Tennis Racket Trellis

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Issue 45

The Escapes Issue

Cook perfect pancakes
Build a modern rustic bench
Sew new life into a vintage dress

Tennis Racket Trellis

A wooden tennis racket may be a clunker by today's standards, but when we came across one in the back of a closet it was game on. We gathered other sidelined oldies (Salvation Army was our ace—just $1 per racket), nestled them, and grew a sporty trellis where vines cling to the strings. (Indoors, it's a cool screen.) Boring lattice has met its match.

Photos by Kritsada

Serve up a trellis that holds court outdoors or in.

Gather the rackets
Collect enough wooden tennis rackets for the desired height of the trellis. Make sure most strings are intact so vines have something to cling to.
Group the rackets
Lay the tennis rackets in a row on the floor, alternating the direction so the heads nestle between the handles. Use the zip ties to tie the heads and handles together: For the top and bottom racket, secure the handle to the head of the racket above or below it. For all others, secure three rackets by looping the zip tie through two heads and over one handle. Prime and paint the assembled rackets, letting dry between coats. To speed up the painting and be able to paint both sides at once, hang the assembled rackets by wire or rope from a garage rafter or line strung outdoors.
Prepare the frame
Saw the 1×4s to the desired length. If you plan to put the trellis in the ground, allot enough free space so the buried ends reach the frost line of your area. If you want to attach the trellis to another structure, such as a deck railing or boards to make a stand, you only need enough free space so the rackets clear the ground. Prime and paint the boards, letting dry between coats. Lay two 1×4s on the floor, then place the assembled rackets on top to test the placement. Place the other two 1×4s on top. Mark drill holes to be approximately at the center of each racket head, with additional holes on the frame near the top and bottom racket for support. Our holes are spaced about 10 inches apart. Remove the assembled rackets. Don your safety glasses. Stack two 1×4s and drill holes at each mark, going through both boards. Repeat for the other two 1×4s.
Assemble the trellis
Working on a flat surface, sandwich the assembled rackets between the 1×4s, aligning the drilled holes. Place a washer on top of a hole, and insert a bolt, going through both boards and securing with a nut. Use pliers to tighten the nut to hold the racket handles in place. Repeat for other holes until the racket handles are held firmly in place.