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COURT PREPARATION
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COURT PREPARATION - HARD
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ORIENTATION OF COURTS
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In General, play is about equal in the mornings and the afternoons. When this applies,
the long axis of a tennis court should be oriented true North South (non magnetic).
This minimizes the adverse effect of one player looking directly into sun.
However, say a substantial volume of play takes place in the afternoons, while there
is a very little play in the mornings. In this case, it may be advantageous to orient
the court in the North-East and South-West direction. This avoids a player on the
south side having to face directly into the sun (southern hemisphere only).
It is recommended that the maximum deviation from true north be not more than 15
degrees.
Tables and diagrams giving sun elevations and directions for various times of the
day, during different seasons of the year, at various latitudes, are available at
most libraries. Such Sun-azimuth elevation tables should be studied carefully before
tennis court is oriented more than few degrees away from the true North-South directions.
A tennis court must be a true plan. Slop of 1” 10’ should be from east
to west or from west to east, depending on the available drainage system in the
neighborhood.
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GENERAL PRINCIPAL
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Sub Surface Drainage:
A peripheral sub surface drainage system must be installed when needed to intercept
and redirect to flow of sub surface water that might otherwise accumulate beneath
court areas. Where it is necessary to lower the water table at a given site, a sub
surface lateral or parallel drainage system may be required to direct free water
from the sub surface to other areas.
Surface Drainage:
A series of swales must be designed where needed, to direct surface water that might
otherwise flow over the surface and to prevent seepage of water beneath the surface.
Bituman grade 80/100 by WT 6% should be used. All materials should be of best quality
and correct size. Use sieve for elimination over size mental especially for second
layer. Seal coat of 6 mm premix material should be provided over the asphalt concrete,
so as to protect the asphalt concrete surface from damage while in use during monsoon,
and before the final deco turf is laid after the monsoon.
A drainage trench 1’ – 0” to 2’ – 0” wide shall
be dug on the full or partial perimeter of the facility as dictated by local conditions.
The trench shall have minimum depth of eighteen inches (18”) but not less
than full depth of the constructed foundation.
Two inches (2”) to four inches (4”) of a permeable aggregate shall be
placed on the base of the trench.
A porous or perforated pipe with a minimum diameter of four inches (4”) shall
be placed on the aggregate in such a way as to have not less than one inch (1”)
in thirty feet (30’) of pitch and not more than one inch (1”) in ten
feet (10’) of pitch. A larger pipe may be required as dictated by the amount
of free water to be conveyed or available pitch on the pipe.
A porous membrane or other porous cover may be placed over the drainage pipe to
prevent infiltration of ground silt or other materials into drainage system. This
will depend on the type of aggregate available or used.
Back fill of the trenches shall be of permeable aggregate of no large than one and
half inches (1 ½ “) placed in six inches (6”) lifts, each of
which shall be compacted to minimize the risk of subsequent settlement.
The trench shall be filled at the surface with smaller washed stone where an open
drain is desirable.
Where a closed drain is called for, the trench shall be filled to eight inches (8”)
below the surface, after which a porous type membrane may be placed over the stone,
and a sod or an impervious type swale formed over this.
The free water “spill off” from the drainage system shall be directed
to avoid complications to surroundings area. Local building and/or zoning codes
may require dry wells large enough to retain approximately one half inch (1/2”)
to one inch (1”) of rain water falling on the surface area in one hour. Consult
with local authorities having jurisdiction. A pipe having an open discharge should
be protected with a head wall for easy identification, and covered with coarse screening
to prevent small animals from entering and clogging the drainage system.
When installing sub surface drainage under existing tennis courts, it is important
that the granular or washed on material backfilled to achieve 100% density factor.
This procedure will reduce the amount of surface settlement and reflection of this
settlement. When using this procedure, it is recommended to contact or consult a
qualified architect and/or engineer.
The greatest single factor is the deterioration of tennis court surface is the presence
of free water beneath surface. Proper pitch and consistency of grade in the sub
surface system are essential.
Proper and consistent pitch to the sub grade and in the sub base is frequently underestimated.
Correct pitch is essential to avoid “Pockets” that might hold free water,
thereby negating an otherwise good drainage system.
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NETPOSTS AND NETPOST FOUNDATIONS
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Netposts should posses the following properties-
The Netpost should remain upright and should not tilt towards the centre of the
net over the entire life of the surface.
Netposts may be circular or square in cross sections. In either case, Netposts should
be easily removable from the sleeve in the Netpost foundation to allow annual maintenance.
It must be possible to maintain the winding mechanism of the net so that it will
not become inoperable due to rust, stress etc. Annual cleaning and lubricating maintenance
is recommended.
The strength of the Netpost foundations required to ensure that the net fulfils
the above requirements obviously depends on the foundation characteristics. Experience
over the years has led us to adopt a standard Netpost footing which will fulfill
the requirements, irrespective of the quality of foundation and soil. If the foundations,
base etc will support a tennis court surface, then providing reasonable quality
concrete is used, the Netpost footing shown in figure below, will provide the necessary
strength to support the above requirement of zero tilt over the life of the court
surface.
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