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Tennis Court Accessories, Tennis Court Crack Filler, Tennis Court Repair

Why Do Tennis Courts Crack Under The Tennis Net?

Question: Why do tennis courts crack under the tennis net?

Answer: Tennis courts often develop cracks under the tennis net for a few related reasons:

  • Tension on the cable that supports the tennis net
  • Concrete footers that hold the tennis net posts in place

Tennis court net posts are secured by a concrete footer, when installing an asphalt tennis court.  The footer can be in place prior to the asphalt paving process or it can be installed after the tennis court has been paved.  There is a plastic or galvanized sleeve set within the net post footer, which makes the net post removable and easily replaceable.

Tennis nets are suspended by a cable, which is secured to the dead-end post, and wound or tightened with a wind assembly from the other post.  The average recommended tension on the net cable is 400 to 450 lbs.  The sustained tension from the  cable tends to pull the post footers in and can often create cracks into the surrounding asphalt.  Square or rectangular footers will often send cracks from the corners into the surrounding asphalt.  Round footers can also create cracks under the net, so it’s best to consult with an experienced court builder or resurfacing company to discuss the proper way of installing net post footers.

Here are some diagrams that show the right way to shape and install the court footers, to minimize inward shifting:

 

Net Post Footer Installation
Center Strap Anchor Installation

Concrete & Asphalt Surfaces

Concrete and asphalt expand and contract at a different rate.  When concrete is place next to asphalt, the gap between them will likely exhibit movement.  This can also happen with light posts, fence posts, shade structures, and other amenities.

Here are a few more pictures showing cracks under and around the tennis court net line:

Asphalt Cracks Under Tennis Net
Tennis Net Post Footer Cracks
Tennis Court Cracks Under Net
Tennis Net Post Crack
Asphalt Tennis Court Crack Under Net

Filling Cracks On Tennis Courts

Once the cracks have started, it’s all about maintenance.  SportMaster produces easy-to-apply crack fillers and sealants.  These products are not a structural fix, but more of a “band-aid” for cracks.  They will minimize the amount of water that flows through the cracks and into the base of the court.  Water can loosen the compacted base, and expand to create more damage during freeze-thaw periods.

Net Post Footer Cracks
Cracks forming at the concrete footing corners

If the cracks are larger than an inch wide, and very deep, we recommend having a professional tennis court contractor take and look and provide recommendations.  Many times they will need to fill the large cracks with concrete, asphalt, or other specialized means.  At some point, reconstruction or an overlay is the best long-term solution.

 

Tennis Court Repair

How To Install A Tennis Net

People often ask us how to install a tennis net.  Removing a tennis net and replacing it with a new one is an easy task, however we have created this page and video to walk you through the process.

Step 1 – Removing Old or Existing Net

  • Remove old net by cutting the twine.  Unhook center strap and release the net cable.
  • Fold up the old net and remove from the court for disposal.

Step 2 –  Prepare New Tennis Net For Install

  • Remove the new net from the box and prepare it for installation.

Step 3 – Attaching The New Tennis Net

  • Hook the loop end of the net cable to dead side cleat, opposite end of cable to the crank side.
  • Crank until the net is a little over 3′ (feet) above the playing surface in the center.

Replace A Tennis Net

Tennis Post Wind Assemblies:

There are a few different styles of wind assemblies, depending on the manufacturer and post type.  Generally, you will see and internal or external wind assembly.  The internal wind post will have the components of the winding mechanism inside the post.  The external wind assembly sits on the post and is mostly exposed to the elements.  The way that the wind assembly accepts the net cable is a bit different.  The video shows an example of both styles.  You will normally have to cut the loop off of the net cable in order to feed it into the internal wind assembly.  Just make sure not to cut the loop off of the dead end.

internal wind assembly

Step 4 – Center & Adjust The Tennis Net

  • Center the net on cable & pull the slack towards the dead side post.
  • Install the net dowels by sliding them down in to each side of the net.
  • Pull exposed cable to crank side post.

inserting dowel rod

Step 5 – Tighten The Tennis Net

  • Fully tighten the net.
  • The center of the net should be approximately 37″ – 38″ above the playing surface.

Step 6 – Lacing The Net

  • Lace the sides of the net.
  • Make a 2 inch loop, run lace through the headband on the net and back through the 2 inch loop.
  • Continue lacing the net down the post.  Knot the bottom and cut excess twine.
  • Remove the crank handle.

lacing a tennis net

Step 7 – Install Center Strap

  • Install the center strap.
  • The correct net height is 36″, at the center.

installing center strap

 

If you have further questions on how to install a tennis net or you need to purchase a tennis net, feel free to contact us and we can provide you with additional help.