Which surface do you prefer?

[Costagirl]

Quite possibly in love with playing the red clay. So slow, so challenging and makes me think. Let alone gets me in great shape cause the points last longer. And forces me to control the bar and crank up the topspin for my somewhat flat game. Yea, I <3 the red stuff

[SwankPeRFection]

I prefer hard courts because I am really fast on them and the ball bounces better for me. However, when you get a nice high-bouncing clay court, it's really nice too. When they get all soggy with dead spots on them or really slow because they've been too water logged, that can suck big time.

[lobman]

My defensive game, my hips, ankles and especially my achy knees as well as my sigh of relief re being able to occasionally return those big ground stroke bombs makes clay my fav hands down.

[lostinamerica]

Hard courts suit my game but clay suits my body. I like clay.

[Overheadsmash]

Har Tru all the way. You have to be able to construct a point on Har-tru. Plus, easy on your body. The over 40 crowd like me can attest!

[BlueB]

Indoor hardcourt;
Any hardcourt.
Hate the clay.
Grass shouldn't be even concidered as a court. It's a pasture.

[NLBwell]

Slugger and unique personality Richie Allen once famously said of artificial turf, “If a cow can’t eat it, I don’t want to play on it.”

I'd love to play a lot on grass.

[Fuji]

I love playing on fast hardcourts. Since I'm at something like 3000ft above sea level, we are high altitude and play on super fast skidding courts while indoors, and outdoors are more bouncy but still very fast. Clay seems like it would be a lot of fun, but we don't have very many real clay, or artificial courts here.

-Fuji

[NLBwell]

Fuji,
Do you guys use high-altitude balls or regular balls? We use high altitude here at over a mile high, but I have always wondered what kind of tennis balls are used at intermediate altitudes. Regular ones would be very quick, but high-altitude ones would be dead.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

Fuji,
Do you guys use high-altitude balls or regular balls? We use high altitude here at over a mile high, but I have always wondered what kind of tennis balls are used at intermediate altitudes. Regular ones would be very quick, but high-altitude ones would be dead.

We just use standard balls here. Nothing fancy like high altitude ones!

Needless to say our hard courts are some of the fastest that most people play on, if they are from down at sea level.

-Fuji

[stapletonj]

grass is heaven.

Thats why the God racket commerical was not
renewed, it was heresy. God only plays on grass.

[Sakkijarvi]

Big serve, forehand, slice backhand >>> put me on the hard courts any time, the faster the better. Some guys complain it is 'hard on their bodies' ... dunno. Points end quickly, a lot less running back and forth, changing direction. Completely different match play for me, as I get a lot of aces and unreturnable serves ... easy points. And the ball goes through the court, better against younger players that can run everything down.

[Relinquis]

i prefer natural surfaces... clay and grass... but play mostly on clay and hardcourts (i alternate a couple times a year depending on travel)

[Z-Man]

Slow, wet clay. Preferably watered from below!

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Z-Man

Slow, wet clay. Preferably watered from below!

Wet balls are a known arm killer.

[tennis tom]

Barefoot on the grass.

[stapletonj]

Best of all, good one tennis tom!

[tenniscasey]

I grew up playing on clay, haven't played on it in years now and I miss it.

[gavna]

No. 1 Red Clay in France, Belgium and Germany
No. 2 Red Clay Italy, Spain (different make up)
No. 3 US Har Tru (both the traditional and newer American Red Clay product play about the same)

Hard courts a necessary evil in the states - slower the better

Grass last as unless its well maintained its horrible - playing on grass at La Quinta or at Queens - Wimby special as its manicured and maintained. But others at lesser resorts or clubs (Westside in NY as example) rough and weedy...yuck! Best part about grass is playing barefoot...that's cool.