Return to site

An Overview of Clay Tennis Court Maintenance

Roger Clarke

broken image

A tennis professional in Chicago, Illinois, Roger Clarke has spent more than 13 years with the LaGrange Country Club and nearly eight years at the Hinsdale Racquet Club outside Chicago. In this position, Roger Clarke helps players of all ages learn tennis fundamentals and etiquette.

After finishing a practice session or match on a clay court, players are expected to clean up the court so it is ready for the next players. Clay courts require specialized care, such as brushing and rolling.
Brushing is performed by dragging a long brush from one end of the court to the other until the entire court has been covered. Brushing evenly distributes the loose top layer of the court surface, helping resolve any minor divots and rough areas.
Rolling achieves a similar task, though rolling devices are designed to go over the boundary lines of the court. Rolling keeps the lines visible and prevents clay from accumulating on or around the lines, which can create irregular bounces.
Amateur players are generally not asked to water a clay court, but watering is still an important part of clay court maintenance. Watering is usually performed overnight at tennis clubs but may need to be done more frequently, depending on conditions.