Concave & Curved Backboards are designed to redirect the natural rebound angle of wide, low or high shots, back towards a central hitter position. This redirection of errant shots defeats the entire point of backboard training! The time-tested simplicity of backboard practice is that it does not reward the hitter for errant shots. If one hits a wide, high or low shot, a flat backboard forces the hitter to run after the errant rebound. This is a terrific incentive to improve one’s technique; especially footwork and racket preparation. The aerobic workout that one gets on a flat backboard simply cannot be duplicated on a concave, curved or back-sloped backboard.

Backboards with 85 degree Back Slope are flat but are not hung vertically. They utilize back slope to “loft” the ball back to the hitter. It is often claimed that this back slope is necessary to provide a “realistic, deep, ball rebound”. A well designed plastic backboard provides deep returns without back slope. On low hit balls, back slope provides the same undesirable ball rebound characteristics as a concave and or curved backboard. These unrealistic ball responses reinforce lazy practice. A flat backboard requires that a player develop the ability to control pace and adjust racket angle to dictate the depth of ball rebound, skills that are essential in actual tennis play. Moreover, the dead space created between the fence and the back of a back sloped back board frequently traps tennis balls while also collecting leaves and other debris. Back sloped backboards also encroach into the court's runback area more than any other type of backboard.

Sand-Filled Backboards are touted by their manufacturer as a “quieter” type of backboard. We have been unable to obtain any decibel tests from the manufacturer's to verify its claim of reduced noise compared to other products. We urge you to insist upon such data before buying a Sand-Filled Backboard. The backboard panels are hollow, vacuum-formed plastic shells. They are assembled on your site and then filled with sand that you buy, locally. It is claimed that the sand in-fill reduces rebound noise. Such boards are only available in 8' heights, providing very little vertical hitting surface.We can only imagine the fun that vandals can have with this product!

Electronic Backboards add a bright, blinking, carnival-type atmosphere to your facility if money is no object! One aims at lighted targets on the fiberglass backboard and an electronic scoring tabulator keeps track of how many times one hits different spots. Such backboards are only 8’ high providing very little vertical hitting area. We found the randomly blinking targets a huge distraction. They caused us to watch the backboard instead of the ball hitting the racket. We are not sure if the backboards come with a full time computer technician but based on the price we assume one does!