To gap or not to gap?? A new method for aiding service line calls

As competitive play increases in platform tennis, so does the need for accurate line calls. Platform tennis courts are smaller than tennis courts and line calls are typically easier to make, with the exception of where the singles line meets the service box. To solve this issue Jason Gray (Beckett Ridge Country Club in West Chester, OH) and David Dodge (Premier Platform Tennis) implemented an idea used in tennis which is to leave a three inch gap in the singles line. Jason had mentioned this idea to David two years ago but with ‘The Battle of Beckett’ during the Cincinnati Midwesterns, and the Premier Purple introduction, the service gap issue was unintentionally neglected until the idea surfaced by John Stefanik, a private court owner from Philadelphia. John wants the service gap incorporated in his court when he resurfaces with Premier Purple this spring 2005. Jason put this new idea into play and got positive feedback from his players with renewed excitement for competitive play. Again, this innovative introduction gained national attention when it was incorporated in the stadium court in the 2005 APTA National tournament in Pittsburgh.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue 5, April 2005