The red clay that is used as the surface on a tennis court originated right back to the origins of the game. If you play tennis yourself, you have been privileged to have a game on this famous surface. The history of the red clay court is particularly prevalent in Spain and the home of the only major played on clay; France.
This is a unique surface and makes the style of play completely different from other surfaces. To actually play on clay is an exhilarating experience.
If you have never had the pleasure of playing on red clay, and would like to know a little more about it, here's a few interesting facts.
The serve and volley players who regularly record wins on other surfaces will often struggle on the red clay. To win on this surface you will be playing from the baseline with punishing ground strokes.
If you do ever see a player approach the net while playing on clay, it is a very rare thing indeed. Those who rely on their booming serve will also find that it hasn't the effect on this surface as it does on others.
If you weren't aware already, clay is a very thick compound. It is the thickest of all the surfaces and instead of the ball hitting the surface and then speeding up, the clay slows it down.
Where as on other surfaces such as hard courts the ball skids along the surface at speed, on clay courts it is slowed right down by the thickness of the surface.
There have been some marathon tennis matches played on clay, and that has been because the ball has slowed as it hits the surface and given the player time to be able to reach it.
The rallies are obviously longer and shots easier to reach than they would be on the fast courts. A sure fire winner on grass is probably reachable on clay.
Speed is the key on clay, to reach the ball early while it is still on the rise and put it away thanks to a thumping ground stroke.
This is a unique surface and makes the style of play completely different from other surfaces. To actually play on clay is an exhilarating experience.
If you have never had the pleasure of playing on red clay, and would like to know a little more about it, here's a few interesting facts.
The serve and volley players who regularly record wins on other surfaces will often struggle on the red clay. To win on this surface you will be playing from the baseline with punishing ground strokes.
If you do ever see a player approach the net while playing on clay, it is a very rare thing indeed. Those who rely on their booming serve will also find that it hasn't the effect on this surface as it does on others.
If you weren't aware already, clay is a very thick compound. It is the thickest of all the surfaces and instead of the ball hitting the surface and then speeding up, the clay slows it down.
Where as on other surfaces such as hard courts the ball skids along the surface at speed, on clay courts it is slowed right down by the thickness of the surface.
There have been some marathon tennis matches played on clay, and that has been because the ball has slowed as it hits the surface and given the player time to be able to reach it.
The rallies are obviously longer and shots easier to reach than they would be on the fast courts. A sure fire winner on grass is probably reachable on clay.
Speed is the key on clay, to reach the ball early while it is still on the rise and put it away thanks to a thumping ground stroke.
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