How to Choose a Tennis Windscreen
Windscreens are a functional and aesthetic addition to your tennis courts. They provide a dark backdrop against which players can see and react to ball movement better. They serve to break up gusting winds and allow consistent, even air flow. Windscreens minimize annoying distractions from nearby swimming pools, parking lots, highways and players on adjacent courts. They give courts a professional appearance and increase playing pleasure by providing a consistent background and color.
With today’s various windscreen materials, the decision regarding which one to use should be based primarily on cost and aesthetic considerations rather than on wind reduction, because all windscreens work well to break up gusting winds.
Another consideration is how dense a windscreen can be installed without risking fence damage from strong winds.
Nine-foot windscreens are recommended for nearly all courts, and they should include anti-billow tabs as well as 6" x 12" openings placed 10' apart. Six-foot windscreens generally do not look as attractive as, nor reduce wind as well as, nine-foot windscreens. They should only be used if the facilities are located near water. Very strong winds would destroy fences with 9' windscreens attached.
However, if privacy is an issue, you may need a more opaque windscreen to minimize visual distractions from public thoroughfares. The Courtmaster Royale™ Screen, made of vinyl-coated polyester, is an excellent choice and offers a high level of opacity.
For smaller budgets, the Courtmaster Pro™ offers high mildew- and sun-resistance at an excellent price, while the polypropylene is an excellent choice for controlling wind while providing consistent airflow. They both look great on the court and add to your playing pleasure.
At the high end, the nine-foot-high Pro Screen offers a particularly attractive and distinctive look with its fivefoot-high vinyl center (for maximum ball visibility) and two-foot-high PVC top and bottom (for optimal airflow).
If you have made your decision and are ready to install your new windscreen on your court, check out our step-by-step windscreen installation instructions.
Do It Tennis offers several different tennis court windscreens from which to choose. You will find a wider selection of related products in our Tennis Court Equipment category.
