Backboard (tennis)

A tennis backboard is a simple wall usually made from some kind of fiberboard and located at a tennis court. It should have a tennis net either drawn or painted at the proper height of 3 ft 6 in. It is designed to allow a single person to practice by hitting a tennis ball against the wall so the ball is returned, much like a second player would return it.[1] Its invention is credited to tennis player Mary Browne in 1926 during her tenure as a coach at the University of Chicago.[citation needed] The main advantage of the backboard is that it provides a realistic and challenging emulation of regulation tennis, while also being more enjoyable.[2] In 1938 a restraining line was added so that players would not stand unrealistically close to the wall.[3]

Many players are said to have been given their first basic strokes by playing for hours at public courts backboards.[4] Though the backboard's death has been touted more than once, many still believe that it is an important tool to basic skill and stroke development.[5][6][7][8][9] Including Roger Federer himself, with a "Backboard Challenge".[10]

## See also

Tennis court

## References

1. ↑ Farmer, Daniel Scott (April 1937). "How We Do It". The Journal of Health and Physical Education: 252.
2. ↑ Wilson, Paul C. (March 1952). "Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation". Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: 9.
3. ↑ Dyer, Joanna Thayer (1938). "Revision of the Backboard Test of Tennis Ability". Research Quarterly (American Association for Health and Physical Education) 9 (1): 25–31. doi:10.1080/23267429.1938.11802414.
4. ↑ Hastings, John. "Backboard Wall Drills for Tennis". https://livehealthy.chron.com/backboard-wall-drills-tennis-3402.html.
5. ↑ Wilkinson, Mary Ellen (20 February 2020). "Death of the Backboard". Tennis Life Magazine. https://www.tennislifemag.com/death-of-backboard/.
6. ↑ "Tennis Backboard Practice". Online Tennis Instruction. https://www.onlinetennisinstruction.com/tennisbackboard/.
7. ↑ "How To Improve Your Tennis Using A Wall". 9 April 2018. https://www.top-tennis-training.com/tennis-wall-training-improve-your-tennis-using-a-wall/.
8. ↑ Cook, LaRue E. (11 September 2008). "Backboards:The perfect partner". https://www.active.com/tennis/articles/backboards-the-perfect-practice-partner-876242.
9. ↑ Kanner, S. Lee (Feb 2, 1981). "Sporting Gear; Tennis Backboard for Practicing". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/02/02/sports/sporting-gear-tennis-backboard-for-practicing.html.
10. ↑ Sanford, Jordaan (April 10, 2020). "Federer's Backboard Challenge sparks friendly competition online". tennis.com. https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2020/04/federer-backboard-challenge-andy-kim-murray-100-volley-friendly-competition/88344/.

## External links

Original Patent: Samuel A. Burchers, "Modular ball rebound apparatus", US patent Expired - Lifetime US4093218A, published 1978-06-06, issued 1978-06-06 Most Recent: Hugh McTavish, "Tennis backboard", US patent Expired - Fee Related US7677993B2, published 2006-12-14, issued 2010-03-16

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