If you introduce a new tennis surface, what would it be?

[Marshredder]

I was chatting about this to a friend the other day, he totally dismissed my idea but I think it would be awesome.

How about playing tennis on ICE? Imagine how fast it would be, totally different approach would have to be taken. Of course special footwear would have to be designed but it could work, somehow?

Any other ideas?

 

[Serendipitous]

I was chatting about this to a friend the other day, he totally dismissed my idea but I think it would be awesome.

How about playing tennis on ICE? Imagine how fast it would be, totally different approach would have to be taken. Of course special footwear would have to be designed but it could work, somehow?

Any other ideas?

Broken glass.

 

[Semi-Pro]

That artificial plastic ice stuff that they use for hockey. (synthetic ice is what it's called I believe)

Synthetic ice would actually work really well if anyone has ever been on it. Its slide could be compared to a HC slide but the surface is much smoother so the ball would travel extremely fast upon contact.

 

[Scientist]

I was chatting about this to a friend the other day, he totally dismissed my idea but I think it would be awesome.

How about playing tennis on ICE? Imagine how fast it would be, totally different approach would have to be taken. Of course special footwear would have to be designed but it could work, somehow?

Any other ideas?

The tennis balls would get soaking wet from the friction, unless you had new balls like every game. Strings would be destroyed.

 

[Serendipitous]

Roger Federer's underwear.

 

[RogerRacket111]

Ice would be cool. I was thinking about it when I saw your title before I read it. Fast surface with special shoes you can slide on. Imagine serves zooming by.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Another week of grass, come on.

 

[Badger]

Another week of grass, come on.

Here here!

 

[cknobman]

Silly puddy

 

[8PAQ]

I was chatting about this to a friend the other day, he totally dismissed my idea but I think it would be awesome.

How about playing tennis on ICE? Imagine how fast it would be, totally different approach would have to be taken. Of course special footwear would have to be designed but it could work, somehow?

Any other ideas?

Ice for sure, then maybe Canada would an ATP player in top 100.

 

[statto]

Custard or Jam (Jelly for my colonial friends).

 

[HAL9001]

Wood without a doubt. Already used for squash.
Then change us open to wood so you have 4 slams on 4 surfaces.

 

[r2473]

Another week of grass, come on.

At altitude:

 

[*Val*]

Grit. Take extra skill to predict the bounces!

 

[Bryan Swartz]

I don't think there's any need for another surface. There are was to speed up/slow down the three existing ones, and you can always change the color of the surface as well. I don't see what purpose another surface would serve.

 

[HAL9001]

I don't think there's any need for another surface. There are was to speed up/slow down the three existing ones, and you can always change the color of the surface as well. I don't see what purpose another surface would serve.

The wood makes it good

 

[forzamilan90]

grassish clayish mix maybe

 

[nikdom]

Short astro turf (artificial grass)

The stuff is designed to drain (so grounds don't have to be covered). Surface would be reasonably fast and wouldn't wear out like at wimbledon, after a few matches.

 

[Cassius Clay]

Sand. Played on the beach.

 

[iamtheavalanche]

That artificial plastic ice stuff that they use for hockey. (synthetic ice is what it's called I believe)

Synthetic ice would actually work really well if anyone has ever been on it. Its slide could be compared to a HC slide but the surface is much smoother so the ball would travel extremely fast upon contact.

a lot of NHL players like playing tennis, so maybe you have something with the ice idea....LOL

 

[Bryan Swartz]

Wouldn't sand result in like no bounce at all?

 

[davey]

Baseball infield clay

cobble stone?

shag carpet

Polished smooth ceramic tile

 

[sillymonkey]

MUD or the zero gravity of space.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

VELCRO, with rubber balls

 

[Nanshiki]

Something with the bounce and durability of a hard court, the sliding and softness of a clay court, the variable/changable speed of a carpet indoor court, and with a springy under layer outside of the hard outer surface, so you can play all day without feeling it in your knees.

 

[frisco]

Slow mud. That might give Nadal a chance to match Federer at slams.

 

[kraggy]

peanut butter jelly.

 

[Chezbeeno]

Short astro turf (artificial grass)

The stuff is designed to drain (so grounds don't have to be covered). Surface would be reasonably fast and wouldn't wear out like at wimbledon, after a few matches.

I've played on an artificial grass court, it sucked, it was kind of like clay but without the sliding or high bounces from spin.

 

[Netspirit]

No wood, please.

It just kills players' bodies. Everybody hated carpet for that.

 

[ChanceEncounter]

Lava, obviously.

 

[vortex1]

Ice. That way we could watch tennis during winter olympics

 

[Jeewalk]

Ice. That way we could watch tennis during winter olympics

yes totally have tennis rule over all seasons

 

[jigar]

Marble like pool/billiard table

 

[Spin-A-Lot]

I vote for wood...and maybe the polished ceramic tile too

 

[deltox]

Slate

would be my choice behind carpet and more grass

 

[timnz]

Indoor Carpet

Yeah, I know it is not a new surface, just an old surface that needs resurrecting.

Fast court tennis needs to be brought back - for at least part of the season. Then players might learn how to volley.

 

[aceX]

Nanocrystalline diamond.

 

[logicflawed]

sportcourt! like from volleyball!

 

[aceX]

Water

 

[Totai]

How about a Steel court

 

[pjonesy]

Did someone already mention MARSHMALLOW?

How about a bed of live snakes?

 

[pjonesy]

Broken glass.

That is so good? Are you familiar with SNL skit, Bag O' Glass?

 

[vbranis]

How about a Steel court

Don't think Rafa's knees will like that

This would be cool, though. Maybe host the year-end championships on it to level the playing field...

 

[austintennis2005]

Did someone already mention MARSHMALLOW?

How about a bed of live snakes?

now that made me laugh!!!

 

[salsainglesa]

What was wrong with carpet over wood? How did players got hurt?

 

[KingOfTennis]

yeah the half grass half clay court idea was really interesting. They had to keep changing shoes every 2 games tho hahaha

 

[mtommer]

I'll also cast my vote for a wood court. If you've ever played tennis in a racquetball court you realize just how fast this surface is. You can put in a padded underlayment to help take out some of the wear and tear on a player's body. It also might help bring back serve and volley.

 

[vbranis]

I'll also cast my vote for a wood court. If you've ever played tennis in a racquetball court you realize just how fast this surface is. You can put in a padded underlayment to help take out some of the wear and tear on a player's body. It also might help bring back serve and volley.

Yeah, I've played on an indoor hardwood court many times in Romania (not the greatest conditions), and it was LIGHTNING fast. I served & volleyed on every point, there is virtually no time to wind up (esp. for me with my Western grip). It was fun, actually, I'd like to see some more wood courts.

 

[jackson vile]

Ice is cool, but some form of wood would be most realistic and it is natural surface also LOL.

 

[davey]

How about putting a slant on the court? You could make the net the high point and slanting lower towards the baselines so you would be running uphill if you approached the net. It shouldn't be too much, say a difference of no more than a foot. This would make hitting winners more difficult to keep in but the ball would take a more of an offensive bounce.

On the other hand if you made the net the low point then hitting winners into the court would be easier but the ball would bounce higher. It would also slow down a little bit after the bounce compared to a flat court though probably not much to help defenders. If you were at the net you would have to run uphill to chase down lobs.