Grass courts, just like hard courts, are different wherever you go. The humidity, local weather, temperature, soil, grass, bugs etc etc all play in to this. In Ireland, you can only play on grass in the driest and warmest of weather and expect decent play. The bounce is so-so at best because the soil here is so very soft due to the rain, and millennia of grass growing in that rain. I have played on grass on hard pan state-side that bounced better than any synthetic grass courts I have played on here as well. Some grass courts here have a honeycomb under structure that helps keep the court in place and promotes drainage and dryness. Those tend to have the best bounce. The good news is the courts don't have to have grass to be playable. At the end of summer, they have their best bounce, but are also the least predictable.
Synthetic grass is an issue in most places I go. The better versions have a nearly clay court-like dressing of sand on it for play. The bounce is decent, nearly like pre-grainy paint hard court. But these are the more expensive version to set up and maintain. Our local club uses this set up, but the courts are only dusted once a year before summer. SO they get faster and faster from then on, with a lower bounce. And if it is damp out with the sand gone, you can easily injure yourself, and the ball moves very quickly through the court.
Both courts are easy on the joints. So slipping or falling isn't as painful as even on clay.
Synthetic drains very quickly, which is why it is hugely popular this side of Europe in the rain belt.
Many clubs in Ireland are referred to or called 'Lawn Tennis Clubs' as they were lawn in their inception. Many have since gone to Synthetic grass, AKA Astro Turf(Which is a bit humorous for this Texan living in Ireland as Astro Turf got it's name from the Houston Astro's first using it at the AstroDome in the 60's). Also, most clubs in Ireland usually have a bar. In Ballypatrick, we have drink night friday nights in summer. It can get real messy...
Here's the ones I have played on in Ireland:
Tramore Tennis Club(Synthetic):
Dunmore East Grass:
Freshly sanded(in May) Ballypatrick TC synthetic with a couple of my friends from France:
The bottle won:
Carrick On Suir TC Synthetic. The base of that wall you see there dates back to the 12th century(which was nearly when I won my last match):
Hillview(AKA Clonmel) Synthetic(Golf to the right, Tennis the left):
Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis:
Rosanna LTC(Tipperary) filthy, filthy clay:
Rosanna is one of the outliers. It's a 150 year old club, so of course it's made of dirt. Filthy filthy dirt.
Wicklow Tennis club in Wicklow Town(synth):
County Wicklow Lawn Tenis Club in Bray(my local - 90% of the wear on that wall to the right is from me):
Two years ago we had snow courts:
Geziz I've rambled again....
