Selection of Tennis Court Surface

Tennis is played on a variety of court surfaces, which are all different and affect the various aspects of play remarkably. Each surface has its own pros and cons; furthermore, surprisingly, the playing strategy on one surface might not work on the other. So, it’s definitely useful to be aware of all the small details to get the best out of your tennis experience! Therefore, TennisKit24 has made an overview of different types of tennis court surfaces.

Carpet Court

A carpet court is not very commonly used, and the material, texture, and thickness of the carpet can vary. The carpet surface is fast with low bounce. There exist two types of carpet surfaces:

• Indoor carpet surface
• Outdoor carpet surface which imitates natural clay courts

The most important aspect when playing on a carpet court is a fast movement because the speed of the ball does not leave much time for preparation. Therefore, the aggressive game, cutting off angles, and approaching the net could be the best solution in that case. However, the carpet surface is quite foot-friendly since the surface is softer than hard court, for example.

Hardcourt

Hardcourt is the most common tennis court surface for both indoor and outdoor use. A hardcourt is made of asphalt or concrete that is coated with different materials; therefore, the ball bounces relatively fast and relatively high. It’s a fast surface, but it’s more predictable than, for example, grass or clay courts. A hardcourt is a great solution for a broad range of player styles, but due to its predictability, it is advised to practice different kinds of strokes and spin in order to achieve a more dynamic game.

However, although the hard court has many pros, it also has its disadvantages. Namely, a hard court is not very foot-friendly since the base of the court is made of asphalt or concrete. The possibility of occurring injury while playing mostly on a hard court is much higher than compared to other, softer surfaces. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the best tennis shoes in order to anticipate the injuries.

Clay Court

Clay court is not exactly made of clay; instead, it’s made of crushed brick. It is considered as the slowest surface, which is very forgiving and friendly to the body. Clay court definitely favors baseline players since it is important to construct points well while playing on that surface. The ball bounces slow and high, and it’s not that easy to hit a winner! Therefore, it is crucial to play with a lot of topspin. You have to build up a combination of great shots in order to get your opponent in trouble. In addition, it is truly an unpredictable surface – there are many bad bounces, which make the game even more exciting.

There is also possible to slide on a clay court surface and hit the ball while still being in motion – this is also one reason why clay court is the best option for your body. Sliding helps to prevent many injuries, such as straining your ankle, knee, or something else. It’s a soft and very different surface to play on. However, it is essential to have special tennis shoes made for clay court, because it definitely enhances your game experience. It is easier to run, stop, and then run again with clay court shoes because the pattern of the shoes is deeper than the one under regular tennis shoes.

Natural Grass (Lawn) Court

The natural grass is the original surface where tennis was played on. However, nowadays, they are not very common and are mostly used in professional tennis since the maintenance of the lawn courts is time-consuming and difficult. Grass courts are slippery, and the ball bounces fast and low. Similar to clay court, grass court surface is also unpredictable – the bounce of the ball depends much on the condition of the grass. It is a foot-friendly and soft surface as well. Because of the low bounce, it is necessary to bend your knees even more than usual and stay low all the time.

The great solution when playing on a grass court could again be a more aggressive strategy – to play fast, approach the net as soon as possible, and to serve well. Grass court definitely favor serve-and-volley-players because of its fast and low bounce, so take advantage of the court, and play aggressively!

Synthetic (Artificial) Grass

The synthetic grass tennis court is now becoming more and more commonly used, as it’s one of the best options when it comes to building a private tennis court. Synthetic grass as a surface is slower than natural grass; therefore it is possible for players with different styles to master all areas of their game. However, it is still a fast court surface, and playing aggressively might be the first strategy to implement. As with other fast surfaces, grass, and hard court, the great service is also important to gain control over the point from the very beginning. However, players must move fast in order to maintain control and be able to respond with shots of quality.

The synthetic grass tennis court surface is similar to clay court (and, obviously, natural grass court) for its foot-friendliness. It is a soft surface that is gentler to your body. Furthermore, it is not that slippery as a natural grass court, which again is essential to prevent injuries. Therefore for social and family matches, the synthetic grass court is one of the best options.

Let’s Sum Up!

So, it’s all up to you on which court you choose to play! Every surface has its small characteristics to take into account, and each one of them makes the playing enjoyable in their own way. However, every surface has something to teach you about the game – so go on and take your lessons! Enjoy the play!