clay footwork

[tennisman_27]

I just played on clay today and I am becoming extremely frustrated. Our clay courts are very poor, extremely dry on the baseline area. I am 6'4" and take large strides so every time I go to move I slip. Its probably the most frustrating thing I've experienced in tennis so far. On hard court I have no problems at all, but clay I fall apart. How does someone my height learn to take smaller steps to get good at clay? Seems like a lost cause.....

[Bagumbawalla]

You could try wetting them down, depending on the type of clay, that's a normal thing to do.

Also, try to find clay court specific shoes, the kind with flat, herring bone soles. That may help.

Also, just practice running and moving on the court. Practice your balance, different strides, leaning more or less, on the toes or more flat-footed, and see what works.

In the end, if the courts are a problem, and they can't be watered, I would just play elsewhere.