Top Capabilities That Tennis Court Builders Should Look for in Tensioned Fabrics
For a long time, tennis has been known to be an outdoor sport — and to an extent, it still is — especially if you consider that major tennis competitions are conducted in outdoor courts. However, the downside of outdoor tennis facilities is that they cannot be used in bad weather. Therefore, tennis court builders have come up with an ingenious strategy to transform tennis courts into all-weather facilities. Enter tensioned fabric. This fabric is drawn over the tennis court to protect players and trainers from the elements. However, tennis court builders must choose tensioned fabrics carefully for different reasons. This article highlights key capabilities that tennis court builders should look for in tensioned fabrics.
Sunlight Filter
When it gets too hot — for instance, in summer — practising or playing a competitive tennis match in the open can have a detrimental impact on the body. Direct sun rays are particularly dangerous, especially in prolonged matches or training sessions. This is something that tennis court builders must keep in mind when shopping for tensioned fabric. The best fabrics have membranes that are translucent enough to allow enough natural light but that are also safe enough to filter out direct sunlight. This ensures players can continue playing without suffering the adverse health effects of playing under direct sunlight.
Flex Resistant
Normal wind speed blowing across a tennis court is allowed, and you'd be surprised to learn that professional tennis players often use the wind to their advantage during competitions. However, strong winds can stop a match or training prematurely primarily because players do not have control over the tennis balls. When pulled over a tennis court, a tensioned fabric ensures players can still use the facility even under stormy winds. That said, the tensioned fabric would only perform well under strong winds if it were made from a flex-resistant membrane. The reason is that flex resistance allows the fabric to stay put regardless of how strong the winds are, thereby eliminating premature wear and tear. Moreover, a flex-resistant membrane does not rattle as the wind blows against it. This reduces noise interference, which is crucial to concentration during play.
Abrasion Resistance
Although a tennis court's tensioned fabric can withstand strong winds, debris and other flying objects are a different problem. For instance, sharp or rough debris can easily rapture the membrane, especially since the flex-resistant membrane retains its form under pressure. It is for this reason that the tensioned fabric that builders select on behalf of their clients should be resistant to possible abrasions. In most cases, these membranes have the right thickness to prevent punctures and eventual tearing.