Tennis Guidelines & Etiquette

When the courts are busy and people are waiting to play, it is important that all members get a fair chance to use the facilities so please treat others politely and remember the following:

• You should vacate your court at the end of a short set (singles or doubles) playing a tie-break at 5:5.

• If you are practising rather than playing a set, you should vacate the court no more than 30 minutes after others arrive and are waiting to play.

• People waiting to play doubles have precedence over people waiting to play singles

• Juniors have equal rights before 6.30pm on weekdays and should follow the above guidance. However, after 6.30pm and at weekends, adults can claim a court. Juniors should be asked to finish the game they are playing and then vacate the court. This also applies if a junior is playing with an adult.

• You should only go on court once everyone in your 4 has arrived. If 3 people are knocking-up they must vacate the court if another 4 arrive and are ready to play.

• On Wednesday evenings all courts are reserved for Social Night so if you are playing singles, please be prepared to mix in for doubles. On Fridays in the summer 3 courts are reserved and every Sunday 4 courts are reserved so the guidance above applies to the other courts.

Note: For the sake of those playing and your own safety, please wait for a break in play before crossing behind the courts.

Dress code

Any recognised tennis wear is permitted at West Heaton. Beachwear, football and rugby shirts are not allowed. Shoes must be non-marking tennis shoes.

Court Allocation 

Details of court allocations for regular, organised sessions and for matches are posted on the Tennis Notice Board, on the gates to the courts or via the day-by-day online court calendar. 

Floodlights

To use the floodlights, you will need to purchase tokens from the bar.  A token for 30 minutes costs £1.50. The light boxes can be found at the entrance to Squash Court 1 (a card key is needed to access). A red warning light comes on five minutes before your token runs out. To continue playing you should use another token immediately as once the lights go out they will not come back on for 15 minutes. Please note that the lights automatically go off at 10p.m.

Changing Rooms 

The changing rooms, toilets & showers can be accessed via the door leading to the Squash Courts. You will need a card key for the door and this can be purchased from the bar during normal opening hours. Please make sure that the outside door remains locked at all times & that lights are turns off when you leave.

Racket restringing

Our head Coach Andy is a qualified stringer offering this service at West Heaton. Andy can provide a 24 hour turn around if necessary.

Go to our Restringing page for prices and other information regarding restringing, or contact Andy directly.

Care of Courts

The preparation and maintenance of the courts is the responsibility of the Tennis Section. The club employs a sub-contractor to carry out some regular court maintenance but day to day responsibility lies with all members so please use the Aussie drag nets to clear any leaves or seeds before you play & remove all litter (including ball tubes, lids & water bottles) when you leave the courts. If you are last to leave the court, please slacken the net cords. Also, please ensure that you wear the appropriate footwear.

Visitors & Guests

Members may bring the same guest to play on only three occasions in any one year; after three visits, it is expected that the visitor will apply to become a Rackets Member. The same rule applies to Social and Country Members. Only Racket Sports Members may enter one of our Open Tournaments but visitors are welcome to enter Social Tournaments subject to the three occasion rule.

LTA Membership & the Wimbledon Tickets

West Heaton is affiliated to the LTA so LTA Membership (Lite) is free for all our Racket Sports members. You can register online by going to or by phoning 0845 873 7202. You should affiliate yourself to West Heaton and opt into the Wimbledon Ballot.

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All LTA members must opt in each year (online or by phone, between September & February) to ensure we get our full allocation of tickets and to be eligible to enter the Club draw for tickets which is held in May. Watch out for an e-mail from the LTA in September and reminders from the club with details nearer the time. Details of our draw will be emailed towards the end of April.