Tennis court lines and why they matter even more than you think
Three reasons why you should take a closer look at your court lines.
Being aware of and respecting boundaries is one of the most important aspects of tennis. The lines of the court play a fundamental role in shaping the game and influencing the decisions made by players. Hawk-Eye will tell you that they are the battle lines on which matches are won and lost. They are, arguably, the most pivotal part of the court.
But while Hawk-Eye technology has been developed solely to keep an unwavering eye on the court lines, how closely have you considered them when choosing your courts?
Laykold’s tennis pro and court specialist, Luke Burden reveals the three big reasons why you should take a closer look.
Luke Burden, Laykold Tennis pro and court specialist.
The science and benefits of textured lines
At Laykold, our scientists are up there with Hawk-Eye when it comes to precision. We have invested hours and hours of R&D into optimizing the court lines for our hardcourt systems so that these crucial elements of play perform as well as the rest of your court. The result is our textured line innovation. Unlike the historical lines that have been used over the years, these have several advantages:
“Laykold’s textured line paint gives players the same assurance as the rest of the court, meaning non-slip, safer for players and no special attention or time needed to dry the line.”
1 / Pace Precision
Who has been playing and felt that they catch the ball late or the ball shoots through lower after hitting the line? This is due to the pace of the line being much faster than the pace of the remaining court area.
Laykold has solved this by developing line paints that play at the same pace as the court. Our proprietary sand blend allows us to dial in court pace consistency within 0.5 of a point and this does not stop at the lines. We serve up the same level of precision with the line markings for complete court consistency.
2 / Player Welfare
Untextured lines on a hard court become ‘ice’ whenever they get wet. Extra time has to be devoted to ensuring the lines are entirely dry before play is resumed. Unlike the rest of the court, one drop of rain on traditional hardcourt lines means players risk losing their footing, often resulting in injury. Laykold’s textured line paint gives players the same assurance as the rest of the court, meaning non-slip, safer for players and no special attention or time needed to dry the line.
3 / Better Execution
Tennis is a game of execution. Whether it is at the US Open or at your local club, all players should be able to trust their game and trust the surface they are playing on to provide a consistent pace and true bounce.
By being able to trust the full court, lines included, players confidence is raised and execution increased. This means a higher level of play both at your local club or on the biggest court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Making tennis better
I love tennis and have played, pretty much from the moment I could walk. As a former club pro, I came to Laykold because I have a real passion for the sport which is a sentiment that is absolutely shared across the business. Laykold is constantly innovating to make the game of tennis better, not only for the major events, but the local clubs.
Our textured line innovation is another example of how invested we are in making the game better for players of all levels. We have done the hard graft on every inch of the court. So, just as you would for that crucial match point, next time you are renewing your courts, don’t overlook the lines.