I received a very nice set of temporary lines as a Christmas gift. This is something that has been on my wish list for a while. Temporary lines are officially used for QuickStart instruction on a regulation tennis court that doesn’t have permanent blended lines. However, there are several great “off-label” uses for these portable lines for drills and training exercises.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with the product, temporary lines are short flat strips of heavy-duty vinyl that lie flat on the court. They are used to show the approximate locations of the lines that are not otherwise marked on the court. Additionally, many sets of these also have “corner” pieces which are extremely useful for marking off spaces.
When two players practice for doubles, it is a pretty obvious hitting pattern to play crosscourt points. However, it isn’t very representative to use the full rectangular halves of the court because deep balls that land near the center line are almost always the responsibility of the net player. To avoid controversy when keeping score, the temporary lines can be used as a better determination of whether a winning shot was legitimately within the spirit of the drill.
The following photo illustrates a possible configuration for that purpose.
I frequently use my portable lines when I am practicing my serve. Typically I overlay them over the painted lines in close proximity to my target cones. An odd bounce off a portable line is a pretty good indication that the ball was good. Whether the serve will be played as “good” or not is an exercise left to the reader.
Another great way to use temporary lines is for depth consistency goals when hitting either with a partner or for solo practice with a ball machine. The portable lines can also be used to make targets or to delineate hitting paths and corridors.
When you first obtain your court lines, I highly recommend putting your name on them. If you accidentally leave them behind somewhere (ahem) that greatly increases your odds of getting them back. Most tennis teaching pros have a set of these in their carts, and they all kind of look alike.
Portable lines are a low-cost way to greatly enhance tennis training for all levels of play.
 | Gamma Court Lines |
