hallamgrange.org.uk

[Dom Jessop]

Can it really be true that nobody has ever invented a sight screen we could attach to our netting without risk of it being blown down?

The backdrop, once the leaves come off the trees, is extremely difficult for picking up the flight of the ball (and no that's not just because I'm short sighted and colour blind ). Even with the leaves on the trees there is one spot behind court 2 where it is tough to pick out the ball against the sky (I'm going to plant a tree myself in that gap one day). I feel sight screens would significantly improve the enjoyment and quality of tennis through most of the year. (particularly winter when the weather is enough to contend with in itself).

I know the last netting was almost falling down, and the screens had played a part in this. But I was told this netting was more secure, particularly with the pole around the top, and would therefore hold much stronger. Surely this would be sufficient to withstand the effects of the wind on normal sight screens?

If not then there must be some designed these days that can cover the backdrop without catching the wind. Got to be worth looking into. I believe there is one club who simply placed cuts along the length of the screen to allow air flow through. Even this would seem to be a possible solution.

I really hope something can be put in place before the winter league kicks in again this year. I hope I'm not the only one!

[Emily]

Oh dear poor dom you really are blind aren't you!?! Have you not noticed those new green poles between the netting and the trees?? They've been put up just behind the netting for new screens to go on so that if the wind does pick up it wont start to pull the netting down. Think its just waiting for someone to actually put the screens up now! So any day now you'll be able to see again!-Well partially!!

[Dom Jessop]

Wow. All I had to do was ask and it was sorted.

All thanks to this forum! (and me being unobservant!)

Lets hope they work.