Tennis Court Line Marking?

Extremely accurate for club certification or tournament use. ITF specifications allow virtually no tolerance. The court must be 23.77m long (baseline to baseline, measured on the inside edge of lines). Not 23.80m, not 23.75m. Exactly 23.77m. Doubles width must be 10.97m (sideline to sideline, inside edge). Singles width must be 8.23m. Service line must be exactly 6.40m from the net. We learned this the expensive way in 2018. A tennis club in Moorabbin asked us to remark their championship court. We were 35mm out on one baseline. Doesn't sound like much, right? Wrong. The court failed club certification. We had to grind off everything and redo the entire court at our cost. Around $4,500 gone. That expensive lesson taught us our current process: measure twice with lasers, mark pilot lines in chalk, get club approval, then commit to paint. We haven't had a measurement issue since.

Tennis-specific acrylic is formulated to flex with court movement (concrete and asphalt expand/contract with temperature changes), resist UV degradation from constant sun exposure, handle abrasive impact from thousands of ball bounces, and maintain colour consistency for years. Standard line marking paint doesn't have these properties. It cracks, fades to pink or grey within 18 months, and peels at edges where balls impact repeatedly. A private court in Toorak had us repaint using standard road marking paint to save money. By the second summer, baselines were cracking and fading badly. We stripped everything and remarked with proper tennis acrylic. Four years later those lines still look excellent. Tennis acrylic costs about 40% more than standard paint but lasts 3-4 times longer on tennis surfaces.

Absolutely, and we recommend it strongly. Full-size courts (10.97m wide) should have both doubles sidelines (outer lines) and singles sidelines (inner lines, 8.23m apart). This lets your court handle both game formats without temporary tape lines or confusion. Many budget projects mark only doubles lines to save money. Then members playing singles can't see proper boundaries and either avoid singles games or tape temporary lines before every match. Marking both line sets during initial installation costs maybe 20% more than doubles-only but adds massive functionality. We mark singles sidelines in exactly the same paint system as doubles lines for consistent visibility and wear patterns.

For a single court in good condition (clean, dry surface), plan on 6-8 hours for complete marking including preparation time. We typically schedule tennis courts as single-day projects, starting early morning (7am-8am) to maximize curing time before afternoon heat or evening dew. The sequence: surface preparation and cleaning (1-2 hours), laser measuring and chalk layout (1 hour), first coat application (2 hours), drying time, second coat application (2 hours), final curing. Multiple courts obviously take longer. A tennis club with four courts needs 2-3 days depending on weather conditions. We won't rush tennis courts. Precision matters more than speed, and proper curing between coats is non-negotiable.

Line marking won't fix structural problems. If your court has significant cracking (wider than 3mm), surface delamination, or drainage issues, you need repairs before remarking. We assess the surface during quote stage and provide honest recommendations. Minor hairline cracks (under 2mm) can be filled and sealed before marking. Moderate cracks need routing out, filling with crack filler, and allowing cure time before marking. Major damage (alligatoring, large sections lifting, failed drainage causing ponding) requires professional resurfacing with new acrylic coating systems. A tennis club in Bentleigh asked us to remark courts with extensive cracking. We explained that marking over damaged surfaces would look terrible within months as cracks telegraphed through new lines. They authorized proper repairs first. The total cost was higher but the result looks excellent three years later.

Yes. Standard is white lines on green courts (most common in Australia) or white lines on red clay courts. But we can mark lines in other colours if you want: yellow, blue, or red lines on contrasting court surfaces. Some schools want their colours incorporated. Private courts sometimes want custom logos or family crests painted at centre court or behind baselines. These custom elements use the same tennis-grade acrylic paint systems for consistent durability. A private court in Brighton wanted their family crest painted at centre court with custom blue and gold sidelines matching their house colours. We designed the layout, received their approval, and delivered exactly what they envisioned. The court looks unique while maintaining proper ITF dimensions for serious play.