The 5 Best Tennis Rackets For Doubles

The 5 Best Tennis Rackets For Doubles

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What Is The Height of a Tennis Net?

Written by Gui Hadlich in General Info,Rules

What Is The Height Of A Tennis Net?

Whether you are a beginner just playing for fun or a tennis legend like Roger Federer, you need a proper tennis net to play the game. It is the most critical structure on the tennis court and is responsible for making the game more challenging, adventurous, and attractive to play. If you can’t land the tennis ball in your opponent’s court over the net it doesn’t matter how much power, skill, or speed you possess. The net is one of the most essential parts of a tennis court and for that reason, it needs to have the right measurements.

The standard tennis net dimensions, set by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), has a height of 42 inches (106.5 cm) at the posts and a height of 36 inches (91.5 cm) in the center.

Having the net set up at the right height is extremely important, as not doing so can throw off a player’s whole game. Players practice over and over with a certain net height, and having a set up that is off by even an inch can cause you to miss more shots than normal.

The Height of a Tennis Net

To get a tennis net you need four things: two net posts, a metal cable or cord, a white strap, and a white band. The tennis net should be attached to two side posts at a height of 42 inches (107 cm). At the center of the tennis court, the height of the net should be 36 inches (91.4 cm). The net should be attached to the center of the court with the strap. The strap should not be wider than 2 inches (5 cm) and should be white.

The net is pulled down in the middle by means of a band that is anchored into the ground. The net must be hung in such a way that it completely fills the space between the two poles. The net, of course, needs to be tightly-knit so that the ball cannot get through while playing.

Why Are Tennis Nets Lower in the Middle?

The poles that hold up the net are not wide enough for the net to be at the same height across its length, and the tension is not enough. That is why it lowers a bit in the middle.

That is the physical reason for it but there is also a tactical one – to create a strategic trade-off. Just like in basketball where the corner three is the closest spot to the net to hit a three-point shot from but it also has the hardest angle to shoot from. And just like in track and field where the inner lane is the closest one to the finish line but its curvature is also the toughest one to run on.

Tennis Net Height for Doubles

There is a difference in court size between singles and doubles. The width of the singles court is 324 inches (822.9 cm) and the one for doubles is 432 inches (1097.2 cm).

For doubles tennis matches, the centers of the net posts must be 36 inches (91 cm), outside the doubles court on each side. If a doubles’ tennis net is used, then the net must be supported by two single sticks, at the height of 42 inches (107 cm), the centers of which must be 36 inches outside the singles court on each side. The net posts and single sticks should not be larger than 6 inches or 3 inches respectively, and both should not be more than 1 inch above the top of the net cord.

Crosscourt Vs Down-The-Line

In tennis, there is the thinking of that the harder the shot you make the harder it is for the opponent to return it. And the hardest shot to return in tennis are those down the line along the sideline shots especially when it’s coming off a cross court but consequently it is also the hardest one to make because geometrically speaking it has the narrowest window for a shot and the net is at its highest on the side. That’s why cross court shots are safer because the net is at its lowest and therefore easier to play it over the net.

The net can be on your side during a game or against you and can be a decider in important moments. When you hit the ball just right and it slightly touches the net and completely changes directions or just dies and drops right on the other side. It can change rallies destroy attacking shots and is sometimes unforgiving but in the end, without a net we wouldn’t have the game we love. And differently than in soccer or basketball we don’t want to see the ball hitting it.

How To Be a Tennis Player (Step-By-Step)

Written by Gui Hadlich in General Info

How To Be A Tennis Player

When you watch players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on television or just some advanced player at your local club, it seems fairly easy and effortless. You just hit a small yellow ball with a racket over a net until the other player can’t return it. As simple as it seems, it is definitely not. There is a lot of hard work, training, time and will power involved to truly be a tennis player and eventually maybe even a professional tennis player.

Technically, the only things you need to become a tennis player are a racket, a tennis ball, and a court. However, in order to become a professional player, you must learn the game, practice relentlessly, and earn ranking points by winning tournament matches.

Requirements For Being a Tennis Player

Taking tennis lessons at a young age is an important requirement in order to become a tennis player. While the specific age may vary, this is where young players will begin learning about the game and developing the fundamentals to play at a high-level.

As you start competing between the ages of 8 to 10, you will begin with club tournaments, and if you are doing well you will enter local tournaments, then regional tournaments, sectionals, and if you keep succeeding you will have a chance to play national tournaments.

In America, players participate in tennis events sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). This organization is responsible for scheduling all U.S. tournaments and developing junior players. Getting to each sporting match, however, can require a lot of travel.

Step 1: Understand the Rules and the Game

To become a tennis player, you of course have to understand the rules of the game. You need to know the dimensions of the court and where to hit the ball when serving. You need to know how to count the points, how many it takes to win a game, how many games it takes to win a set, and at the end how many sets it takes to win a match.

If you are interested in learning how the rules work, or if you can just use a refresher, we have an extremely detailed guide that you can check right here (Tennis Rules – Everything You Need To Know).

Furthermore, you need to learn the specific shots. The forehand, the backhand, the volley, a drop shot, and of course the serve. The earlier you start learning these aspects of the game the better your chances are at succeeding and the only way to get better is with practice. 

Step 2: Practice, Practice, Practice

Professional tennis players will have spent hundreds of thousands if not millions of hours on the court practicing their shots. They of course don’t do it alone but almost always have a coach helping them. It’s important to continuously improve and the best way to do that is by obtaining a private coach. This offers the chance to receive individual instructions on how to develop your game to start competing.

The other option would be to enrol in a tennis academy. While not required to become a professional tennis player, enrolling in a tennis academy can be beneficial. Tennis academies offer year-round training opportunities and present players with a chance to compete with other aspiring professionals on a regular basis. In addition to providing tennis training, some of these academies provide education for students that might prepare them for college or a pro-athlete career.

Step 3: Play Local and National Tournaments

The USTA offers junior tournaments for younger players, which allows them to compete against their peers and assess their skills. Junior tournaments are held all over the country, and players as young as ten can begin playing in these events. Playing well in these tournaments may also secure a junior ranking from the USTA. 

If you end up ranked in the top 10 or 20 in your country by the time you are 14 or 15, you will start playing international ITF junior tournaments, first level 5 and 4 events, and if you continue succeeding, you will continue with level 3’s, then level 2’s and finally level 1’s and Grand Slams.

Between the ages of 15 and 17, you will also start playing some entry-level pro tournaments, and during the next few years, if you prosper, you will progressively play more pro tournaments and less junior tournament.

Step 4: Going Pro: Play ATP or WTA Tournaments

Once players reach a certain level of play or turn 19 years old, they are eligible to play on the USTA’s professional circuit. A tennis player’s success in tournaments will determine how much money they make and how high they are ranked. Players must win or play at a very high-level at the junior and amateur level to be eligible for professional tournaments. Ideally in your last year in juniors the scale will tip towards pro events, especially for girls. If you finish top 20 in the world in juniors you have a decent chance of making a living in the pro tour, probably less than 50/50 but still worth a try.

You will spend the next 3 or 4 years on the tour and if everything goes well you will cut your ranking in half every year and eventually arrive at the top 100. At first, you mainly try your luck on the Challenger Tour where you can earn ATP points to improve your ranking so you become eligible to compete in the qualification round of smaller ATP/WTA Tournaments. Another option is that you get wildcards to qualification rounds of tournaments. For example, if you are a promising American you most likely will get wild cards at US tournaments.

Conclusion

Unlike other professions where you can plan to become a doctor or a lawyer you cannot really decide to become a tennis professional. The only thing you can decide is to embark in the process. Only a few top players have the privilege of earning a living competing, and the results throughout the developmental process will dictate who can join the club.

The great advantage of tennis is that you are getting constant feedback along the way. Your results at every step will dictate your next step during the whole process. There are no shortcuts and very rarely alternative pathways.

How To Become A Tennis Umpire (Essential Guide)

Written by Gui Hadlich in Uncategorized

How To Become A Tennis Umpire

When a great tennis match takes place at a major tournament, all of the credit tends, understandably, to go to the two players. In truth, however, there are several other people involved, whose concentration and decision-making can enhance or ruin a classic encounter. These people are the officials. The chair umpire must keep score, ensure the rules are being followed, and arbitrate any disputes. The line judges, or line umpires, must decide quickly and accurately whether a shot has landed in the court, and make their decision very clear.

If the officials are on top form, the players can focus on the match and produce their best performance. There have been examples in the past, however, where poor or uncertain officiating has detracted from the tennis and become the focus of attention. So, what kind of training and guidance do umpires get to prepare them for high-pressure situations which are being watched by millions?

In order to become a tennis umpire, candidates must go through a long training process before they can umpire matches involving the top players, and they will have officiated at many events before they can work at a Grand Slam. Once they get there, top chair umpires can earn up to $450,000 per year.

Difference Between A Chair Umpire And A Line Umpire

A chair umpire is the main decision-maker during play. It is their responsibility to ensure that all rules and guidelines are followed, and the score is kept accurately. They are the only officials on court who can communicate with the players, and they must keep the spectators informed as to the score and any other developments.

Line Umpires are purely responsible for deciding whether a shot has landed within the area of the court they have been asked to watch. If they consider that a shot was ‘out’, they must shout this quickly, loudly, and clearly.

They may have to move around to keep out of the players’ way, while still keeping a good view of the relevant line(s). There are two ways in which a decision by a line umpire can be overturned. Firstly, if the chair umpire believes that the line umpire has made an error they can overrule, and, secondly, at larger tournaments, players can ask for calls to be reviewed using the Hawk-Eye system.

Step By Step – How To Become A Tennis Umpire

In the US, the basic requirement to become a certified umpire is to attend an annual training course and take a written test appropriate to the level at which you want to officiate. Prior to attending the training course, you need to register as a ‘Provisional Umpire’. This requires you to be a member of the USTA, and to have your application signed off by your sectional chairman. You must also take the ‘Provisional Umpire’s Test’, found on the USTA website. If you are to pass the written test and become a certified official, you will need a thorough knowledge of the rules of tennis, and your vision will need to be 20/20 (corrected or uncorrected) in each eye.

There are several levels of certification which you must work your way through if you want to reach the top as an umpire. To work at each level, you must successfully complete the relevant training school. You will be issued with a data card which will enable you to record your officiating experience, and which needs to be submitted and checked each year. As your training progresses, and your experience grows, you can move up to higher level events, but each step up requires you to demonstrate solid experience at the level below. The levels which you can progress through are:

  • Provisional Umpire
  • Sectional Umpire
  • USTA Roving Umpire
  • USTA Chair Umpire
  • National Chair Umpire
  • Professional Chair Umpire

By the time you have reached the top level, you will be a very experienced official.

How Much Do Tennis Umpires Earn?

The picture is a lot more healthy for officials than it used to be, with a culture of professionalism having taken over. When John McEnroe was launching his infamous tirades against officialdom, the umpires were well-meaning amateurs, and did not even have Hawk-Eye to back them up, so it is no wonder that a perfectionist like McEnroe found the situation stressful.

Leading umpires can now earn $450,000 per year or more, although only if they officiate regularly at Grand Slams and work hard throughout the year, traveling around the world.

A top-line umpire can earn 30-40% of the match rate paid to a chair umpire, but they are more likely to only work at major tournaments in their home country, so they will just be looking for a supplemental income from this kind of work. A Professional Umpire who is just starting out on the Tour can expect to earn $60-70,000 per year if they can keep busy all year round.

Tennis Umpire Responsibilities

A chair umpire, according to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), has 21 responsibilities. These include making sure the rules are followed, including those relating to timing, and resolving any disputes. They must keep and announce the score, as well as overruling any calls they believe to be incorrect.

The umpire must communicate clearly with the players, and keep the crowd informed, but also under control. They must direct the ball-kids, check that there are enough balls of good quality, and ensure that the court is fit for play.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a tennis umpire can lead to a relatively well-paid career involving a lot of travel and glamorous locations. A lot of hard work is needed to get there, however, and the role is rather under-appreciated by players and crowds. If you are a calm person with good concentration, you might want to give it a try.

What Is A Let In Tennis? | Full Explanation

Written by Gui Hadlich in General Info,Rules

What Is A Let In Tennis? | Let Definition

The let rule can be one of the most frustrating in the game of tennis, both for broadcasters and players, despite the fact that it is really only there to ensure fairness and safety. The rule basically states that if one of a list of things happens, the current point needs to be stopped and replayed.

The most common reason for a let to be awarded is where the ball hits the top of the net when a player serves it, but it still lands in the correct service box. In extreme cases, this can happen three or four times in succession, and it can seem as though the point will never start.

The other type of let is where the point is stopped by the umpire, or the players if the match is not umpired, because something has happened which might hinder the players or put their safety at risk. For example, if a ball rolls over from an adjacent court, the point will be stopped to ensure that neither player steps on it.

Essentially, a let is a situation where a point is restarted from the beginning. If a serve brushes the net but still lands in the target area, a let is called and the point is replayed. If a point is disturbed by external intervention, such as the arrival of a ball from a nearby court, it will also be stopped and a let played.

What Does Let Mean In Tennis?

Simply put, ‘let’ means that the preceding serve, or partial rally, shall be ignored, and the point started again. If a let occurs because a second serve has brushed the net before landing in, the point restarts with a second serve. In all other circumstances where a let is awarded, the point restarts with a first serve.

Tennis Serve Let Rules

Virtually everyone who plays tennis knows the basic rule here. If you serve a ball and it hits the net before landing in the correct area, that serve does not count and should be repeated. Nonetheless, there are two other parts to the rule which are less well known.

In general, if a serve hits the receiver or any part of their clothing before it lands, the point is awarded to the server. However, if the ball hits the net prior to striking the receiver (before it bounces), a let is awarded and the serve is replayed.

In addition, if the receiver is deemed not to have been ready when the serve was struck, a let is awarded. The latter issue will be a judgment call for the umpire, as the receiver is required to play at the pace of the server, and should normally be ready.

Tennis Let Rules – Replaying The Point

Once a point has begun, it can still be stopped and a let awarded if there is a safety issue or some outside agency has affected play. In this case, the point is always replayed in full, beginning with a first serve, even if the first serve had been missed and the rally had started with a second serve.

As mentioned earlier, the most common scenario is where a ball rolls or bounces across from another court. Here, either player or the umpire is likely to call a let, as a player could incur a serious injury if they stepped on the ball.

However, in non-umpired matches, there are some players who will try to claim a let during a point which they are about to lose, on the pretext that a ball (which may not have been very close) had distracted them. This can result in controversy.

The rules of tennis provide a couple of interesting supplementary examples where a let might be awarded. Firstly, if a spare ball is sitting on the court, which is not uncommon in matches without ball-kids, and the ball in play hits it, play should carry on if the player has good enough reactions to keep the rally going.

It may be, however, that the player hits one ball back, but it is not clear that it was the correct one, and in this event a let should be played.

The final example is where a bird is flying past, minding its own business, and the ball hits it. In this situation, a let is played (and possibly treatment offered to the bird!).

How Many Times Can A Let Be Called In Tennis?

There is absolutely no limit to the number of lets which can be awarded during a tennis match. It is perfectly possible to imagine a scenario where three service lets are followed by a point which is stopped due to an errant ball from the next court, only to be followed up by another series of service lets.

In this scenario, it could take several minutes for a point to start. For this reason, the tennis governing bodies have been experimenting with the idea of abandoning the service let rule and requiring players to return any serve which lands in the correct box, irrespective of whether it struck the net first.

This would be more popular with broadcasters, but players tend to dislike it, as an important point could be settled by a lucky serve which just drops over the net, giving the receiver no chance.

What Is The Origin Of The Word Let In Tennis?

This is not known for certain. Some believe it derives from the Saxon word ‘lettian’, which means ‘hinder’, while others think it may come from an abbreviation of the French word ‘filet’, meaning ‘net’.

Final Thoughts

The let rule is aimed squarely at ensuring fairness and safety, yet in practice it is unpopular with spectators and can result in disputes between players. At present the top players are resisting calls to modify it, but one day it is likely to be revised.

Do Tennis Players Get To Keep Their Trophies?

Written by Gui Hadlich in General Info

Do Tennis Players Keep Their Trophies?

Most people who play tennis will experience, at least once in their lives, that satisfying moment when they clinch the final point and they win a tournament. Having achieved their objective, they will hope for a nice trophy to act as a memento. Although some small tournaments may do without trophies, the organizers usually recognize that the players like something to put in their display cabinet at home and attempt to provide something suitable.

After winning smaller tournaments, tennis players get to keep their trophies. Some events are more traditional and have a ‘permanent’ trophy that is engraved each year with the name of the latest winner. The winner of such tournaments gets a small replica of the trophy which they can keep.

In professional tennis, there is a distinction between the Grand Slam events and the majority of others. Grand Slam tournaments tend to have prestigious, historic trophies which the organizers do not like to let out of their sight, so they issue replicas to the champions. Many of the other leading events tend to be happy to supply a new trophy each year, and will periodically revise its design.

Wimbledon

At Wimbledon, the organisers are very proud of the event’s history, and the impressive trophies reflect this. The Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy was first awarded in 1887, having cost 100 guineas (equivalent to around £13,900 in 2020) to purchase. It is made of silver gilt, and is 18 inches tall and 7.5 inches in diameter.

The Ladies’ Singles Trophy, known as the Venus Rosewater Dish, is a silver salver 18.75 inches in diameter which was first presented in 1886. These trophies are engraved with the names of the winners each year, and, after the successful players have been photographed with them, they are stored in the Wimbledon Museum for the rest of the year.

The champions are given three-quarter-sized replicas to keep, and these are also engraved with the names of all the past

Roland Garros

The winner of the men’s singles at the French Open is presented with the ‘Coupe des Mousquetaires’, which was last redesigned in 1981 and which is named in honor of the ‘Four Musketeers’ of French tennis who dominated the game in the 1920s and 30s.

The women’s champion is awarded the ‘Coupe Suzanne Lenglen’ which was first presented in 1979, and which honors the Frenchwoman who revolutionized the women’s game in the early part of the 20th century. As at Wimbledon, both trophies are only brought out for the presentation ceremony and are then engraved and retained at the venue.

The players are given a replica which is normally smaller than the original. The size of the replica has varied in recent years due to the achievements of Rafael Nadal in winning an unprecedented number of championships. For his 10th, a replica the same size as the original was given to him, and some subsequent replicas have also been a little larger than the standard size.

US Open

The US Open presents permanent trophies that remain at the venue, in common with the other Grand Slam events. They are impressive sterling silver creations, bearing the name of the US Lawn Tennis Association, and engraved with the names of the previous winners.

All trophy work at the US Open since 1987 has been undertaken by iconic jewelers Tiffany & Co, as immortalized on film by Audrey Hepburn. The men’s trophy weighs a fairly hefty 10 pounds, so it is not ideal for an exhausted player to wield after a long final. Although the US Open follows Wimbledon and Roland Garros in issuing replica trophies to the winners, it differs by making them the same size as the originals.

Australian Open

The permanent trophies at the Australian Open are named after famous Australian players from the 1920s and 30s. The men’s champion receives the Norman Brookes Trophy, named after the first non-Briton to win the men’s singles at Wimbledon. The latest version of the trophy was first prersented in 2013.

The women’s singles winner is awarded the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, which is named after a five-times Australian singles champion who sadly died at a young age, and was first presented the year after her death in 1934.

In each case, the trophies remain on display at the venue, and a reduced-size replica is given to each of the Australian Open champions.

Other Tournaments

Although the Grand Slam events are fairly consistent in their approach to awarding trophies, the same cannot be said of the other professional tournaments.

Many events will produce a new trophy each year, sometimes identical to that awarded before, other times based on a fresh design. These are often given to the winners to keep, although this can be something of a double-edged sword, as many of the designs are bulky and not particularly appealing.

There are some amusing pictures online, if you care to search, of slightly bewildered players clutching hideous pieces of modern art! One or two events have sought publicity by offering extremely valuable trophies to keep for multiple winners. For example, in Antwerp, a diamond-encrusted gold tennis racket worth around $1,000,000 was offered to any player winning the event three times in five years. Ivan Lendl won the first racket in 1985, and the women’s equivalent was claimed by Amelie Mauresmo in 2007.

Final Thoughts

There are many magnificent trophies to be won in tennis. The Grand Slams have historic permanent trophies, and issue their champions with replicas, but these are still impressive. At lower levels, there is no consistent pattern, and the quality of the trophies also varies, but some are undeniably striking and others can be very valuable.

Do Tennis Dresses Have Built-In Shorts?

Written by Gui Hadlich in General Info,Recommended Gear

Do Tennis Dresses Have Built-In Shorts?

When the sport of lawn tennis was invented in the 19th century, fashion dictated that women wore corsets and long skirts, which obviously meant that any extreme movements were heavily restricted. Soon, white, cotton, and linen full-length dresses took over, but these still did not lend themselves to athletic play. It was Suzanne Lenglen who began the trend towards the practical tennis wear seen today when, in the early 20th century, she wore shorter calf-length skirts and short-sleeved tops while winning tournaments with an athletic style not previously seen.

Dress styles continued to evolve, until, by the 1960s, they were short and fashionable as well as being practical. During this era, two-handed backhands were unheard of, so players could hold a spare ball in their non-racket hand during a rally, and there was no need for ball storage. Once the double-handed backhand was popularised in the 1970s, there was a need to put a spare ball somewhere during play. Plastic ball clips were tried for a while, but the modern solution is to wear spandex ball-shorts underneath a skirt or dress.

It is unusual for tennis dresses to incorporate built-in shorts. Whilst such a combination is practical, it is considered more stylish for the dress and ball-shorts to be separate garments. Thus, a tennis dress is usually bought without built-in shorts, but it is exceptionally unusual for a player not to wear one in conjunction with shorts.

Do Tennis Dresses Have Pockets?

The design of tennis dresses in 2020 is big business. Manufacturers pay leading players to model their latest styles at the major televised tournaments, in the hope that amateur enthusiasts will buy them in large numbers. Today’s dresses are lightweight, comfortable, and cool, and are made of materials which take sweat away from the body quickly.

Unfortunately, it has for some time been considered unfashionable to incorporate pockets in the tennis dress itself, so these are pretty much unheard of now.

It is probably not just a matter of fashion, as putting a ball in a pocket attached to a loose-fitting dress would no doubt be distracting when rallying.

Nonetheless, pockets have not always been absent. When teenager Tracy Austin burst onto the scene in the late 1970s, she wore home-made pinafore dresses, some of which incorporated extremely useful-looking pockets!

What Female Players Can Wear Under Their Dress Or Skirt

In the past, there were rules relating to considerations of modesty, the limits of which were gradually tested by players and designers like Gussie Moran and Ted Tinling until they became far less restrictive. Today, female players can wear pretty much what they like under their dress or skirt.

In practice, they will almost always wear spandex-type ball-shorts with a pocket. These are comfortable and practical. The only real complication arises at Wimbledon, where all clothing is expected to be predominantly white, including under-shorts.

In cold conditions, such as those experienced at the 2020 French Open, leggings are permitted.

How Do Female Players Hold Tennis Balls?

When hitting a first serve, most players prefer to be in possession of a second ball, in order to avoid losing their rhythm if they need to hit a second serve. It is possible to hold a second ball in your non-racket hand if you hit a one-handed backhand, but this is rare among female players today – and in any event, some would not have large enough hands to hold two balls at the start of the point.

Ball shorts are the solution for most players. They have a pocket sewn into them which enables a ball to be stored without causing discomfort during play.

Can Female Tennis Players Wear Shorts?

The wearing of shorts for tennis instead of a dress or skirt was pioneered by Alice Marble in the 1920s. Since that time, shorts have never been the most popular style of dress, but certain leading players have preferred them. For example, they have been worn at major events by Martina Navratilova, Mary Pierce and, more recently, Jelena Ostapenko and Victoria Azarenka.

These shorts have generally been fairly tight-fitting, which has meant that they have not always incorporated pockets, so they have not necessarily provided a solution to the issue of ball storage. If they are loose enough, ball-shorts can still be worn underneath.

Final Thoughts

The history of tennis attire for women has reflected their changing position in society. Starting from a time when female players were forced to wear something extremely uncomfortable and impractical, tennis clothes have evolved into a wide variety of practical and stylish options.

Tennis dresses today allow women to feel fashionable and feminine without being restricted in their movements. They will normally be combined with under-shorts which can be as modest as the player desires, and will allow for comfortable storage of the spare ball.