advantageous and disadvantageous depending on its direction. For instance, winds in tennis competitions can add acceleration on a ball, giving the player serving towards the wind direction an advantage over their opponent. Since tennis is a game of two sides, it is crucial to minimise the effects of wind as much as possible. Therefore, you should orient a tennis court in such a way that the baselines (short sides) face any windbreakers in your backyard, such as trees.
Reach out to a local tennis court construction contractor to learn more.