Matchclay

Artificial tennis courts reproduce the feel and play of grass or clay courts and can very closely imitate their ability to take shots with slice and spin. The slower surfaces can be better-suited to less-experienced players and the softer surfaces can be easier on joints and help reduce injuries.

Indoor courts are also popular as they offer year-round tennis, also with a lower-level of impact on joints compared with a hard-court surface.

Our outdoor courts are typically a tufted or needlepunch surface – these are simply two different manufacturing techniques. The main difference is that tufted surfaces have a higher ‘pile’, much like a carpet. Outdoor courts will then typically include a clay or sand infill to help imitate the effects of a real grass or clay court. Our indoor courts are all a needlepunch surface, with no infill.

We manufacture our own surfaces, here in the UK. All are backed by a minimum 5-year warranty, and all outdoor courts are ‘UV stable’. The outdoor courts also come with a range of different pace ratings, so the surface of courts can be matched appropriately with the standard of tennis to be played.

Playrite tennis surfaces are designed to be as installation friendly as possible. Comprehensive instructions can be viewed here but we always recommend that our products are fitted by a professional to ensure you get the best from your surface.

There are many things to consider when installing an artificial tennis court, and the following are some of the more important ones:

• Surface – We offer a range of different surfaces to suit the requirements of the club, the standard of tennis and your budget and maintenance requirements. For outdoor courts there are 5 surface options covering each of the ITF’s pace ratings; from 1 (slow) to 5 (fast). We can help you find the right artificial surface for your tennis club’s needs.
• Maintenance – We understand that tennis clubs often have very limited voluntary support, which is why our tennis surfaces are designed to require the minimal amount of maintenance. Artificial courts are very simple to maintain, but it is important that you keep up with your maintenance on them to ensure that playing quality remains high. We can explain what you need to do to keep your courts in good condition.
• Cost – Budget will of course be a key consideration. With our range of playing surfaces, we can give you a number of different options to choose from in order to meet your budget.

Our surfaces are ready to use within as little as 30 minutes after rainfall.

We manufacture our surfaces in the UK and they are installed right across the country. Many have even been installed in other parts of the world. Here are some more reasons why you should consider working with us for your tennis court:

• Experience – We have been installing sport and play surfaces since 1991, and our parent company National Floorcoverings dates back even further.
• Quality – We manufacture all of our own surfaces and are ISO9001 and ISO14001 accredited.
• UV Stable – To ensure the longevity of our courts, we use the highest UV Stabiliser in our fibres to minimise the effects of exposure to UV.
• Peace of Mind – All of our tennis courts are backed by a minimum 5-Year Warranty.

With a global distribution network, Playrite can export their surfaces abroad. To find out more about Playrite’s exporting capabilities, please click here.

Playrite offer a five year manufacturer’s warranty for any defects found in your surface; you must realise the smaller the MUGA the more durable the surface you require. On average a well-used MUGA of an area around 700sqm should last approximately seven years, whereby an area in excess of 3000sqm should last 10 years minimum.

Playrite work with numerous consultants who specialise in the design of dynamic sports bases and by amending a client’s specification slightly, anything can be possible.

Maintenance is an important part aspect with any synthetic surface, not just to enhance the visual aspect of the surface, but also to enable consistent playing performance throughout its life span. Artificial surfaces are cheaper to maintain that natural grass pitches. You must consider the costs involved in providing equipment and labour to maintain your surface against the cost to employ a company to carry out routine maintenance visits every month or quarter – dependent upon your type of surface.

Our needlepunch surfaces are all weather and can be used all year round. Needlepunch is the most durable method and will drain faster than a conventional tufted surface. It is not recommended to remove snow from the surface, however a synthetic surface will generally thaw quicker than hard surfaces such as tarmacadam.