ITF

33 FACILITIES GUIDE | JUNE 2020 Each surface type has its physical and economic characteristics of which you should be aware. This section will help you to decide which surface is best for your facility. Surface selection involves consideration of the needs of (intended) users, the local environment, and the cost of installation and maintenance. Choosing a surface is one of the most important decisions in the construction of a tennis facility. The wrong surface for a particular location may result in it being under-used (and over-priced). The key factors that should be considered are: • Users/Players • Local Environment • Costs USER/PLAYERS Preference Do your intended users have a preferred surface? Tennis surfaces have a range of playing characteristics, which may suit different users. Grass is a relatively fast surface – encouraging serve-volley play – while clay is one of the slowest surfaces – promoting baseline rallies. The pace of acrylic and artificial surfaces is dependent on the amount of aggregate added. For information on the classification of court surfaces click here. Use/availability How much will the court be used? Man-made surfaces such as asphalt and acrylic are generally more resistant to extended use than natural surfaces such as grass. Do you want to play throughout the year? The expected playing seasons also influence surface selection. For example, both clay and grass are normally restricted to summer (or, more precisely, warm-weather) use, while other surfaces can be used for longer periods. Indoor surfaces are not subject to the effects of climate (as long as it is maintained within an appropriate range), which

• Cover