## 1. THE COURT 

The court shall be a rectangle, 78 feet (23.77 m) long and, for singles matches, 27 feet (8.23 m) wide. For doubles matches, the court shall be 36 feet (10.97 m) wide. 

The court shall be divided across the middle by a net suspended by a cord or metal cable which shall pass over or be attached to two net posts at a height of 3½ feet (1.07 m). The net shall be fully extended so that it completely fills the space between the two net posts and it must be of sufficiently small mesh to ensure that a ball cannot pass through it. The height of the net shall be 3 feet (0.914 m) at the centre, where it shall be held down tightly by a strap. A band shall cover the cord or metal cable and the top of the net. The strap and band shall be completely white. 

• The maximum diameter of the cord or metal cable shall be 1/3 inch (0.8 cm). 

• The maximum width of the strap shall be 2 inches (5 cm). 

• The band shall be between 2 inches (5 cm) and 2½ inches (6.35 cm) deep on each side. 

For doubles matches, the centres of the net posts shall be 3 feet (0.914 m) outside the doubles court on each side. 

For singles matches, if a singles net is used, the centres of the net posts shall be 3 feet (0.914 m) outside the singles court on each side. If a doubles net is used, then the net shall be supported, at a height of 3½ feet (1.07 m), by two singles sticks, the centres of which shall be 3 feet (0.914 m) outside the singles court on each side. 

• The net posts shall not be more than 6 inches (15 cm) square or 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter. 

• The singles sticks shall not be more than 3 inches (7.5 cm) square or 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter. 

• The net posts and singles sticks shall not be more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the top of the net cord. 

The lines at the ends of the court are called baselines and the lines at the sides of the court are called sidelines. 

Two lines shall be drawn between the singles sidelines, 21 feet (6.40 m) from each side of the net, parallel with the net. These lines are called the 

