1. Benefits of Play on Clay
Clay tennis courts are gaining momentum. Tennis began on a lawn court in the 19th century, but shortly afterwards clay courts became popular. However, due to their high maintenance, clay courts eventually became obsolete. Now, with injury and safety concerns of tennis players on the typical hard courts of today, clay courts or soft courts are making a comeback. Almost like a turf court, clay courts are soft and easy on joints and bones. Unlike a turf court, though, clay courts are more firm. They also don't require mowing and fertilizing. Clay courts are much cooler than other types of courts such as concrete and much more comfortable for tennis players.
2. Maintenance Made Simple
Clay tennis courts do have to be maintained, but luckily maintenance has become a much simpler process compared to the maintenance challenges of yesteryear. Earlier clay courts were built flat over proper drainage so that the court could dry out after wet weather. It took a few days, though, for the clay courts to dry out completely. Now, with newer fast-dry surface technology, clay tennis court maintenance is easier and quicker.
3. Fake Clay is Still Clay
Most clay tennis courts today aren't truly clay. Both the Italian and French Open host professional tennis matches on so-called clay courts, but in reality the courts aren't all clay. A mixture of natural and synthetic materials (e.g., crushed up brick) is typically used today to construct clay tennis courts. Nevertheless, tennis players find that playing on a clay tennis court of any kind is more comfortable and easier to move on.
4. Advantage Points of Clay Tennis Courts
Tennis players must adjust their games for playing on clay tennis courts. The advantage of playing on a clay court is that a player can slide easier and faster to return a ball. However, the clay surface slows the ball down significantly, so tennis players have to tweak their game and not only time returns just right but also calculate serves differently from what they're used to. Whereas precision benefits a tennis player on a typical hard court surface, intuition and an hand-eye coordination guides a player on a clay court.
5. Clay Sex Appeal
Clay courts have a natural sex appeal for both landscapers and tennis players alike. Some people believe clay courts are more natural and blend in with the landscape and environment better than typical tennis courts. Finally, while clay tennis courts are a bit harder to maintain than regular tennis courts, they tend to be aesthetically more appealing, they don't capture as much heat and they are more comfortable to play on.
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