Artificial Grass Vs Natural Clay Tennis Courts

1. ARTIFICIAL GRASS VS NATURAL CLAY TENNIS COURTS

2. Synopsis Interested in Tennis Court Resurfacing? Educate Yourself about the Types of Surfaces First Some Real Benefits of Artificial Grass Tennis Courts Learn to Take the Right Care of Your Artificial Grass Court Artificial and Natural Clay Courts: Two Amazingly Good Tennis Court Resurfacing Options! Tennis Court Resurfacing and Daily Maintenance of Clay courts 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

3. Interested in Tennis Court Resurfacing? Educate Yourself about the Types of Surfaces First • Clay court • Clay courts are made up of stone, brick or compressed shale. The bounce of the ball is higher and slower on a clay court as compared to grass. Every year, French open is conducted on the premier Roland Garros clay court. Clay courts are relatively easy and cheaper to install. These courts are naturally favorable for baseline players and encourage a more calm and enduring game. Mostly, these courts are popular in Europe and Latin America. • Grass court • Grass courts are becoming less popular compared to before due to the high maintenance costs of putting water and trimming. These surfaces also are most impacted by weather changes compared to other court types. A player needs to reach for the ball quicker and should have a stronger serve and volley skills to perform well in this court. Wimbledon championship is the only grand slam played on a grass court.

4. Interested in Tennis Court Resurfacing? Educate Yourself about the Types of Surfaces First • Hard court • Hard courts are very easy to maintain. The main materials used in construction are asphalt and concentrate. The ease of maintenance makes these courts the most widely used surfaces; be it The White House or a high school or a popular tennis academy, most courts nowadays are hard courts. These courts can range from faster to slower which depends on the amount of sand that is put on the court. The more the sand, the slower is the ball speed. Both US open and Australian open are conducted on hard courts, the former being an acrylic and the latter, a synthetic one. Hard courts tend to equalize the playing field and are favored by athletes too. • Carpet court • Carpet courts are removable court surfaces. The material can be anything ranging from artificial turf to hard rubber. Generally, carpet courts are good for a speedy game.

5. Some Real Benefits of Artificial Grass Tennis Courts • Any weather, same play • Unlike natural grass, artificial grass courts are sturdy and less slippery even in wet weather. Additionally, they dry out quicker. That sure means, there is less wait time for the next play and players can jump back in to continue their game without losing on the play hours. Artificial grass can be made easily out of a special that doesn’t shine when wet or under floodlights, giving a strain free play. • Great playing conditions • Over a period of time, natural grass is bound to become bumpy and uneven, which creates inconsistent playing conditions and is dangerous. It can cause serious injuries. On the contrary, artificial grass remains smooth due to its resistant composition and gives a good bounce and a consistent and smooth play. • Longer and fruitful membership • There are many fancy clubs opening up and there is fierce competition to provide the best facilities at the most affordable prices that can attract customers to buy a membership. Investing in an artificial grass court is sure going to fetch you some good long-term players as it is the best court for regular practice and play. They meet the highest playing standards set by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). To add to the glory, they are also available in various color combinations which can be a news in itself!

6. Some Real Benefits of Artificial Grass Tennis Courts • Easy maintenance • Of course, apart from all the benefits, it is very important for the court to be well- maintained for players to use it regularly. Unlike natural grass, the artificial courts are easy to maintain. The colors don’t fade even with harsh sunlight exposure and rigorous play schedules. The surface is also more flexible and even if players twist and whirl on it, it is less likely to be damaged. • Player friendly court • Playing tennis requires a lot of stamina and especially during the initial stages, the sport can be demanding. Players need to move from one side to another focusing on the ball, as quickly as possible to hit the ball on time. Since artificial grass courts are softer than a hard court, they are gentler and joint-friendlier. These courts are also less slippery which often prevents injuries and falls during the play.

7. Learn to Take the Right Care of Your Artificial Grass Court • Brushing • Brushing the court surface regularly is the most important way to keep your court in a healthy condition for a long time. Brushing the turf in all the directions will ensure that the infill is evenly distributed and the fibers stand upright and not fall flat. This improves the look of the court and also helps to maintain its drainage capacity. Drainage is very important since any water clogging or growth of moss and algae can be hazardous, especially because most of the artificial grass courts have a fairly fast play. • Checking infill levels • Artificial grass courts contain infill (mostly sand), which are put for dimensional stability and to help the surface keep up the performance standards. Brushing does take care of the even distribution of infills too, but they can be found in tennis shoes and bags too, so it’s a good idea to check the infill levels once in a month and top up when required. This is another essential way to make sure the court looks its best and is always play-ready. Checking infill levels is especially important for artificial clay surfaces.

8. Learn to Take the Right Care of Your Artificial Grass Court • Clearing debris • Getting rid of the dirt like leaves, twigs, debris etc from your tennis court will keep the court tidy and also make sure the surface is even and remains clear of any organic growth. Cleaning can be performed with a drag mat, leaf blower or plastic fan rake. These are soft methods of cleaning that won’t damage the surface when used carefully and correctly. • Removing moss • During rainy seasons, there are high chances of growth of moss and algae on the court surface, especially if it is located in an area where there is no sufficient sunlight (a shaded area perhaps). A specialized, non-aggressive biocide will essentially resolve this issue without any damages to the playing surfaces. For usage guidance and to know which product is best for your court, contact your installer.

9. Artificial and Natural Clay Courts: Two Amazingly Good Tennis Court Resurfacing Options! • Artificial clay surfaces are extremely suitable for anyone who practices a lot because it maintains a nice and consistent bounce, which is why the rallies are likely to last longer. Moreover, you will have to look for new tactics because it is difficult to find a winning shot on slow clay courts. You will be pushed to devise your own strategy to get a point, and this is another reason why you may want to consider going for a clay court. • Just like artificial clay courts, natural clay courts are equally impressive. The only thing is that with both of these options, you will have to pay special attention to proper maintenance. When it comes to clay courts, top dressing is of immense importance.

10. Tennis Court Resurfacing and Daily Maintenance of Clay courts • Every-day maintenance of clay courts • After the play and before pouring water, brush the court surface using a drag broom and clean the tapes using a line broom to even out the surface and make it unwrinkled. • Give a thorough and systematic water wash to the court to eliminate the dust and keep the court stable and steady. • If the court is new, roll the surface as needed. Rolling will make the surface firmer and faster with less erosion and granular build-up. It will also help in better moisture retention and reduce the drying time. • Here are the steps to patch the depressions or low areas - • Drub the low area with a lute or any other scarifying equipment to rough up the surface – doing this will enable the new Har-tru material to stick well on to the court surface. • Even out the new Har-tru material onto the cavity areas. • Level the Har-tru material with something flat or having straight edge (like flat side of a lute) • Water the low area with hand and roll it • Get Rid of the “Dead” material • To scrape off these larger granules, use a lute and with its flat edge, rub the granules till they become like a pile and then take them off the court. This seems simple but needs to be done carefully to avoid any damage to the court surface other than the places of dead material.

11. For more details, please visit: http://crowall.ca/tennis-courts/ 1.416.951.4626 daniel@crowall.ca 2 Briardale Place, Aurora, Ontario.