|
The type of tennis
net you choose depends on frequency of use, the length of your playing
season and the type of tennis court surface. Tennis courts with heavy
usage and/or long playing seasons need a tennis net that will last and
look good continuously.
The best tennis
nets are made of braided net cord and typically have double the mesh at
the top six rows, side pockets for hickory or fiberglass dowels (that
help hold the tennis net taut) and vinyl-coated steel cables. Braided
tennis nets are better than twisted because they're stronger and absorb
more energy, so when a ball hits the net it drops closer to the tennis
net instead of rebounding off it. Polyethylene makes a good tennis net
material because it is resistant to fading from UV radiation and
weathers well.
Headbands are
usually vinyl or polyester duck, often with double layers and four rows
of lock stitching to hold the layers together. The type of tennis court
surface as well as personal preference dictates which headband is
appropriate. Tennis nets with polyester duck headbands are better for
hard courts than for soft courts, where surface material can easily
stick to and stain the fabric. Vinyl headbands are more common on soft
courts because they're easier to clean and more dirt resistant. However,
balls can tend to skid wildly off vinyl headbands, which is less likely
with a duck headband because the duck material absorbs the ball's energy
and doesn't speed up the ball. |
