On the this moment There are 4 main types of coatings for tennis courts, which have quite different characteristics in the first place - in terms of height and ball rebound speed, which seriously affects the nature of the game.

It should be noted that at the moment the most common coverage is "hard", which can be "indoor" or "outdoor", i.e. indoors and outdoors. outdoors. “Soil” (or “clay”) is significantly behind it in terms of prevalence, grass cover is even less common. The rarest type of court at the moment is “carpet” (synthetic carpeting), it is not currently used in the ATP series, it is occasionally found in tournaments of the lower categories.

Now we will consider each type of coverage separately and determine what requirements it puts forward for tennis players and who will have an advantage on it.

Carpets

Let's start with the rarest type of coating at the moment - the "carpet". The most controversial type, since the bounce of the ball depends entirely on which synthetic material is used, but is generally considered the "slowest" available. It is good for its safety - it spares the joints, ligaments and spine of a tennis player, injuries here happen infrequently.

A fairly versatile coating that does not give any particular advantage to any of the main styles of tennis players, the only ones for whom such a “slowness” of the rebound is useful are defensive-style dirt roads, but it still does not give any particular advantages.

grass cover

Tournaments on the grass are held for a little over a month in a row - two weeks of Wimbledon, and three weeks before it. The coating is very expensive to maintain, therefore it is used less and less. The fastest type of coverage, which is characterized by a low and fast rebound of the ball, and therefore it is considered that it is optimal for it - a powerful serve with access to the net. It is quite difficult to play on the back line, because the ground players do not succeed here.

Federer demonstrates a style that suits such a surface well, but after Boris Becker (the famous master of the hit-and-run style) began to cooperate with Djokovic, the Swiss had to make room.

It is traditionally believed that the British and Australians play best on the grass, but in fact over the past 20 years this statement has been justified only twice - in 2002 (Lleyto Hewitt) and in 2013 (Andy Murray, the first Wimbledon for Great Britain since 1936).

Priming

The slowest type of coatings, like carpet, is quite safe. Demanding, but inexpensive to maintain, because there are a lot of such courts. It is distinguished by a slow and high rebound of the ball, which, however, is sometimes difficult to predict. Representatives of the “Spanish” school of tennis “grow” on such surfaces, for example, Nadal, Robredo, etc.

One of the features of the ground is low - after hitting the court, the ball slows down significantly and bounces high enough to make it convenient for almost any opponent to take it. However, the flow, exceeding the speed of 200 km per hour, still remains dangerous.

Although there are many "defensive" style grounders whose main task is to return the ball to the opponent's side, they rarely achieve serious success, clay requires powerful aggressive play and good stamina. At the same time, however, it is enough for a tennis player to have one "well-placed" hit, since a slow rebound makes it possible to "run" under a convenient hand. By the way, this is an additional requirement - the ability to move correctly and even slide on a clay court.

A striking example of a strong primer is Nadal. Not having a particularly powerful serve, he is distinguished by good movement around the court and powerful "piercing" blows, which opponents simply do not have time for.

When betting on matches on clay, it should be borne in mind that stronger players often win here (i.e., sensations are rare here), and against tired tennis players, you can safely take even a fairly large handicap, since there is not much difference between serving and receiving here. But it is pointless to take large plus odds, again because of the low value of the serve.

Hard

The most common coating at the moment, which is used both outdoors and in halls. At the same time, the concept of “hard” is a collective one, in fact, according to its classification, there are 5 types, each of which differs in height and rebound speed. It also leaves a big imprint on whether the match is played “under the roof”.

The fact is that "indoor hard" is practically perfect place for the game - there is no wind here, the sun does not shine in the eyes, etc. Therefore, any tennis player can show his the best game. But in the open air, not every pitching specialist will be able to “turn around” at full strength - in strong winds, those tennis players who serve with strong rotation (such a ball is more “stable”) get a significant advantage, but fans of “flat” strikes have to tight - the ball can simply be blown away by the wind.

In general, open hard is the most traumatic surface, many famous tennis players complained that even during one match, the characteristics of the surface gradually changed. In addition, most of these tournaments take place in hot weather, so this is another test of endurance.

In general, hard is the most demanding on the universalism of players. Here you need a powerful serve, and a good reception, and the ability to hit equally hard with two hands. For example, if a well-honed forehand is enough for an athlete to play on the ground, then on hard it will be easy to outplay him, simply by serving the ball under the backhand. It is extremely difficult to achieve success on hard without a powerful serve - this factor alone makes it easy to keep "your" games. Equally important is an aggressive reception on the second, weaker serve - this is the only opportunity for the receiver to score a point.

Large negative handicaps should be avoided when betting on matches on this surface, as more than 2-3 breaks are rarely made here, and the most typical score is 6-4 6-4. So instead of a big handicap, it’s better to bet on the score in 2-0 sets.

But if a big plus handicap is given for a specialist in his serve (or Isner, for example), then this often turns out to be a very interesting bet. Taking serve from them is a “bad business” even for the leaders of the rating, unless, of course, such “serves” are exhausted until the last redistribution in previous matches.

Tennis court surfaceis a sports acrylic coating for tennis, universal sports, treadmills, children's safety playgrounds. Coatings are applied on an asphalt, concrete base, or on a wooden panel base, it is possible to apply a coating on Regupol. Coatings are easy to care for, durable, resistant to climatic factors and are used both in halls and outdoor areas.

— Hard surface for tennis courts
— Cushion tennis court flooring

HARD tennis court surface

acrylic coating Hard- "Pure Hard" - a three, four or five-layer coating of selected acrylic compositions. Used for tennis, universal sports. In the manufacture of Hard, the desired characteristics of the coating can be achieved by varying the number of layers and compositions. The covering is applied both in halls, and on the open areas, including in the conditions of sharply continental climate. Possibility and expediency of using one or another system acrylic coating Hard is determined by: type, porosity, evenness of the original base, the required service life of the coating until the first restoration.

Hard 3 tennis court surface

Coating of tennis courts Hard 3 - pure Hard three-layer - is used as an option for an inexpensive coating, provides a good playing surface in case of good quality fine-grained, non-porous concrete or asphalt base. The service life of such a coating is 4 - 6 years. It is possible to update the coating by applying additional layers, subject to the stability and quality of the underlying base. The coating is restored by applying renewing one or two layers.
Appointment: for inexpensive school, municipal sites of mass attendance.

Hard 4 tennis court surface

Coating of tennis courts Hard 4 - pure Hard four-layer is used as an option for an inexpensive coating. The surface provides a good playing surface if the substrates are of good quality concrete or asphalt with a fine-grained, non-porous structure. The service life of such a coating is 5 - 7 years. It is possible to update the coating by applying additional layers, subject to the stability and quality of the original concrete or asphalt base.
Appointment: for tennis and universal kinds of sports, school, municipal sites of mass attendance.

Hard 5 tennis court surface

Tennis court coating Hard 5 - pure Hard is a standard five-layer sports coating that allows, through the use of five layers of an acrylic system in combination with a preparatory system for leveling irregularities and removing defects in an asphalt or concrete base, to completely "get away" from the inhomogeneous properties of the surface of the original base and obtain an ideal uniform , in all respects, an aesthetic color surface sports ground. The service life of the coating is 7-10 years before the first restoration.
Purpose: for sports tennis and universal sports.

Tennis court cover KUSHN

The coating of tennis courts Kushn softened Hard or Soft Hard repeats the acrylic coating Hard, with the difference that rubber-acrylic softening layers are applied before the color layers. This system greatly reduces muscle fatigue, the risk of muscle injury and ligament damage. In addition, it significantly improves the quality of the game, accurately conveying the techniques of playing the ball.
High-tech Cushion systems use softening rubber-acrylic pads based on SBR rubber granulate of various granulometry, synthetic fillers and modern acrylic binders. Such softening pads have the necessary ratio of the amount of deformation and the rate of recovery of the coating, providing high sports performance.

Cushion 2 tennis court surface

Tennis court cover Kushn 2 - seven-layer softened Hard is used as a sports cover for tennis, amateur basketball, volleyball. The service life of such a coating is 7-10 years. It is possible to update the coating by applying additional layers, subject to the stability and quality of the underlying base. The coating is restored by applying renewing one or two layers.
Purpose: for tennis and universal sports, school, municipal sites.

Cushion 3 tennis court surface

Tennis court cover Kushn 3 - eight-layer softened Hard is used as a sports cover for tennis, amateur basketball, volleyball. The service life of such a coating is 7-10 years. It is possible to update the coating by applying additional layers, subject to the stability and quality of the underlying base. The coating is restored by applying renewing one or two layers.
Purpose: for tennis courts, amateur basketball, volleyball courts.

They initially built grass cats, but due to the hot Mediterranean climate, the lawns fell into disrepair much faster than in the UK, and Renshaw decided to modify them. Nearby was located the pottery center - Vallori (local deposits of clay were used by the Gauls and Romans). William and Ernest began dusting their courts with dust, a by-product of ceramic production. Gradually, such courts began to gain popularity.

In 1909, the British company "EN TOUT CAS" was the first in the construction of clay courts to make a covering (surface) layer from a mixture of clay and tile chips. Tiled crumbs significantly improved the passage of water through the surface. The company gave the name “Fast-Dry Court” to its innovation.

In 1927, Charles Bouhama proposed the use of limestone underlayment to improve overall drainage, as well as to improve the fixation and softening of the cover layer. This technology was used to build courts at Roland Garros in 1928.

The left photo shows the laying of layers of soil covering the Roland Garros courts (fine gravel can be used instead of slag).

The thicker the top layer, the smaller its fraction and the more moistened it is, the slower the ball bounces. This feature is often used by the host side at the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup, when their team is weaker than the opponent, because. slow coverage does not make it possible to win balls with one or two strong attacking shots.

Unlike artificial turf (except for artificial turf), the ground allows the player to slide on the turf (Slip Resistance) when braking - the player, as it were, drives up to the ball, preparing to hit.

Clay courts are currently red and green. The most common red soil ( Clay Court or Continental Clay), which we usually call “tennisitis”.

"Tennisit" has the ability to quickly pass through itself excess water (in the rain) and at the same time up to 2-2.5 hours to maintain the necessary moisture. The composition of "tennisit" includes crushed (powdered) red clay, brick (tiled) chips, slaked lime and special additives. For the manufacture of crumbs, semi-dry pressing bricks should be used, distinguishing feature which is the absence of sharp solid particles (the main difference between semi-dry pressing and plastic pressing is that the raw material is dried before firing, then crushed into powder followed by pressing at higher pressure).

It is "tennisit" that is used at Roland Garros (the unofficial world championship on clay courts). Despite the fact that the cover layer is quite thin, every year about 850 kg of “tennisite” is used to backfill each court of the Roland Garros tennis stadium.

Tennis courts are most popular in post-Soviet countries, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France. There is a court surface - draining, where there is no clay, among other components. Such court coverage prevails mainly in Sweden and Germany. In Mexico, sifted crushed stone of volcanic rock is used as a crumb ( Tepetate), and in the Crimea, because of its cheapness, pink marble sand.

The main feature of such courts is a soft surface and a slow rebound of the ball. It allows, unlike other coatings, to reduce the load on the joints and ligaments of the legs. The slow rebound speed of the ball characteristic of the ground (Surface Pace tests) makes it possible to better control the ball in preparation for the strike and keep it in play longer. By saturating the clay courts with water to varying degrees, the speed of the ball's rebound can be controlled.

According to experts, the temperature on the ground surface of a tennis court in hot weather is 20% lower than on asphalt or concrete surfaces. A comfortable microclimate arises above the clay court due to the constant moistening of the coating.

The disadvantages of clay courts include not always an even rebound of the ball ( author's note - How and with what is marking done on clay courts).

Green soil(actually it is gray with a green tint) “Har-Tru” ( Har Tru) or “American soil” ( American Clay) is similar to classic red, but due to the very fine crumb fraction (almost dust), it is denser, and therefore faster than red. Instead of brick chips, it uses a green basalt mineral (diabase is a volcanic rock) mined in the Blue Ridge quarry (Virginia), which is not processed, and is only crushed into a fine fraction.

The coating does not retain water, the top layer does not soften, and does not rise under the influence of negative temperatures. Thus, Har-Tru allows you to extend the season by 2-3 months. It can be used for both outdoor and indoor courts. Moreover, in the latter case, its use is justified by the fact that dust and suspension do not appear from it, which are inevitable when playing tennis.

This coating can be laid over asphalt or concrete. It has an unlimited period of use. The more green courts are used, the more even the rebound becomes. Har-Tru dries quickly and is easy to maintain. With the active use of the court for 6 months, no more than 400 kg of bedding is required (for red soil - 1.5-2 tons). For example, 1 worker is enough to service 12 green courts (at least 4 people for red clay).

Courts based on "Har-Tru", as a rule, have a slope for water runoff.

More than 30 thousand Har-Tru courts have been built in 24 countries of the world. They are even available at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ( author's note - 8 courts with green ground, 19 - grass, 7 - hard, of which 5 are indoor). Most popular in the southeastern United States. In 2004, the ITF allowed Davis Cup matches to be played on the Har Tru surface.

In the right photo, the new courts (four courts) on the roof of the National Tennis Center of Canada in Montreal were tested in August 2011 by Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

In 2012, the owner of the Mutua Madrid Open, Romanian Ion Tiriac, covered the courts with blue clay to match the color title sponsor tournament - insurance company "Mutua Madrilena" ( more).

At present, a ground cover layer (of all colors) is sprinkled on top with crumb rubber or plastic, which can also be used in a clay crumb mixture (“tennisite”).

Characteristics of clay courts

Characteristics	ITF recommendations in %
Ball rebound speed (Surface Pace tests)
Slip resistance	60 - short; 110 - high
Traction force	0,6 - slippery; 1,8 – high degree of grip
Shock absorption (Shlock Absorption)	5–12 – low; 13–20 – average; 21–30 - high
The ability of the coating to provide the required ball rebound (Vertical Ball Rebound)	80 - low return; 100 – preferred level; 110 - high returns

The advantage of the soil is: durability, ease of repair and renewal of the surface.

Flaws:

• mandatory watering of the court in the summer season;
• inability to operate for several hours after a downpour or prolonged rain;
• at sub-zero temperatures, the moisture in the limestone layer freezes and the coating swells, protruding plastic marking lines;
• spring rolling of the court with a skating rink 400-500 kg;
• the most expensive service.

Grass (Grass)

The first tennis courts were grassy, ​​and the game was originally called lawn tennis (“lawn” from English – lawn, lawn). At the beginning of the 19th century, grass courts were mainly built in Great Britain, the USA, Canada, and Australia. At one time, three of the four majors (except Roland Garros) were played on grass (Wimbledon from 1877; US Open 1887-1974; " Australian Open» 1905-1987). To date, grass court tournaments are held at Wimbledon (ITF), Halle (Germany, ATP), Queens (just as Wimbledon is a suburb of London, ATP), Eastbourne (England, ATP, WTA), Hertogenbosch (Holland , Asia-Pacific, WTA), Birmingham (England, WTA), Newport (USA, Asia-Pacific), Stuttgart (Germany, ATP) . And since 2017 in Antalya (Turkey, Asia-Pacific).

Grass is the fastest surface used on major competitions. Faster than grass, only some types of artificial turf for halls. The rebound is very low, and if you can change the rebound speed of the ball of other surfaces by adding various components to their composition, then you can change the rebound speed from the grass only due to the direction of growth of the blades of grass and their height. For example, on the courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (Wimbledon), the grass is cut short - 8 mm (since 1995). But, nevertheless, the organizers of the tournament managed to reduce CPR, which allowed the "king of the soil" Rafael Nadal ( Rafael Nadal) twice (2008, 2010) win it.

The following video presents an interesting observation of the change in speed and height of the ball after the bounce, which was transformed over 5 years (2003-2008) when Roger Federer single-handedly dominated Wimbledon.

So that the ball bounce is not even lower, the soil is kept dry throughout the game day (the grass is not watered).

On grass, the probability of incorrect rebound is slightly higher than on other surfaces. This happens when the ball hits either a bump, or a large bush, or a crushed or trampled area.

The main disadvantage of turf is that its playability depends on the state of the grass. For example, by the end of the Wimbledon tournament, the courts lose half their grass cover.

7-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras spoke quite accurately about grass courts: “ Wimbledon are two completely different tournaments. And it is played on the grass, only the first of them”.

Dismantling the old turf

The grass is grown in well fertilized and granular (sandy) soil. As for the cultivar, based on research conducted by the Yorkshire Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), the courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club use Perennial Ryegrass, a hard-wearing, long-lasting grass. The removal of grass is carried out according to a special technology (see video below), which is kept secret. When the English are asked how to make a real grass court, they answer: “ It's very simple. You need to take a special kind of grass and sow a leveled area with it. After some time, cover the site with a small layer of soil and sow the grass again. And so several times. As soon as the grass grows, it must be cut and watered every day for ... 100 years. That's when you get a real court”.

During the Wimbledon tournament, after the end of each game day (approximately 21.30), the courts are watered and covered with a waterproof translucent cover ( translucent - to allow daylight to penetrate). They cover it so that in hot weather the moisture from the soil does not evaporate, and in rainy weather the turf does not get wet. The cover on the central and first courts, where the coverage area is the largest, weighs about 1 ton.

Watering for each court is individual, and is determined by the condition of the turf, tested by STRI specialists, who measure daily throughout the tournament. In addition, at Wimbledon, the first Sunday is a day off for participants. On this non-playing day, the courts are flooded abundantly with water so that the grass can hold out until the end of the tournament. The approach is also individual - it all depends on the weather forecast for the next week. The volume of watering can be 3-10 times the daily amount. In general, up to 160 tons of water will be consumed during the two weeks of the championship.

The central court has an irrigation system of retractable sprinkler nozzles, controlled remotely. Other courts are watered by hand.

On each tournament morning, grass is cut, rolled ( roller weight 200 or 250 kg depending on turf moisture) and updating the markup.

For marking the court (painting lines), a special marking machine and paint based on acrylic polymer with natural filler and the addition of titanium dioxide (to increase durability) are used ( ed. – Previously, chalk or slaked lime was used).

The halls are not covered with grass, although the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club has a retractable roof over the center court ( it is planned to build a retractable roof over court No. 1 by 2018).

It is quite traumatic. Any awkward movement can lead to a fall. When you watch Wimbledon, you pay attention to how many players, sliding on the grass, lose control of their movement ( ed.– Some players, like Novak Djokovic, often use the slide in the pre-kick phase, others, like Roger Federer, approach the ball like playing hard). The real danger arises when the legs involuntarily spread in opposite directions (as in a split), causing increased stress on the knee and ankle joints and their ligaments. Grass is especially dangerous if wet. Therefore, for it to dry quickly, there must be a good drainage system (author's note. There was a case when, in order to prepare a wet court for the US Open-1969 final, it was dried by a helicopter ( video).

Due to the need for special care (constant watering and mowing, fertilization, protection from diseases), low wear resistance and regenerability, the limited life span of the grass, and the need to constantly update the marking lines, grass courts are currently practically not built. True, with regard to recoverability, as practice has shown, the courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club after Wimbledon 2012 were prepared for Olympic Games 2012 in twenty days.

The English daily newspaper "Daily Mail" quotes (07/21/2018) the statements of the former first racket of Great Britain, and now a member of the Wimbledon Management Committee, Tim Henman (Tim Henman): " Ideally, we would play four matches a day on Center Court and on Court No. 1. But we must not forget that this is a natural surface, grass. She must last 13 in-game days, and if she is "killed" in the first week, then serious problems will arise further.

Now the Wimbledon tournament is investing a lot of money in creating a hybrid version - partly with artificial grass. Similar is used in football and rugby. We need to understand at what percentage of artificial grass tennis courts will look and function normally.

Several tennis generations ago in America, Australia, India there were a lot of grass courts, but they "died out" because of the need for serious maintenance, because of the financial costs of this, because of the requirements for their quality".

Hard (Hard)

This is a common name for a type of sports artificial surfaces, which combines a number of surfaces produced in different countries and having very significant differences (in functional properties, quality, prices). And the Hard tennis surface is a system of arrangement of acrylic layers to create certain specifications court coverings. Therefore, the professional term for this species sports surfaces used in tennis: "Hard Coating System".

It consists of:

• the base layer, which is an asphalt (asphalt-concrete) base on open courts, and a concrete base for indoor courts. Pouring on floor coverings from "Regupol" (Regupol) or "Kraiburg Relastek" (Kraiburg Relastec) (these are coverings from the crushed rubber crumb), and even on the wooden basis is possible. In these cases, a special reinforcing mesh is used;
• bulk leveling layer (Acrylic Resurfacer) in black;
• one or more bulk softening color layers (Unirubber Cushioned Color);
• finishing layer (Precoat) with marking lines (Tex Line).

The bulk layers are made from rubber or rubber granules in a combination of different fractions, and the binder is an acrylic or other polyurethane emulsion. Softening layers can also be made of poured rubber or a seamless regupol carpet (a fairly common option). The composition of the upper layer includes melted and polished quartz sand.

The technology of applying bulk layers provides for minimal deviations of the court plane from a perfectly flat one. This is done by the base leveling system and the method of layer-by-layer coating by “pouring” in perpendicular directions.

There are two main varieties of Hard:

• "Clean Hard" - "Classic" system with 3 layers (without softening layers): a leveling layer (Acrylic Resurfacer) (for filling cracks, creating a carrier layer) and two functional color finish layers (Acrylic Precoat). Used in professional tennis.
• "Hard Cushion" - systems: "Comfort" with 6 layers (3 emollients) and "Premium" with 9 layers (6 emollients). As additional layers, bulk rubber (Acrylic Cushion) or a combination of different fractions of rubber granules is used. It is more comfortable for the legs, significantly reduces the load on the ligaments and joints of the legs, and reduces the risk of injury.

"Clean Hard" may have a different number of softening layers. There are coatings with 8 softening layers.

The total thickness of the poured layers is 3.5-5.5 mm.

The multi-layer coating in combination with the system of functional purpose of each layer makes it possible to exclude the influence of the base layer inhomogeneity on the characteristics of the coating.

The number of layers, in principle, does not affect the speed characteristics of the court, the speed and height of the rebound is determined by the amount of sand in the mixture of the upper layer. The less sand, the faster it is.

Surfaces of "Hard" systems, based on the speed and height of the ball rebound, are classified according to "ITF CS 01/01" (ITF Surface Pace Rating) into the following categories: "Medium" or "3" - medium; Medium-Fast ("4") - medium-fast; Fast ("5") - fast ( methodology for determining the category).

The fastest system is considered "Deco Turf", which is used by the participants of the "US Open". This hard system from the American manufacturer California Products Corporation was installed on the courts of the new National Tennis Center of the US Tennis Association. Billie Jean King in 1978 ( author's note – This center is often referred to as "Flushing Meadows" (Flushing Meadows) - after the name of the microdistrict in New York in which it is located).

In 1988, with the opening of the Melbourne Park National Tennis Center in Melbourne, the Australian Open was played on the Rebound Ace system, which is slightly slower than the Deco Turf. This is evidenced by a much higher number of long matches compared to similar statistics for the courts at the US National Tennis Center in "Flushing Meadows".

Rebound Ace is a purely Austrian invention. It uses not acrylic, but polyurethane, fiberglass and crumbs from the recycling of car tires. This is how Boris Becker described this coating: “ Under the hot sun, such a court becomes either slippery like ice or viscous like a swamp. It's like playing in hell". But experts say that the legs "got stuck" due to the thickness of the substrate in 8 mm, then they began to make 4 mm.

Since 2007, Plexicushion, manufactured by California Products Corporation, has been laid on Melbourne Park courts. The courts of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden tennis stadium in Indian Wells (USA), where the BNP Paribas Open is held, are also covered with a similar "Plexipave IW IN" system. These coatings are even slower, but more heat resistant. The basis of its top layer consists of latex with plastic particles ( note of the author - It is interesting that California Products Corporation in 2013. acquired a patent for the manufacture of the "Rebound Ace" system. So it's not that bad, and besides, it's cheap.).

The courts of tournaments such as the ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London, the Paris Masters in Paris, the Swiss Indoors in Basel and the Olympic Tennis Stadium in Rio de Janeiro use the GreenSet system.

Hard systems with a rough surface are classified as non-slip coatings. Such surfaces are characterized by a somewhat different (from the classical) technique of footwork when approaching the ball.

Advantages:

• sufficiently high absorption of shock loads (Schlock Absorption);
• ball rebound stability;
• when installing a large number of mitigation options;
• preservation of properties in a wide temperature range from +50C° to - 40C°,
• a wide range of colors;
• matte coating, excluding light glare;
• unpretentious in maintenance and does not require special care;
• high resistance to abrasion, fading, as well as durability (the first restoration of the top layer is required only after 7-10 years of operation).

Flaws:

• the most traumatic surface (therefore, tennis shoe manufacturers are constantly improving their models for playing hard);
• does not pass moisture;
• at high temperatures, a heavy unpleasant odor occurs;
• durability depends on the quality of the base layer, associated with a rather complex laying technology and the influence of weather conditions when applied outdoors.

Recently, hard has become the most widespread in the world.

Teraflex (Tarafleks)

It is a synthetic rolled multilayer coating, which includes:

• base made of concrete, asphalt, wooden floor;
• soft closed-cell foam or PVC foam backing, the thickness and properties of which affect the speed of the ball rebound (the pace of the game);
• 2mm textured vinyl top layer.

The top layer is coated on top with polyurethane, which ensures ease of maintenance and protects against various marks, thereby extending the life of the coating. If the top layer is not treated with polyurethane, then special tennis shoes are required that leave no marks.

In order for the foot not to get stuck in the place pressed by it, which can lead to damage to the ankle joint during sharp turns of the body, the upper layer is reinforced with a fiberglass mesh.

The total thickness of the coating is 6.0-7.0 mm.

The teraflex structure contributes to a greater "twisting" of the ball after its rebound and evenly distributes the point load over the entire area. This coating is similar to a clay court in terms of ball rebound speed.

Two installation options are possible - permanent, with gluing to the base and welding, and temporary - with attachment to the base with double-sided tape.

The most common brands of this coating are: Tarafleks ATP, Tennis, Sport B. Of these, Tarafleks ATP has the highest coefficient of friction, which means a slower ball rebound. The equivalent of the coating is Graboflex.

Advantages:

• energy absorption (cushioning) of impacts, ensuring the comfort of the game;
• ease of maintenance;
• no footprints left.

Flaws:

• it is intended only for enclosed spaces with a positive temperature;
• not allowed to be exposed to atmospheric precipitation and direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

To carpeting (Carpet)

It is a synthetic carpet (tennis carpet) laid on a flat hard surface (asphalt, concrete, wood). It can be supplied in rolls or in modules. The seams are glued with a special technical device.

To “speed up” the court, as well as to allow the legs to slide when approaching the ball, carpet courts are covered with rubber granules. The use of backfill gives the surface a playful imitation of a clay court.

The bounce characteristics of the ball may vary depending on the thickness, structure and material of which the carpet is made. Since the surface is softer than hard courts, the speed of play on them is somewhat lower. Such courts are usually built indoors. For example, tournaments were held on the carpet: "Paris Masters", "US Pro Indoor", "Kremlin Cup". Since 2009, the ATP and WTA have ceased to hold their tournaments on carpet. However, it is allowed when holding competitions under the auspices of the ITF, including the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup.

Advantages:

• predictable and optimal in terms of height and speed of the ball rebound;
• good grip with shoes, at the same time providing turns of the foot;
• small loads on the musculoskeletal system of tennis players.

Flaws:

• high cost;
• the influence of temperature conditions (as the temperature rises, the coating becomes softer);
• susceptible to damage and can fold (see video).

Artificial Grass (Synthetic Grass Tennis, Super Grass, Artificial Grass)

It is a type of carpeting laid on an asphalt or concrete base. It is produced using the “tufting method” technology: voluminous fibers imitating grass stalks are woven into a highly elastic base, which is then covered with latex. The pile is made of polypropylene, polyethylene, or a combination of both, which determines the durability and cost of the coating.

The differences lie in the type of fiber imitating grass and, as a result, in the service life, height and density of the pile (number of stitches per square meter), as well as the amount of backfilling with quartz sand or rubber (rubber) granules. The latter allow you to avoid skin burns when falling on the lawn. Backfill is designed to stabilize the pile in vertical position and optimizing an even bounce across the entire surface of the court. Depending on the thickness of the backfill, the height of the pile and the density of the coating are adjusted, which allows you to vary the speed of the ball rebound over a wide range: from slow to very fast. In addition, the hardness of the coating (ball rebound speed) depends on the degree of humidity of the backfill, for which this coating must be equipped with a water irrigation system.

Depending on the backfill, grass surfaces qualify for:

• backfill, with a pile height of 18-22 mm;
• semi-filled, with a pile height of 12-18 mm and greater density;
• non-filling, with a pile height of 8-12 mm.

Semi-filled and non-filled coatings require more demanding bases.

Playing on infill or semi-infill grass is closest in its characteristics to playing on natural grass or clay.

The markings are integrated into the coating directly at the factory, which reduces the number of joints in the coating.

After the first winter, the sand settles down, after which it can be blown off or swept away with foliage and other contaminants without any problems.

Advantages:

• good sliding and turning capabilities, which ensures the comfort and safety of the game;
• small loads on the spine, joints and ligaments of the legs;
• hygroscopicity (artificial grass drainage system allows games to be played 20 minutes after rain);
• all-weather and frost resistance (allows you to play at any time of the year);
• durability (wear resistance);
• not demanding in care and maintenance, and therefore does not require large expenses;
• fast installation (2-3 days).

The disadvantage is its high cost.

Synthetic Ground

It is a monolithic coating that has playing characteristics corresponding to natural red soil.

Comprises:

• concrete or asphalt base;
• an intermediate (shock-absorbing) polyurethane layer, which foams when applied;
• covering layer in the form of polyurethane granules.

The variation of the ball rebound speed, sliding and impact absorption is carried out by modifying the intermediate layer.

Advantages:

• ease of care and recovery;
• no need for watering (compared to natural soil);
• high resistance to atmospheric influences (moisture, ultraviolet radiation, temperature fluctuations in a wide range);
• sufficiently high return energy of the coating, combined with reasonable absorption of impact energy;
• comfort of the game;
• the ability to set the desired rebound speed of the ball during installation.

Modular polymer coating (Modular Covering)

It is made of impact-resistant polystyrene (PP) and due to the strictly organized dense structure of its surface, the coating ensures the correct rebound of the ball. The structure of the module has a mesh shape and its perforated surface does not retain water and dirt. The modular surface combines the qualities of grass and clay courts, but in terms of a set of properties (general dynamics of the game, contact sports shoes coated, ball rebound) closer to the ground.

The coating is assembled from separate modules and joined together by self-jamming fastening elements without the use of glue and other auxiliary materials. It is easily mounted on any hard flat surface - concrete, asphalt, old worn-out hard courts (even if they have cracks). Mounting on compacted sand without a solid base is possible. When the coating is immersed in it, the sand fills and wedges each cell of the structural grid. This installation method is more complicated and requires additional equipment. But at the same time, the overall costs are significantly reduced.

Module (tile) size: 333×333×16 mm.

The main advantages of modular coatings:

• increased strength and wear resistance;
• noise absorption;
• ease of installation and dismantling;
• does not require maintenance.

Drawback - Used for amateur level players.

(aut.- In the history of tennis there were also "exotic" coverings. So in 1963. The Indian team in the framework of the Davis Cup hosted the Americans in Bombay on the Cricket Club of India courts, which were made on the basis of cow dung. However, the specific smell did not prevent the US team from winning 5-0.).

Toward the end of July, the ATP tour moves to hard. Atlanta Open, Washington Open, masters in Cincinnati and Montreal and, of course, the US Open Grand Slam tournament - these are the most spectacular (but not all) tournaments that gather thousands of tennis fans watching the battles on the courts.

What is the difference between matches on hard and games on grass and clay? What you need to know to do accurate forecasts on the outcome of the meeting? Let's figure it out.

Hard is one of the most popular and versatile tennis surfaces in the world. The prevalence of hardcover is determined by the well-established sports characteristics for tournament organizers. The organizers call the main advantage of hardwood over other coatings a decorative and aesthetic appearance, ease of maintenance and, most importantly, durability and resistance to any weather conditions.

Types of hard tennis

Hard is a multi-layer coating based on acrylic, each layer of which carries a certain functional load. There are several varieties of hard. By changing the number of layers, different types have different quality and speed characteristics. According to the ITF CS 01/01 classification, hard surfaces are divided into 5 types: 1 slow (slow), 2 medium slow (medium slow), 3 medium (medium), 4 medium fast (medium fast), 5 fast (fast).

Coatings are made with a rough surface and are classified as "non-slip".

There are two main types of hard:
"Pure hard" - does not contain softening layers of acrylic, which is why it is the hardest, fastest and most traumatic surface. Widely used in modern tennis, has a relatively low cost. Suitable for lovers of aggressive, fast tennis, tennis players with a good serve, playing in one or two strokes, who prefer to go out to the net as often as possible (Karlovich, Federer can be attributed to this type of tennis player).

"Softened hard" as additional layers contains bulk rubber or rubber granules to soften the court, which allows you to create cushioning and more comfortable playing conditions. It is softening that is a special advantage of "softened hard" over "pure". This coating is more comfortable for the legs, significantly reduces the load on the ligaments and joints, and reduces the injury rate of athletes. It is "softening hard" that is the golden mean and universal coverage.

Serve/receive on open court tennis

About coverage rate for 2017:

Serving and receiving a serve on an open hard is a cross between the performance of these elements on and . Here the basic rule applies: the faster the cover, the more important the reception and a high percentage of hitting the first serve, and, conversely, the slower the cover, the more important the speed of the first serve and the active reception.

Most often on open hard it is important to quickly serve the first ball and be able to aggressively receive the second serve of the opponent. This is due to the fact that the organizers prefer to put slower and slower hard surfaces. Still, the game on slow surfaces is more meaningful and spectacular.

Nick Bollettieri, coach of Boris Becker and Andre Agassi, gave his opinion on hard court tactics: "A strong serve with access to the net, variable rebound shots that allow you to win a point from one or two hits or allow you to control the situation on the court, a strong reception of the serve - these are the techniques that can lead to success. When choosing tactics of play during a match, we need to know with whom to face on the court, to analyze the stylistic features of the opponent.

The influence of weather conditions on the game of outdoor hard tennis

What separates outdoor hard court from clay, grass, and indoor play is the ever-changing environment. The hall is the hall, everything is the same there. Grass and soil pass over a rather narrow time period (May - June) and on the same continent. So the external conditions on these coatings are relatively constant.

But open hard takes place on different continents and in different weather conditions. Here's what tennis players themselves say about this.

Boris Becker about hard outdoors: “It was this coating that caused injuries to many tennis players. Under the hot sun on open championship In Australia, such a court becomes slippery as ice, then as viscous as a swamp - it's like playing in hell. In addition, a very unpleasant, heavy smell comes from hot synthetics.

In the United States, strong winds often blow, in which case tennis players who play with strong rotation gain an advantage. Their strikes are more reliable and the wind has less effect on the accuracy of the strikes. Miami and Cincinnati are always very hot and humid. These tournaments are a real test of endurance. In addition, they are paired with the Indian Wales and Canada Masters, which take place a week before they start.

Technique for playing outdoor tennis

The technique of playing on open hard is associated primarily with the average pace. So, on fast surfaces, a tennis player can start first of all from his strengths. If a tennis player knows how to serve powerfully, he should bet on the serve. If he knows how to play ahead of the game, he must move and shoot even faster. On slow surfaces, power and endurance come to the fore. Here a tennis player may not have a smart technique, the ground will smooth out the roughness. The key is power...

On open hard, the main thing is not to have weaknesses. Here, any of your weaknesses is an advantage for the opponent. So, if you have a weak reception, it throws you far, compared to tennis players with a good reception. You don't have a pitch, again, it will be difficult for you to compensate. Weak backhand - and there is not much time to run under the forehand on open hard. So you need to train your backhand. In general, on open hard, universal tennis players have an advantage, and it doesn’t matter that you don’t have the best forehand in the world, the main thing is that there are no weak elements in the game.

Life hacks for betting on open hard

1. Avoid betting on large negative odds. If there are no bright signals, it is better not to touch the handicap of -4.0 or more. This is due to the fact that breaking on hard is still difficult. And more often than not, you will see a standard break in every set.

Tip: bet based on the final score 6:4, 6:4.

2. Pay attention to the schedule, when there are matches and the temperature. It is extremely difficult to play on open hard during the day when the sun is at its zenith. At +30 it is difficult to show your best game. However, there are a number of nuances here. The favorite may try to finish the match as soon as possible in order to spend less time under the scorching sun. Then you will see large negative odds.

Tip: The heat can force the favorite to finish the match sooner, which gives a chance to pass a large handicap.

3. On open hard, tennis players with a weak backhand are quite vulnerable. (Forehand is usually good for everyone, even the top 300 is good). Many tennis players, including North Americans with their weak backhand, are vulnerable on open hard. Here, however, one must take into account physical form tennis player. (If a tennis player in great shape, he will have time to run under the forehand).

Tip: bet on left-handers more often.

4. Accurate score for sets. Often 2:0 (3:0 for TBSH) in sets is a great alternative to a negative handicap. The favorites don't want to spend too much time on the court, so they better tighten up and finish in 2 sets. Here it is better not to abuse it, but instead of F. -4.0, it is better to play a pair of 2:0 in sets. The conditions for passing these two bets are mostly the same. The favorite must finish in two sets, otherwise the handicap will not work (and the exact score in sets will not work either).

Advice: A good alternative to a handicap of -4.0 or -4.5 is to bet 2-0 on the favourite.

5. Plus handicap on open hard. It is easier to defend the serve on closed hard than on the ground. So, just like on fast surfaces, any +5.5 handicap should be carefully considered. Here, the underdog can play better than you planned, and the favorite can screw up.

Tip: Always consider a +5.5 handicap as a potential bet on hard.

Well, just a cool game from Federer at the tournament in Miami this year.

Contents of the Hard tennis court page:

The most popular tennis surface in the world is "hard". If we talk about professional tennis, then half of the Grand Slam tournaments, as well as AUSTRALIAN OPEN and US OPEN, are held on "hards", which differ in their degree of rigidity. It should be noted that the name "hard" in this case speaks for itself - such courts are considered fast, but at the same time they have increased rigidity. Fortunately, today tennis players can observe obvious trends aimed at softening such coatings. Moreover, this is achieved not by changing the material used in the construction of the upper layer, but by using additional softening substrates. In particular, such materials include: rubber or polyurethane substrates, as well as bulk layers of rubber granules.

Used materials for courts

It should be noted that today the construction of tennis courts for private use is increasingly focused on the standards used in professional sports. Therefore, the materials used in these two cases are identical. So, "hard" coatings can be both the simplest four-layer systems and the most comfortable coatings. It should be noted that the degree of comfort of the coating largely depends on which substrate is used. In particular, there is evidence that a polyurethane backing provides a shock absorption value twice that of a rubber granule backing.

As you know, "hard" is a multilayer coating. The top layers in this case are an acrylic emulsion. There is an opinion that this emulsion should be selected according to the price level. However, this is fundamentally wrong. A low price level can only indicate inadequate quality of the material. It should also be noted that there are many manufacturers of acrylic on the modern market. That is why you should carefully select a supplier, while always taking into account his business reputation. There are coatings created exclusively for amateur tennis courts - they are somewhat cheaper than professional ones. Although most customers choose professional components. This approach provides quality assurance.

The main advantages of acrylic

What is so remarkable about acrylic? What is the reason for its enduring popularity? Here it should be noted a number of advantages that this material has:

• long operating period. The covering keeps attractive appearance and functionality during all time. This is because the material is resistant to ultraviolet and other similar influences,
• high maintainability of the coating. So, if desired, "hard" can be restored or repainted as soon as possible,
• minimum operating costs,
• the ability to operate the coating in any weather. So, in rainy weather, you can use a standard roller to drive away moisture, and twenty minutes after the rain, return to the tennis court,
• in winter, when there is a stable snow cover, you can turn your court into an ice rink,
• The hard surface has many variations in friction characteristics, levels of play, speed and rebound of the ball, and price range.

Coating Hardness Hard

It should also be noted that "hard" in its standard form is considered too hard. Constantly playing on tennis courts with "pure hard" can be injured. In any case, even without injuries, your body receives an excessive load. This applies to muscles, joints, and the spine. This state of affairs is especially dangerous for people over the age of "forty". Nevertheless, it is this age category that is the amateur tennis players who equip the courts in their country estates. However, you should not give up "hard". In particular, tennis courts with an acrylic top layer have an attractive appearance, sufficient wear resistance, and provide a good pace of play. Problems with excessive rigidity can be successfully solved by using additional softening substrates. Rubber can be used for these purposes, but this option can hardly be called the best. Rubber, although it provides the required performance, loses to other options in wear resistance and maintainability (due to the fact that it needs to be glued to the base).

Any questions?

You can either call our managers: KS: 098 600 15 55, MTS: 099 600 45 55

base for coating

Often, hard coating is performed on a concrete base. Properly executed coating can last about fifteen years. The top layer should be renewed every five years, but such renewal is usually inexpensive. Tennis court on a concrete base is subject to restoration. Such work is performed in a certain sequence:

• visual inspection of the cleaned and washed court to assess the degree of damage to the surface,
• concrete foundation repair
• grinding and priming of surfaces,
• applying layers of sports coverage.

Thus, both capital and local repairs of the tennis court are carried out.