Outdoor vs Indoor Tennis Courts: Does It Really Make a Difference?

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28 Feb 2023
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Discover the differences between outdoor and indoor tennis courts and find out which type is best for you with Edward's Sports – the experts in tennis equipment.

In 2018/19, there were "24,046 tennis courts in England and Wales" according to the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), and "around 450 tennis venues in Britain" with an indoor tennis court or tennis facilities".

Across the UK, there is a growing choice of courts available to tennis players, ranging from outdoor courts to indoor tennis courts.

Many of the biggest tennis championships and competitions around the world take place outdoors, but a lot of tennis players find that indoor tennis courts offer a different sort of challenge and experience.

But does where you play really make a difference to the way that you play tennis?

Advantages of Indoor Tennis Courts

Let’s start by looking at the advantages that indoor tennis courts offer. While most people picture a perfectly manicured green patch of lawn as the ideal location for a game of tennis, more and more people are starting to favour the indoor version.

What makes it better than its outdoor equivalent? Let’s take a look.

1. More Consistent Playing Surface

Outdoor tennis courts are, by their very nature, inconsistent. You will be playing on a patch of grass maintained by someone else, and you won’t always know when.

The turf may have lumps and bumps, and the time of year will dictate the quality.

But with an indoor court, you don’t need to worry about that at all. You will play on the same surface every time you step onto it.

The more you play on an indoor court, the more you will learn how to use it to your advantage.

2. Control over Environmental Factors

There are so many environmental factors that can impact play during an outdoor game. Strong winds can make a mockery of your skills.

You'll struggle to see the ball if the sun is at the wrong angle. And if it’s too hot or too cold, playing will be pretty miserable.

All of these environmental factors are taken out of the equation on an indoor court.

3. Opportunity to Practice During Bad Weather

You’ll never have to worry about a game on an indoor tennis court being rained off. And if you want to spend a few hours practising your skills, you will be able to do so no matter what time of year and no matter what the weather is doing.

When you play at an indoor tennis centre, you only need to worry about showing up for play time.

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Disadvantages of Indoor Tennis Courts

However, it is worth noting that there are some downsides to indoor tennis courts.

The freedom that the lack of environmental factors and the consistency of the playing surface provides comes with a price. Quite literally, in fact.

Let’s look at some of the disadvantages that you should know about.

1. Cost of Play

Generally speaking, you will find that clubs with indoor tennis courts cost more to join than outdoor tennis courts. This is partly because they can stay open all year round and be open at any time.

However, it is also worth considering that you are paying for ease of access and use.

Although there are a lot of indoor tennis courts in London, you'll likely have to go through an online bookings process, which could be more expensive for non-members compared to members who could benefit from discounted rates.

2. Lack of Variety

Some tennis players like the challenge of playing on as many different surfaces as possible and want to experience a grand variety. When you play on indoor tennis courts exclusively, you will play on the same surface every time.

You can practice often and hone your skills, but they will be relevant for indoor games.

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Different Playing Conditions in Outdoor vs Indoor Courts

The playing conditions are always going to be completely different when you compare outdoor vs indoor courts. Let’s start with the playing surface. If it has rained, it’ll be slippery.

If it is cold, it’ll be slippery too. And if you play straight after someone else, it might be a bit of a mess. That’s not a problem with indoor courts.

When you are playing outside, you will also be at the mercy of the elements unless you are at Wimbledon, and they can close the roof. The sun might get in your eyes, the wind might make it too difficult to play, and the rain might make the whole thing completely pointless.

If it’s too hot or cold, it can add another stress factor to your game. When you are playing indoors, you’ll be playing in a climate-controlled environment. The issue will be if you struggle with the lack of variety.

Benefits of Training at an Indoor Tennis Court

There are a lot of benefits to training at an indoor tennis court, and anyone looking to hone specific aspects of their game – or simply get more game time – should seriously consider looking at a membership for an indoor tennis club.

You can play at any time of day at any time of year.
You know that the surface and environment will always be the same.
Because of this, you can focus on specific aspects of your game more easily.
The space will be carefully maintained and managed.
They may be more easily reachable by public transport.

There will always be pros and cons when it comes to the indoor vs outdoor tennis court debate, but anyone who has been frustrated by weather and availability looking for the latter should think about practicing on an indoor tennis court, so start looking for one near you.

Finding an Indoor Tennis Court in London

If you are looking for indoor tennis courts in London, you will not be short on options. Plenty of fitness centres offer indoor tennis courts, as well as London tennis clubs, offer indoor courts.

These are all fairly easy to find online, but there are a few factors that you should consider.

The first is how far you will need to travel to get there. One of the benefits of indoor tennis clubs is that they can be more centrally located (there is one in Islington, for example).

You’ll also need to factor in membership fees, and you should find out when they will be the busiest. Some tennis clubs in London may also have a waiting list to join.

Conclusion: Could an Indoor Tennis Court Suit Your Style of Play?

Different players will have different preferences when it comes to tennis courts, but there can be no arguing that indoor tennis courts have a lot to offer.

If you are serious about working on your game, or if you just want to be able to play without worrying about the weather, then indoor tennis works perfectly.

With indoor tennis courts, you can play after work or after school. You can develop areas of your game that you are worried about because you know that factors like the court surface will be consistent.

FAQs

Is indoor tennis slower?

Actually, no! Indoor tennis is generally much faster than its outdoor equivalent. This is because the weather factors that you need to factor in when you are playing outside, such as rain, wind and so on, slow down the game.

When you are playing indoors, those elements are not present, so things pick up speed very quickly.

How many indoor tennis courts are there in the UK?

In a report from 2019, it was stated that there were more than 1,400 indoor tennis courts in the UK. Now, it is worth noting that these courts are spread over 300 locations, but efforts are being made to keep making tennis a more accessible sport to people from all backgrounds all over the country.

What surface is indoor tennis?

There are lots of different surfaces for indoor tennis courts, and it will largely depend on where you play. Many indoor courts use artificial turf or carpet to simulate the experience of playing on grass.

However, you may be more likely to find an indoor court that uses a hard acrylic surface, clay, or synthetic clay.

Does Wimbledon have indoor tennis courts?

Yes, it does! Wimbledon may be famed the world over for its glorious outdoor courts, but there are actually five indoor courts located at the site as well. What’s more, there are also clay and acrylic courts.

There are 55 courts in total at Wimbledon, and it is important to remember that the club is a lot more than the tournament in the summer. .

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