Different Types of Tennis Courts

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Har-Tru is a type of tennis court that is easy to maintain and has many health and playing benefits, which make them a popular choice for tennis court owners.

Har-Tru is crushed rock and has a granular surface and acts as a shock-absorbing cushion that ultimately prevents hard stops like those made commonly on hard surfaces. This type of  surface permits sliding that result in 85% fewer injuries than hard surfaces. Most avid tennis players find that Har-Tru courts allow them to play the game every day without soreness or pain in thier body.

Har-Tru courts have several advantages revolving around playing characteristics. A Har-Tru court provides a consistently slower ball bounce than other surfaces. This res-ults in longer rallies, a greater variety of strokes and a more controlled game.

Har-Tru courts retain moisture and during the hottest parts of summer, the surface remains an average of 25% cooler than hard courts - a real advantage in warmer months.

 Har-Tru enables players to develop a complete all-court game, while also allowing you to log more playing hours on court without over-stressing your body.

ADVANTAGES:  The main advantage of a har-tru/clay tennis court is it is very forgiving and easiest surface for the body.  You can play longer and harder with less strain on the body.

DISADVANTAGES:  The main disadvantage of a har-tru/clay tennis court is it requires yearly and weekly maintenance to maintain proper play.  At times you can get bad bounces and a har-tru tennis court is not versatile as you can only play tennis on a har-tru court.

The hard surface tennis court or "All Weather Tennis Court", is the most common surface type of court. In the United States Tennis is played primarily on hard courts. These courts are made out of an asphalt or concrete base that is coated with different materials and painted.

Hard-Courts are also the most common court surface on the Professional Tennis Tour. Generally hard-courts are considered relatively fast court surfaces that suit players with big serves and a power game

The All Weather tennis court is generally constructed of  asphalt then painted with an acrylic paint color finish system, available in a variety of colors. At Old Tennis Services we use Deco-Turf and Har-Tru Brands of paint.

Cushioning can be applied before the color is applied to relieve some of the stress on the body.

 ADVANTAGES:  The most compelling advantage of an all-weather tennis court is that it requires little or no maintenance on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.  Many homeowners and companies utilize their all weather courts for other activities such as basketball, pickleball, volleyball or children playing on the court. 

DISADVANTAGES: The biggest disadvantage of an all-weather court is anyone over the age of 35 who plays on a regular basis will feel negative effects on their body and increase injuries.  Even though maintenance is generally not required on an annual basis, a resurfacing is often needed every seven years and it can be costly.

CaliClay is a hybrid surface that combines the benefits of har-tru tennis court with the low maintenance of all-weather tennis courts.

CaliClay is fast and easy to install, easy to maintain, and easy to play on every day—Caliclay  provides consistent play and is unmatched in ease of providing maintenance. 

The Caliclay tennis court surface blends the sliding features of Har-Tru  with the easier, less maintenance of a hard court. Like hard courts, Caliclay courts require little maintenance.  CaliClay brings you the positive softness of clay while solving the negative cost and maintenance issues with traditional har-tru courts.

Caliclay offers truly all-weather playability not matter if the weather is wet, dry, hot, or cold Caliclay tennis court surface is highly resilient and rapidly returns to playability in all types of weather. During the hottest days of summer, Caliclay courts remain cooler than hard courts, adding to player comfort.

Caliclay surfaces can be installed on top of an existing hard court in as little as one week. The system utilizes a specially designed mat that acts as the base for a thin layer of red clay from Mexico that is spread on top of the mat. 

Caliclay surfaces need far less clay and about 60 percent less water than a traditional tennis court in the northeast.  

ADVANTAGES:  Like a har-tru tennis court it is much easier on the body .  A Caliclay tennis court requires very little maintenance on a yearly and weekly maintenance. 

DISADVANTAGES:  It can not be used for other activities other than tennis.  Must be put over an existing all-weather tennis court or a hard pitched surface.

Made from a special blend of fiber, synthetic grass courts provide a safe, family friendly surface that brings tennis back to how it was played for the better part of a century. It can be installed over any sound base including:

• An existing tennis court that has been cleaned and sealed
• A concrete or asphalt slab
• A crushed stone aggregate base – ideal for areas with impervious surfacing laws

Artificial grass tennis courts will not crack or split like traditional hard court surfaces. For homeowners and facility operators who are tired of the short lifespans of traditional hard court surfaces or the maintenance involved with a Har-Tru court, artificial grass tennis courts offer an effective alternative to building or resurfacing a tennis court.

ADVANTAGES:  A synthetic turf tennis court is very easy on the body and requires very little or no maintenance. 

DISADVANTAGES:  Must be put on top of an existing hard tennis court and the play is different than anything else you have played on.