Tennis Court Surfaces: 3 Different Types Explained

Are you thinking of building a tennis court on your property? Several considerations have to be made when it comes to tennis court construction. For instance, you will want to evaluate factors such as the size depending on the amount of space you have on your property. However, perhaps one of the most significant elements you have to think about is the type of surface. That's because the type of surface will affect the gameplay and other aspects such as the costs of both installation and maintenance. It's imperative to understand the different types of surfaces to choose one that will best suit your needs. Here is more on the different options of tennis court surfaces.

Grass Tennis Courts

Grass courts have been in use for a long time. These courts are usually the fastest when it comes to moving the ball. That's because the soil on grass tennis courts is softer, resulting in a low bounce capacity. Players have to get to the ball faster than with other types of courts, which is why grass courts are ideal for a serve-and-volley style of gameplay. However, several factors can affect the bounce of the ball including the health of the grass and the recency of mowing.

Unfortunately, grass tennis courts tend to require a higher level of maintenance than its counterparts. Regular mowing and watering are required, which can drive up your upkeep costs. Also, grass courts tend to be more susceptible to weather conditions. For instance, they can take relatively longer to dry after heavy rains.

Clay Tennis Courts

These courts are usually made of crushed or compressed stone, brick or shale. Construction or installation is usually easier and cheaper. Generally, clay courts will slow down the speed of the tennis ball, producing a higher bounce. This property makes it harder for plays with big serves because players won't dominate easily on the surface. For this reason, baseline players would benefit more from clay tennis courts. However, high maintenance is also involved because regular rolling is needed to maintain the flatness of the courts. What's more, the water content of the clay needs to be balanced continuously.

Hard Tennis Courts

As the name suggests, these types of courts are made of rigid materials such as concrete, artificial grass, acrylic, asphalt, artificial clay or even tiles. They tend to be easier to maintain and the flat hard surface makes the bounce of the ball highly predictable. The speed of the ball can range anywhere from slow to fast and this will usually depend on the quantity as well as size of the sand used during construction. This feature makes these courts very versatile because they favour all playing styles.

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