Clay Courts vs Grass Courts

[counterloop]

Yes, Wimbledon is over and so is the grass court season, but, why are there so many clay court tournaments played after Wimbledon? Shouldn't these players be getting ready for the US Open on hard courts? Why are there so many more clay court tournaments than grass court? It almost seemed like once the French Open was over with, there were like 3 warm up grass court tournaments and then Wimbledon and then after Wimbledon a bunch more clay court tournaments again. Has it always been like this?

 

[kiki]

Yes, Wimbledon is over and so is the grass court season, but, why are there so many clay court tournaments played after Wimbledon? Shouldn't these players be getting ready for the US Open on hard courts? Why are there so many more clay court tournaments than grass court? It almost seemed like once the French Open was over with, there were like 3 warm up grass court tournaments and then Wimbledon and then after Wimbledon a bunch more clay court tournaments again. Has it always been like this?

Yes, since summer is the best moment for some countries loaded with slow clay courts.Always been like that.Even more, the US summer circuit was played on clay, not on current hard courts.

After Wimbledon, there is Newport on grass.

I wonder why Newport-Queen´s-Wimbledon wouldn´t be played in that order?

 

[SuperHead]

Yes, Wimbledon is over and so is the grass court season, but, why are there so many clay court tournaments played after Wimbledon? Shouldn't these players be getting ready for the US Open on hard courts? Why are there so many more clay court tournaments than grass court? It almost seemed like once the French Open was over with, there were like 3 warm up grass court tournaments and then Wimbledon and then after Wimbledon a bunch more clay court tournaments again. Has it always been like this?

Thats an interesting question- I don't know the answer to it either. Anyone know?

 

[Eragon]

Thats (sic) an interesting question- I don't know the answer to it either. Anyone know?

I do. It's because Claycourts are cheaper and easier to maintain. Oh, and that's "that's"

 

[SuperHead]

I do. It's because Claycourts are cheaper and easier to maintain. Oh, and that's "that's"

Again, do you know anything about the word "informal". How many times do I have to repeat myself I'm not writing a letter to King or something that I have to be so formal for everything I write. Oh I forgot..... why am I wasting my time on a such a big troll?

 

[Sorana fan]

Pretty much - done dates have changed over the yrs a little. Also up until the mid 80s the US Summer was on clay. You had Indy, Washington, Stratton Mtn, Orange.....all on HarTru add the old WCT events again all on HarTru.

The European events have just always been clay - as it should be - all this hard court garbage in the summer has ruined USA tennis.

Wise words.

 

[Overdrive]

Well grass is brutally expensive to maintain and it has to rest

Clubs that have or had grass just could not keep up the maintenance...etc. it's more work than a golf course -

What do you mean by resting?

Why is it so expensive?

The Queen's Club keeps up the maintenance!

 

[Sorana fan]

Well grass is brutally expensive to maintain and it has to rest

Clubs that have or had grass just could not keep up the maintenance...etc. it's more work than a golf course -

Yes, economic reasons, and it's a pity because I like grass.

The circuit has too much hc and not enough grass

 

[Overdrive]

Well Queens has a full time staff of groundskeepers to re-sod and keep the grass in playing condition. In fact at Westside in Houston about 13 yrs ago we put in 4 grass courts and had the head groundskeeper come to Houston and install and teach how to keep them. The experiment lasted just a few years as the grass must be cut almost daily - they must be watered also daily - it only takes a few sets to start tearing up the sod - after all that in the end the 4 grass courts are now a soccer pitch used by the fitness ctr.

Grass courts get torn up fast - regular use causes depressions and you have to constantly roll and level the courts - very very high maintenance. The grass gets worn and it's almost an art-form now maintaining grass courts.

When I lived in NY we were members at Westside when I was a teenager and they would limit the use of the grass courts and most often they were not even lined. I will tell you playing on grass BAREFOOT is one of the greatest things in tennis.

That sucks.

How many groundskeepers does Queen's have? 30?

I checked out that Westside website...

You guys could have put artificial grass and called it a day..

 

[Overdrive]

Not sure but it's a big staff........anyone from the UK here that plays on public grass courts will tell you how bad it can get. High end clubs need topay$$$$$ to maintain them. Just look at any grass event on TV.......buy the end of a week they are badly torn up.

Westside had a plan in the late 90s to "play the world" they installed a batch of French Red Clay like Roland Garros (they bought the exact same clay and had the caretaker come over from Paris to install), Indoor Rebound Ace (same as Australian Open), Deco Turf 2 like the US Open (current 21 hard courts), Grass from the UK (again had the caretaker from Queens Club come over and help install the turf) and in fact the owners of the club did not get the correct permits to import grass from the UK and had to pay a HUGE fine to customs).

That lasted for a few years but after 2007/2008 they tore out all the red clay courts and installed HarTru (6) and 3 HarTru Hydro courts - the red clay was again just to much labor and the cost of the bags of French clay is 2x that of HarTru.

The stadium that was built for the US Clay courts (5300+ seating) and that was used for the ATP tour finals in 2003 and 2004 is still standing - unused except for line drills for the HTA tennis academy and the rumor it may be torn down and made into a waterpark????

Good news is the club is expanding again and within the next 3 yrs should add at least 12 - 15 new courts (HarTru and deco turf ).

Wow... sounds like a money pit right there..

HarTry Hydo???

12-15 eh??

Hm... I see..

 

[S&V Specialist]

I will tell you playing on grass BAREFOOT is one of the greatest things in tennis.

I definitely have to second this. There is literally nothing better.

 

[bullfan]

Probably the same reason that golfers aren't necessarily thrilled that golf tournaments are played where they are members.

Prep for tournaments prevents member play in order for tv to show a beautiful ( or as beautiful as can be ) course. Once a tournament is over more prep is needed to get members back on the course. Grass can't be watered over or have a rake fix it between sets. Hard courts are new. Grass and clay not so. Clay is far easier to maintain than grass.

I do wonder if hardcourts are considered the cheapest, even though the need resurfacing due to settling.

 

[Overdrive]

Probably the same reason that golfers aren't necessarily thrilled that golf tournaments are played where they are members.

Prep for tournaments prevents member play in order for tv to show a beautiful ( or as beautiful as can be ) course. Once a tournament is over more prep is needed to get members back on the course. Grass can't be watered over or have a rake fix it between sets. Hard courts are new. Grass and clay not so. Clay is far easier to maintain than either grass or hardcourts.

Red clay isn't.