No-line court
Encyclopedia
The no-line, multi-colored tennis court was introduced by the World Team Tennis
(WTT) league during its early years [1975-6]. The WTT presented this creative alternative tennis court as an identity 'logo'.
The no-line, multi-colored tennis courts shown in the figures are two original Southern California outdoor installations. The different areas of the no-line tennis court are defined by colors instead of white lines. White lines on a standard tennis court
. are painted onto a single, or two-tone, colored background, as required by the ‘rules’ of the United States Tennis Association (U.S.T.A) USTA and the International Tennis Federation
(I.T.F.).
The original multi-colored, no-line tennis court has eleven separate colored areas with no segregating lines. As a functional, no-line tennis court design it was issued a USPTO utility patent #4,045,022 in 1977 to its inventors, Geoffrey Grant
, an avid and successful senior tennis competitor, and Robert Nicks, an engineer. These two inventors also developed, tested and patented (USPTO patent. # 3,982,759 the original tennis electronic line judge
used by the Men’s World Championship Tennis
and Ladies’ Virginia Slims
sponsored tennis tours in 1974-5.
Distinctively, the no-line, multi-colored tennis court deviates from both the U.S.T.A and the ITF rules because the court‘s playing zones are separated by color instead of lines. Specifically, the court lacks a line dividing the service courts that is two inches wide and twenty-one feet long, and within the rules of tennis, this line is considered to be a part of both service zones. During play, a tennis ball served that hits the shared line is playable from either side service positions. In the absence of the line the size of both service areas deviates from the rules because each court is an inch [2.5 cm] narrower than specified by the U.S.T.A and the ITF.
The multi-colored court used by the Advanta
WTT sponsored league in 2008-9 is a compromise in that it has both white lines and the colored areas that satisfies both the rules of the tennis organizations and media appeal.
World Team Tennis
World TeamTennis is a coed professional tennis league played with a unique team format in the United States. Each match consists of five sets. Each set features a different configuration . Coaches, before the match, decide the order in which the sets will be played...
(WTT) league during its early years [1975-6]. The WTT presented this creative alternative tennis court as an identity 'logo'.
The no-line, multi-colored tennis courts shown in the figures are two original Southern California outdoor installations. The different areas of the no-line tennis court are defined by colors instead of white lines. White lines on a standard tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
. are painted onto a single, or two-tone, colored background, as required by the ‘rules’ of the United States Tennis Association (U.S.T.A) USTA and the International Tennis Federation
International Tennis Federation
The International Tennis Federation is the governing body of world tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations.It was established as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by 12 national associations meeting at a conference in Paris, France on 1 March 1913...
(I.T.F.).
The original multi-colored, no-line tennis court has eleven separate colored areas with no segregating lines. As a functional, no-line tennis court design it was issued a USPTO utility patent #4,045,022 in 1977 to its inventors, Geoffrey Grant
Geoffrey Frank Grant
Geoffrey Frank Grant is a scientist and administrative manager at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth He was born on September 5, 1941 in Empingham, Rutland...
, an avid and successful senior tennis competitor, and Robert Nicks, an engineer. These two inventors also developed, tested and patented (USPTO patent. # 3,982,759 the original tennis electronic line judge
Electronic line judge (tennis)
An electronic line judge is a device used in tennis to automatically detect where a ball has landed on the court. Attempts to revolutionize tennis officiating and the judging of calls in the sport began in the early 1970s and has resulted in the design, development and prototyping of several...
used by the Men’s World Championship Tennis
World Championship Tennis
World Championship Tennis was a tour for professional male tennis players established in 1968 and lasted until the emergence of the ATP Tour in 1990...
and Ladies’ Virginia Slims
Virginia Slims
Virginia Slims is a brand of cigarette manufactured by Altria Group . The brand was introduced in 1968 and marketed to young professional women using the slogan "You've come a long way, baby." Some media watch groups considered this campaign to be responsible for a rapid increase in smoking among...
sponsored tennis tours in 1974-5.
Distinctively, the no-line, multi-colored tennis court deviates from both the U.S.T.A and the ITF rules because the court‘s playing zones are separated by color instead of lines. Specifically, the court lacks a line dividing the service courts that is two inches wide and twenty-one feet long, and within the rules of tennis, this line is considered to be a part of both service zones. During play, a tennis ball served that hits the shared line is playable from either side service positions. In the absence of the line the size of both service areas deviates from the rules because each court is an inch [2.5 cm] narrower than specified by the U.S.T.A and the ITF.
The multi-colored court used by the Advanta
Advanta
Advanta was an American banking company. It controlled two banks, Advanta Bank Corp and Advanta National Bank. The banking corporation is not associated with Advanta Energy Corp., an energy consulting practice based in California. Until 1988, the company was called TSO Financial.The bank was...
WTT sponsored league in 2008-9 is a compromise in that it has both white lines and the colored areas that satisfies both the rules of the tennis organizations and media appeal.
Sources
- Greg Hoffman, The Art of World Team Tennis, San Francisco Book Company, 1977 ISBN 0-913374-65-2 Special:BookSources/0913374652
- World Team Tennis, Official site