Through the years, racquet sports have continued to grow in popularity as a form of exercise or entertainment. These sports combine strategy, physical stamina, and social communication. Pickleball is one of the most popular racquet sports at the current time, but tennis, badminton, and squash are popular options for recreational or commercial courts. In this blog, we will discuss the differences between racquet courts and the sports that are played on them.
Other Types Of Racquet Courts
As previously mentioned, multiple racquet sports require a court or table to play correctly. While tennis and pickleball may immediately come to mind when talking about racquet sports, there are other options including,
- Squash
- Padel
- Racquetball
- Badminton
- Table tennis
- Beach tennis
While many racquet sports have similar play styles and court dimensions, there are some differences from sport to sport. Pickle Court Surfacing offers multi-use courts so that homeowners’ or community centers can serve multiple player types.
Court Dimensions
The first difference between individual racquet sports is the court dimensions. Each sport will have different dimensions, lines, spacing, and net placement. Here are some of the most popular court dimensions.
Tennis Courts
Regulation tennis courts are 27 feet by 78 feet for singles, while doubles courts are 36 x 78 feet. The net height should be 42 inches at each post, while the center should be 36 inches.
Tennis also includes longer rallies, which need more ground coverage. Tennis courts come with an additional playing area for this purpose as well as service boxes and alleys.
Pickleball Courts
Pickleball courts are 20 feet by 44 feet for singles and doubles. Pickleball nets are 36 inches at the sides and 34 inches at the center. People have referred to pickleball courts as smaller tennis courts. Pickleball courts also have a non-volley zone that is 7 feet from the net on each side.
Racquetball Courts
A standard racquetball court is 20 feet by 40 feet. Racquetball is an indoor sport, which requires walls to help bounce the ball off of. The front wall needs to be 20 feet high and the rear wall must be 12 feet at minimum.
Badminton Courts
In order to play badminton the court must be 17 feet by 44 feet for singles and 20 feet by 44 feet for doubles. The net height must be 60 inches at the center which is higher than other racquet courts. The court also includes space for short and long service lines.
Different Surface Materials
Racquet sports courts are typically made of concrete or asphalt. They are then covered with an acrylic coating to ensure the surface is smooth for playtime.
Some courts like badminton or squash are made out of wood to ensure better durability. Synthetic options can also be used for racquet courts as they still have some give or bounce to them.
Tennis courts can often be made of grass which helps the ball move faster. Hard courts help balance high bounces and ball movement for optimal gameplay.
Pickle Court Surfacing uses premium court materials that are used by USA Pickleball and the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). Our customers get the best gameplay and coloring when choosing our business.
Equipment Or Ball Materials
Most racquet courts are played on with a ball, except for badminton which uses a shuttlecock. Pickleball, tennis, squash, and racquetball all utilize a small ball that is made of rubber or polymer.
Keeping the ball from bouncing all over the court or too high for players to reach is a challenge that court installers must take into consideration. Utilizing the right court materials for the specific sport will negate this problem.
While most racquet sports are played with a racquet, pickleball, and squash use paddles to volley the ball back and forth.
Indoor Vs. Outdoor Play
The only racquet sport that is supposed to be played indoors is racquetball. Other racquet courts can be featured indoors or outdoors. Other community courts are typically featured outside because they take up a lot of space and are best enjoyed without interior noise.
Since pickleball is growing in popularity, including multiple courts outside helps to provide more people with the opportunity to play. Since pickleball is also one of the smaller racquet courts it is easy to install in multiple locations, indoors and outdoors.
Court Options From Pickle Court Surfacing
No matter your favorite racquet sport, our experts can help you achieve your court dream. Racquet courts are a great way to enhance your curb appeal while giving you the space to entertain and get some physical exercise. Pickle Court Surfacing specializes in basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and multi-purpose courts. Reach out to us for a free estimate or to schedule your project today!