Having a new tennis court installed at home can mean time to practice or play whenever it's convenient without worrying about paying club dues or waiting for a court to open up. However, this also means that you may need to make some decisions about its installation, including the surface of the court. Note a few tips for selecting the surface of a new tennis court you'll have installed at home and then discuss these with a tennis court builder to get their input.

1. Maintenance

The overall maintenance of a court will be important to consider, as you cannot neglect or ignore your court and assume it will still be ready for play or even safe for players. Concrete may need nothing more than everyday sweeping to keep it clean, but it will crack over time. You'll need to fill those cracks as they appear and then eventually have the material poured again.

Artificial turf also needs a regular sweeping, but it may suffer tears and rips which will need to be patched or sewn. Natural grass needs regular cutting, as it cannot be allowed to grow too long, as this interferes with play. Clay will need regular sweeping, as the clay gets spread around the court, and it will need new clay added on a regular basis, since the clay does get tracked out of the court. Choose the surface you can easily maintain according to your time and your budget.

2. Weather

Along with maintenance, consider how quickly and easily a surface will be ready for play after inclement weather. Clay and natural grass may need time to dry out after rains, whereas concrete and artificial turf won't usually hold moisture and water. You may need to rake natural grass in the autumn after leaves have fallen, whereas sweeping them off concrete or artificial turf can be a faster and easier process. Consider your standard weather conditions and note which tennis surface would be easier and faster to prepare for play after rain, high winds, and the like.

3. Shock absorption

Remember that tennis is a game that involves a lot of physical exertion including jumping up to reach your shot, and landing on the tennis surface. The softer the surface, the more impact it will absorb from your play. Hard surfaces can be very tough on the body; jumping up and down on concrete can be difficult for the joints and the back. Landing on soft grass or artificial turf can be better for older players or those with physical conditions that make concrete or synthetic surfaces difficult for them.

For more information, contact Premier Sports & Leisure or a similar company.