How To Build A Tennis Court In Your Backyard? Makes The Best Surface In 2022

There is no doubt that tennis isn’t the cheapest sport in the world, and court fees can be exceptionally high. It may be a good idea to have a tennis court in your backyard periodically.

A tennis court in the backyard can be very difficult to make if you don’t know how to do it. Your tennis court does not have to be fenced in if it is large and spacious. You can make it whatever you want as long as it is the right size.

Although some patience and tenacity are required on your part to build a tennis court, it is not as difficult as it seems.

Whether you build a court for you, your family, or your friends, it can be an exciting experience that will give you the satisfaction of playing tennis every time.

Tennis courts aren’t something I would like to build, but if it suits your personality, go for it.

You can build a tennis court yourself by following these steps. We will talk about the costs, the court surfaces, the installation, and the work you will need to do to get it done.

Find The Space

The space you need to build a tennis court of regulation size is quite large. To avoid rolling tennis courts, this area must be flat. Otherwise, players will not want to play on a court that isn’t flat.

It’s important to have a 120′ x 60′ space that won’t damage your current lawn.

Sloping courts are inconvenient. The space needs to be as level as possible. Tennis balls can’t start rolling from any point on the court. A little elbow grease is required. Tennis courts require a space of 7200 square feet on your property.

Ensure that the plant is not taking over your entire yard and that it can be placed far enough from your house. Tennis Balls may shatter the window if they hit a stray net.

Those with a big backyard won’t have a problem fitting a tennis court in their backyards. If you have less space, you may have to accept either a smaller court than a regulation-sized court or give up the notion of having your court altogether if you don’t have much space available.

What’s The Best Surface: Hard, Clay, Or Grass?

The best surface is usually determined by a combination of cost and preference. You typically prefer a softer surface with bad knees, so Clay or Grass would be your best choice, though these surfaces will require more maintenance in the long run.

A concrete or hard surface requires less maintenance once it is installed.

Here are some of the best ways to distinguish each one to form your own opinion. After assessing your lifestyle, style of play, and budget, you can choose the DIY tennis court option that is most suitable for you.

1. Asphalt Surface

1. Cost

You shouldn’t lay it yourself unless you’re extremely knowledgeable about what you’re doing. Since the equipment needed for installation is expensive, it’s not something you can do yourself.

Expect to pay between $30k and $40k for a professional installation. A Backyard Installation will cost between $4,600 and $8,300.

2. Bounce

It bounces consistently, just like concrete. However, asphalt has a slight advantage when it comes to shock absorption.

Additionally, asphalt gets much hotter in the summer than concrete, making it difficult for people to practice.

3. Maintenance

Asphalt is just like Hard Courts In terms of maintenance.

Its may expand or contract in extreme conditions, causing cracks, which aren’t ideal for tennis courts.

Asphalt is thin, so it expands or contracts more easily than concrete.

4. Installation

The most difficult and time-consuming DIY project is installing asphalt. A steamroller isn’t something most people have in their garage for a weekend project like this.

2. Hard Surface

1. Cost

Buying your concrete bags and mixing them yourself is labor-intensive but cheaper than hiring a professional installer.

The cost of installing your court could range from $5,500 to $8,000. Professional installations are 8-10 times more expensive.

2. Bounce

It bounces very well. After grass, it’s the fastest court surface. Court surfaces made of concrete are the most common in residential settings since they are more easily acquired and installed easily with the least equipment.

3. Maintenance

Almost no maintenance is required. If you live in a very cold or hot environment, you might have to replace the seal once a year.

Concrete that has been inlaid with steel rods for expansion may be suitable for extreme temperatures.

4. Installation

It takes time to lay concrete. A tennis court-sized project isn’t a good place to begin if you’re unfamiliar with it.

3. Clay Surface

1. Cost

You can buy clay in a brick form which makes DIY installation easier. The bricks can cost between $0.85 and $15.00 each. It is estimated that the entire court will cost between $2,500 and $5,500.

2. Bounce

A clay court has the lowest bounce. Balls that hit the ground are slower and don’t bounce as high as they would otherwise.

While a softer surface also slows down the ball, your body does not take as much damage running around on it.

3. Maintenance

Clay requires daily and continuous maintenance. Maintaining the integrity of a court requires brushing and watering every day.

As the clay erodes from playing and wind, new clay must be added periodically.

4. Installation

You won’t have too much trouble installing pavers or clay bricks. It would be best to be meticulous as you install the pavers since the materials are not too expensive.

4. Grass Surface

1. Cost

The grass is commonly found in backyards. If you don’t have to level out the space, then the cost of acquiring the grass-court surface is not an issue. Maintenance costs are an issue.

2. Bounce

There’s not much bounce. The dirt is highly shock-absorbing. It is more likely for a tennis ball to skid on grass than bounce.

The bounce of the ‘lawn’ isn’t as consistent as it would be on a hard court due to potential imperfections.

3. Maintenance

These can be time-consuming and annoying to maintain. A well-kept grass court is essential for playing well. To maintain the surface at the right height, watering and mowing are the biggest expenses.

4. Installation

Installation is pretty simple if you already have grass in your backyard. The maintenance aspect of grass courts might make you rethink having one.

How Much Does A Tennis Court Cost?

Tennis courts cost on average $60,000 to build, ranging from $25,000 to $120,000. A half-sized court can be built for as little as $20,000, and most cost between $25,000 and $30,000. The price is affected by material and court dimensions.

The post-tensioned concrete costs around $100,000, while asphalt costs between $20k and $60k. The cost of surfacing a hardcourt with acrylic is from $3,000 to $8,000 and is added to the overall project cost.

There are several additional costs to consider when building a Backyard tennis court:

1. Fencing

Tennis balls are hard to catch.

Moreover, if a large area, such as a tennis court, is not fenced, liability issues may arise.

Consult your insurance provider before you install a fence.

2. Lighting

That’s up to you. You do not need lighting if you only plan to play during the day.

Lighting the court area is a good idea if you want more flexibility or to ensure that nobody is injured.

Squeegee

There will be rain. There will also be puddles. Over time, no matter how level you think your court is, there will be spots where water pools and the court dips.

For removing moisture quickly from surfaces, squeegees are useful. They can be replaced when they wear out.

Other factors can increase the overall cost of your property. Consider all of the factors when deciding whether this is the right route for you.

3. Windscreens

Keeping your serves and touch shots from being wrecked by the wind is possible with windscreens! Several options are available on the market.

An Easy And Functional Court

Tennis courts are usually built just for family, friends, and fun. You can measure out a single or doubles court in the grass and play with your loved ones to improve.

The first step is to measure your court space, regardless of whether you want a single or doubles court. From there, you can work on your court. Be sure to note the boundaries around your court.

The next step is to remove any obstructions; such as rocks or other debris. They could easily trip players and make the game more difficult by diverting the ball in unwanted places.

It is possible to do this by digging out the area where you play, removing the grass and sod you have there, and picking out the stones in this way.

A rammer is rented to pack in the dirt to create a solid foundation. This makes the playing field less prone to manipulation.

It’s easy to add grass seed to the dip in the ground and water as needed once it’s all clear. By doing this, you will have great playing grass that grows long and thick.

Preparing The Playing Area

Finding the right spot is the first step. It would be best to keep the area at least 10-20 feet from your house.

You’ll have more than enough room for a court and surrounding areas if you measure out 120′ x 60′, the amount of space recommended.

This is the surface you’re going to pave, but keep in mind that the playable court space won’t be the same size.

Get rid of anything in the way. Get rid of all the grass, tree stumps, etc., by mowing the lawn and ripping things up.

Your next step should be to get a steamroller. It may seem like a lot of money to rent a steamroller, but you’ll need one to level the area. You’ll need one if you choose asphalt.

Drawing Lines

Here are some points you need to be followed for drawing the lines

• As we discussed earlier, the average size of a court is 120′ x 60′, including the paved areas outside the court.
• You’ll need to paint an asphalt or concrete surface.
• It comes in multiple colors and is a good anti-slip paint option. In general, green is the most popular color for a tennis court, but you can choose the color of your choice for a home court.
• In reality, court lines measure 78′ by 36′, giving you some leeway if your available space is 120′ x 60′.
• If you want your lines to be perfectly straight, measure the 39-foot mark in the center of the court first.
• Your doubles alley must be 39 feet wide and 4.5 feet deep.
• Your doubles sideline must be 78 feet long.
• It is recommended that “No Man’s Land” spots within the court be 18 feet by 27 feet.
• The ad court and deuce box should measure 21 feet by 13.5 feet.
• The lines can be painted or taped.
• Painted lines are cheaper but more labor-intensive to install.
• Despite being more expensive, the tape is less intensive to install as the width of the lines is constant, which reduces human error.

Adding The Net

It might seem like a DIY project to install the net.

Installation involves attaching the net to the posts, anchoring the inner pipes, and installing the two outside posts.

Licenses Or Permits?

Permissions are usually not needed to build tennis courts because they’re low-profile and don’t require any permits.

Nevertheless, there are some situations where you would need to get the permission of some kind.

It would be necessary to get permission if you’re planning rights were revoked for some reason. You may also need permission if your house is in a national park or if the tennis court takes up more than half of your yard.

There are a few more reasons you may need permission, but they aren’t typically required for those building tennis courts in their backyards. You don’t even have to ask anyone to build the court, and it’s much easier than you think.

Conclusion

It is now possible to make a tennis court in your backyard if you wonder how to do it. Tennis courts can be a beautiful addition to any backyard and impress friends and family. Through these games, family and friends can experience competition, fun, engagement, and unity.

If you want to make a functioning court or even a functioning single court, you’ll need at least to measure out a flat area, dig a little, and work with some machinery. While doing this, you will be sure to cure boredom with excitement and delight in your backyard.

You have to decide when you’re going to install your backyard tennis court. Tennis courts will not magically appear, and you’ll have to work hard for them.