Tennis is undergoing an evolution in the courts. Wimbledon, The French Open, US Open, and Australian Open have all changed. The games now feature a more homogenous playing speed, and this has led to longer rallies.
Surface specialists no longer lord it over the generalists. Today’s top tennis players are expected to be the top on all surfaces. Below are the most common surfaces of tennis courts all over the world.
The Grass Tennis Courts
There are many kinds of tennis courts, and one of the widely known is the one with a grass surface. This kind of tennis court is no longer as popular and preferred these days due to the high maintenance costs it involves, not to mention the expenses for mowing and watering.
Grass tennis court types are also greatly impacted by the changing weather conditions when compared to the courts made of clay or the hard court types. The dirt is often hard-packed, and the grasses found on these courts are well trimmed and kept short.
The grass tennis court is regarded as the fastest of its kind, as it offers low bounce capacity. The players are able to reach the ball faster than in any other tennis court surfaces. Simply put, the players who have stronger serving skills will be able to play and perform better here. Wimbledon’s signature court is the grass tennis court.
The Clay Tennis Courts
The clay tennis court is often made up of compressed bricks, stones, and shale. Although it is very easy and cost-effective, its maintenance for the long run can be costly.
Clay retains water, and this balance has to be well adjusted and monitored from time to time. Also, the court has to be rolled to keep its efficiency and flatness.
As for actual play, clay tennis courts are used in the French Open events. The clay tennis courts are characterized to provide a slower game due to a much higher ball bounce. This kind of courts offers a slower game and gives balls a much higher bounce. It would often favor the baseline tennis players. This court is very popular in Latin America and Europe.
The Carpet Tennis Courts
Another popular type is the carpet tennis court. This is characterized to have removable court services. It can be made from various materials, which often consists of hard rubber to artificial turf. Overall, this kind of tennis court paves the way for a faster tennis game.
The Hard Courts
The hard courts vary from slow to fast play, depending on the size and quantity of the mix of sand with the surface paint coating. The hard courts have a tendency to equalize the play in terms of athletic styles and design. The US Open uses acrylic hard court while the Australian Open uses synthetic hard courts.
Acrylic courts are sturdier and able to resist hard play. This can create a really faster game, but it can also prove rough on the players. To do away with this, many artificial courts with synthetic surfaces were made to allow for a similar utility but are very low maintenance.
Nevertheless, this allows for better surface shock absorption among many tennis players. In Utah, tennis court resurfacing is done to allow for better play and enjoyment among all levels of players. These tennis courts can be installed everywhere, and their demand is very high among tennis clubs all over the world.
