How often does your indoor facility clean up the fuzz?

[Bluefan75]

Had our regular league match tonight, and as I am getting ready to serve, my partner is pulling fuzz out of his shoes. My shoes had a fair bit as well. A few weeks ago, I had brought some treats for Christmas to my coach's junior program, as they let me hit in with them from time to time. The owner was on my case about not dropping crumbs, but when I asked him about the fuzz level, he said "this is nothing."

Asking around I have yet to figure out how often the fuzz gets cleaned up. But it makes me wonder how often other places clean up.

 

[winchestervatennis]

Had our regular league match tonight, and as I am getting ready to serve, my partner is pulling fuzz out of his shoes. My shoes had a fair bit as well. A few weeks ago, I had brought some treats for Christmas to my coach's junior program, as they let me hit in with them from time to time. The owner was on my case about not dropping crumbs, but when I asked him about the fuzz level, he said "this is nothing."

Asking around I have yet to figure out how often the fuzz gets cleaned up. But it makes me wonder how often other places clean up.

The joint I used to play in would have a big A vacuum thing run through a few times a week and you'd still see fuzz gather on your shoes. From what I could tell it really was "nothing" as the owner said. Your alternative is playing outside where Mother Nature is the cleaning crew.

 

[esprits4s]

At least weekly, possibly more. I never really notice fuzz unless someones been using the ball machine though.

 

[damazing]

I was playing the last block time one evening at my club and was commenting about the fuzz when I noticed the attendant cleaning the trash cans. He must have heard me because he immediately started the vacuum on the court next to us but I don't think it had been cleaned for at least several weeks before.

 

[Mongolmike]

My current facility is pretty good about it, but the facility I used to be at was not so good about it...in fact, the water in jugs court side was so bad (rarely changed) that no members drank it! (Visitors would, much to their dismay)

The thing is I think the profit margin is very tight for most clubs, so staffing (other than the front desk and the teaching pros) is pretty minimal. Current club, hats off to the facility guy, he wears many hats. I see him cleaning the fuzz off the courts, maintaining the exterior, maintaining the interior, occasionally manning the phone/front desk when needed...really nice older guy who is a good worker.


That said...do you know who the facility/maintenance guy is at your club? Do you know his name? Do you greet him like you would a teaching pro or a front desk person, or do you just kinda nod at him occasionally and walk by?

I dunno, I treat all the staff in a friendly personable manner. When I check in I call them by name and mention mine when they are checking the computer: ie: "Hi Sherry, how are you today? Yep, I've got a court at 7pm... Joe Blow (me) playing singles with Bob Brown..." (I'm still a newer member - less than 2 years), and I think most importantly I am patient with them when they are swamped...

I've never worked a desk, don't want to either, but it doesn't take long to see how demanding and rude and abusive some people are. It's not worth it people. It's just tennis. Yeah, I know your life is uber important (or your child's needs as is often the case) and you have a thousand important things to do, but a little patience and courtesy doesn't cost you anything. Your needs and demands might even be met quicker if you aren't being a jerk about things.

 

[Nacho]

A well run club will run a Billy Goat Vacuum or some other Vacuum once a week. Just needs to be run around the edges. Some clubs have invested in ventilation systems and do a good job of changing filters and keeping the club clean.

Like @Mongolmike said, when a club cuts costs cleaning is one of those things thrown on the few desk people they have or overworked pros, and it quickly falls apart. I also agree with what he says about being courteous to these guys, often times they are treated poorly by members.

 

[mmk]

I'm going to assume daily, since there really isn't much when I play starting at 8PM.

 

[Nashvegas]

I've never worked a desk, don't want to either, but it doesn't take long to see how demanding and rude and abusive some people are. It's not worth it people. It's just tennis. Yeah, I know your life is uber important (or your child's needs as is often the case) and you have a thousand important things to do, but a little patience and courtesy doesn't cost you anything. Your needs and demands might even be met quicker if you aren't being a jerk about things.

Agree with all of that about courtesy, but do you see the staff at your club treated poorly? I never see that. Seems like as long as the staff makes an effort no one’s giving them a hard time since we’re all there to have fun.

Elsewhere in life... ridiculous behavior abounds.

 

[eelhc]

Every night.... They have one of those huge vacuum machines. But I pay for it... pretty darned expensive to play indoors in the Northeast during the winter season.

 

[tennis tom]

Goffin and Mahut have both slipped and fallen at Rotterdam hard-courts, reportedly due to "ball fluff" by commentators. The grounds-crew came out with brooms and dustpans to tidy up--beware of the fluff! At my courts we have elderly Asian ladies come in and recycle the fuzz into pillow-fill. They are going to be the next big pillow sensation competing with My Pillow.

 

[Mongolmike]

Agree with all of that about courtesy, but do you see the staff at your club treated poorly? I never see that. Seems like as long as the staff makes an effort no one’s giving them a hard time since we’re all there to have fun.

Elsewhere in life... ridiculous behavior abounds.

Yes, a couple of times at various clubs. Maybe not being treated poorly as much as lack of consideration. For example this happened recently at my current club.

I walk in to check in and pay for my upcoming court time. The staff guy is with another client and he is looking for something on the computer. We greet each other as he looks up, then I silently wait for him to finish with the 1st client.

The phone rings and he is the only one working. He answers the phone, finishes the call, then goes back to the computer.

Then a lady comes in off the court and walks up to the desk. None of us 3 are saying anything...first client is waiting for him to find something on the computer, and I of course am waiting my turn standing at the desk but a little off to the side.

The lady from the court steps between client 1 and me and tells the desk guy (who is still working the computer) that her racquet needs restrung as she sets it on the counter. He looks up and says, "Ok." Then the court lady says she needs to schedule more court time. He tells her "It will be just a minute...", and she kind of grimaces and says something like "I'm going to get my coat" and walks off.

Client #1 and I made eye contact and we both mutually/silently agreed that it was a bit rude (we both kind of eye rolled and shrugged our shoulders but neither of us said anything).

Not a big deal, but also not very considerate of the lady coming off the court.

 

[Nashvegas]

Yes, a couple of times at various clubs. Maybe not being treated poorly as much as lack of consideration. For example this happened recently at my current club.

I walk in to check in and pay for my upcoming court time. The staff guy is with another client and he is looking for something on the computer. We greet each other as he looks up, then I silently wait for him to finish with the 1st client.

The phone rings and he is the only one working. He answers the phone, finishes the call, then goes back to the computer.

Then a lady comes in off the court and walks up to the desk. None of us 3 are saying anything...first client is waiting for him to find something on the computer, and I of course am waiting my turn standing at the desk but a little off to the side.

The lady from the court steps between client 1 and me and tells the desk guy (who is still working the computer) that her racquet needs restrung as she sets it on the counter. He looks up and says, "Ok." Then the court lady says she needs to schedule more court time. He tells her "It will be just a minute...", and she kind of grimaces and says something like "I'm going to get my coat" and walks off.

Client #1 and I made eye contact and we both mutually/silently agreed that it was a bit rude (we both kind of eye rolled and shrugged our shoulders but neither of us said anything).

Not a big deal, but also not very considerate of the lady coming off the court.

That’s when you tell her this isn’t Delta and that’s not a Sky Priority lane.

 

[Toons]

I play at an indoor facility in Northern California (Fremont. The club certainly hasn't washed the courts in a year plus (pretty disgusting). I regularly see extreme fluff after someone has used one of the ball machines, but it's residue is usually gone after a few days. There doesn't seem to be much of a fuzz buildup, so I'm guessing they vacuum once a week or so.

 

[tennis tom]

@ Rotterdam, Dimitrov just went down on his butt for a sitting eight count. You could see him in no man's land, surrounded by the ball fuzz, after both feet went out from under him. I'm guessing the court is so sand-paper gritty, that it's pulling the felt off the ball more then usual for a hard-court.

Baby Fed was also suffering from some "wardrobe malfunction", he had to handle on court with the judicious use of a towel for draping, while in front of the stadium audience and within his 25 seconds between points--maybe this was what Maria found so endearing about him--his good sense of timing--but in this instance not his footwork.

 

[TenS_Ace]

As most of you know, I belong to a very "hoy-palloy" tennis club, are courts a cleaned by vacuum every night and washed every second day

 

[2good4U]

That fuzz is very toxic, not that most people would mind, or even know it.

 

[stapletonj]

I'm not sure, but the hard court ball marks are pretty easily seen, I have never seen the courts washed, swept?, never that I have seen. maybe they do it in the fal before indoor season starts...

 

[woodje12]

That fuzz is very toxic, not that most people would mind, or even know it.

OK I'll bite...is this sarcasm I'm missing or what are you saying is in the felt fibers?

 

[J D]

That fuzz is very toxic, not that most people would mind, or even know it.

Not anymore:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/hea...t-subjects-Are-tennis-balls-bad-for-dogs.html

 

[2good4U]

OK I'll bite...is this sarcasm I'm missing or what are you saying is in the felt fibers?

Thanks to the felt being a petroleum product, yes it's toxic.

Firefighters are very wary of Tennis balls when dealing with home fires,
because they're extremely toxic when burning.

 

[J D]

Tennis ball felt is made out of wool or plastic (nylon) so it's either natural products or inert material. Some of the dye used on the wool used to be dangerous, but not any more.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/355925-what-are-tennis-balls-made-out-of/

Rubber and plastic do put out toxic fumes while burning, so don't set your tennis courts on fire until after you've picked up the balls and vacuumed up the felt. Otherwise, you're fine.