Indoor Tennis for Harsh Weather ConditionsIndoor tennis can be played on carpet, rubber, hard, or clay court surface. Carpet is popular in Europe. Rubber and hard courts are more prevalent in the US. Covered clay courts are rare. Normally a bubble is erected over outdoor clay or a permanent roof is installed with removable siding so the courts can “breathe.” On rare occasions wood might be used for inside play. Normally this is the case when an indoor basketball court is converted into a tennis court. Wood surface is extremely fast. The ball skids and stays low making it difficult to maintain a rally. The big server has a definite advantage on a wood surface.
Depending on your location, indoor courts can be an important part of ongoing tennis play. Wet conditions at various times during the year would necessitate covered courts. Also, when temperatures drop into the 20 or 30 degree Fahrenheit range, indoor play is more appealing. The summer heat can also force indoor play, especially when the air quality is poor. The height of the ceiling should be 60 feet over the net, although 40 feet would work for practice. The backcourt playing room should be at least 21 feet distance to the back wall with a barrier cushion for running safety. The side distance should be at least 12 feet, although 9 feet is allowed for moveable netting. Two additional factors to consider regarding indoor tennis are the cost to play and the availability of courts. The cost can be prohibitive for many people, so they choose to wait until the weather conditions improve for outdoor play. Also, indoor courts can be difficult to secure when the demand is high and the number of courts is limited.
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