Official rules for tennis equipment

Added: 12/02/2005

Rules for tennis equipment including court rules, ball and racket rules, and permanent fixtures rules are governed by the International Tennis Federation, whose duty is to determine the Rules of Tennis. Any changes to the rules of tennis can be made once a year at the ITF annual general meeting, the only authority able to amend Rules of Tennis.

Tennis is a racquet game which belongs to the category of racquet sports. Tennis can be played between either two teams ("doubles") or two players ("singles"). Since tennis is a racquet sport players use stringed racquets to hit a ball (which, by the way, is rubber, hollow and covered in felt) over the net into the opponent's half of a court. Sometimes in some places tennis is called lawn tennis in order to tell it apart from real tennis which is also known as court tennis or royal tennis and is older type of the game played indoors on absolutely different kind of a court. Tennis was originated in England in the 19th century and spread first all through the English-speaking people, especially among the upper human classes.

Today tennis is one of Olympic sports played by all ages and at all levels of society in many countries throughout the world. The rules of the game have remained outstandingly unchanged since the early 19th century.

It is the International Tennis Federation (ITF) who governs the body of tennis and whose responsibility is to determine the Rules of Tennis including the rules for tennis equipment. The code encompasses all regulation on the game of tennis including official tennis court rules, tennis equipment rules, positioning of net posts, permanent fixtures and so on. Rules of Tennis are published by ITF annually.

The very first rule on the list of ITF rules for tennis equipment is one called "The Court". Obviously, this section of the code comprises the regulations on court specifications such as court dimensions, court marks, disposition of net posts and tennis net. The rule, for example, specifies the following court rules concerning court dimensions: length of 78 feet (23.77 m), width for single matches of 27 feet (8.23 m), width for doubles matches of 36 feet (10.97 m).

The following requirements are stipulated for the tennis net. Tennis net crosses the tennis court in the middle dividing it into two equal parts. The net must be stretched across the entire width of the court and has to be strictly parallel with the baselines. Tennis net must be suspended at the altitude of 914 mm high in the centre and 1.07 m high near the net posts. To ensure that a tennis ball can't pass through it, tennis net must also be of appropriately small mesh. A special band must cover the metal cable or the cord as well as the top of the tennis net. Both band and the strap must be absolutely white.

The second rule on the list of ITF rules for tennis equipment provides the regulations as for permanent fixtures. Particularly this section specifies that the permanent fixtures on the court include the sidestops and backstops, spectators, seats and stands for spectators, all other fixtures above and around the court, all umpires and ball persons in their conventional positions.

Rules with the numbers of 3 and 4 of ITF's code of rules for tennis equipment determine the requirements and specifications for tennis balls and rackets respectively. Thereby, tennis balls approved for play under the tennis rules must be in conformity with the latest specifications approved by International Tennis Federation (ITF). The same can be said about the tennis rackets.

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