What's Your Way of Measuring Net Height?

kimbahpnam

kimbahpnam

Hall of Fame
The middle of the net should be 36'' above the ground. So what method do you use to measure 36'' if you don't have a measuring stick? Looking for something simple and accurate
 
I measured my racquet handle and and found the 9" mark. So I used the length of the racquet (27") plus the length of the handle at the 9". It won't really help you in an argument, but is pretty easy to quickly measure.
 
When I spread my fingers to the max, the measurement from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my pinkie is just a shade over 9". I add this to the the length of my 27" racquet and I've got pretty darn close to 36".

Note that some ball (pick-up) tubes have a marking on them for 36". Can't seem to figure out how to measure for the "singles sticks" so I end up playing doubles instead. :confused:
 
SystemicAnomaly said:
When I spread my fingers to the max, the measurement from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my pinkie is just a shade over 9". I add this to the the length of my 27" racquet and I've got pretty darn close to 36".

Note that some ball (pick-up) tubes have a marking on them for 36". Can't seem to figure out how to measure for the "singles sticks" so I end up playing doubles instead. :confused:
Click to expand...
Why can't you use the same method for measuring where the singles sticks go? 36" from the outside of the singles side line.
 
Buy a folding tennis net measure off the bay for a couple of bucks. Job done.

Another great thing I have in my bag is a net winder, the number of times I get onto courts and there is no winder to be seen. Pliers do the job too.
 
I splurged and bought a net-check plastic foldable measure for about $3.99 and I keep it in my bag.

Can't really think of a reason for even a remotely frequent tennis player not having one of these.
 
PimpMyGame said:
Another great thing I have in my bag is a net winder, the number of times I get onto courts and there is no winder to be seen. Pliers do the job too.
Click to expand...
dude that's a great idea! cuz even when the net is not right, there aint a thing i can typically do about it. thanks for posting this.

now what do you do when there is no strap to pull the net down?? :???:
 
For something simple it can be string with a couple of knots in it.
The one thing that isn't mentioned is that the net height for a doubles net at the net post is 42 inches. The club I play at the one net post is 46 inches tall and they are only 1 foot outside the sidelines which is not legal according to ITF Rules of Tennis.

The club just shrugs it off and says so. Since they play USTA matches there I would think that someone else has noticed the net posts and height not being correct.
 
dbusiness said:
For something simple it can be string with a couple of knots in it.
The one thing that isn't mentioned is that the net height for a doubles net at the net post is 42 inches. The club I play at the one net post is 46 inches tall and they are only 1 foot outside the sidelines which is not legal according to ITF Rules of Tennis.

The club just shrugs it off and says so. Since they play USTA matches there I would think that someone else has noticed the net posts and height not being correct.
Click to expand...

The net post slide into a sleeve which in most cases is about the same height or a little higher than the court surface. What "probably" is wrong is that the post either isn't pushed in enough (there are generally little metal studs that protrude out from the post so it doesn't go in too far" or the ground sleeve needs to be cleaned out so the post can slide in further. Rust can be another factor but whatever the case its a pretty easy fix.
 
Got this for free :p
ikea-measuring-tape.jpg
 
kimbahpnam said:
The middle of the net should be 36'' above the ground. So what method do you use to measure 36'' if you don't have a measuring stick? Looking for something simple and accurate
Click to expand...

When I spread my fingers to the max, it measures 9" from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my pinkie. I add this 9" the the length of a standard racket, 27 inches. This yields the required 36".

If your finger span is less than 9" then you need to use a stretch (extra-long) racket. :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
mikeler said:
I have an app where you stand on the service line and it measures what the height should be.
Click to expand...

With a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, you don't need the app. The height of this device is 9". You should just buy 3 more of these devices and then stack them to yield the required 36".
 
36 inches was easily measured back in the 1960's. Length of the racquet 27", width of the racquet head 9" viola 36 inches.
Just really simple back then. Now argue who's measuring device is more precise and calibrated correctly, plus costs dinero.

Aloha
 
kramer woodie said:
36 inches was easily measured back in the 1960's. Length of the racquet 27", width of the racquet head 9" viola 36 inches.
Just really simple back then. Now argue who's measuring device is more precise and calibrated correctly, plus costs dinero.

Aloha
Click to expand...
This is a viola:

5V4vUJa.jpg


You meant "voilà"

And while we are at it... 1960s (not 1960's) and whose (not who's)
 
I just play at a club that has center bands measuring 36" on all the nets. If the band is pulled taut, it's 36".

If I'm fooling around at a public court, I use the Sinjin method of "looks close enough". Most public courts have the height adjustment handle removed from the net poles so even if it was off, I couldn't change it anyway.
 
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