Mastering grass courts

Recently I posted a question about Nadal's advantage on clay
and why he seems invincible on that surface, and several people
commented on the characteristics of clay courts and how they affect
bounce and style of play.

Now I want to look at grass courts. I have never played on them.
So I am curious: what are the challenges when playing on grass?
How does a grass surface affect bounce and spin compared to clay and hardcourts?
How do players have to adapt their style of play when playing on grass?

And what would it take for someone to become as successful and invincible
on grass as Nadal is on clay?
 

Team10

Hall of Fame
Grass is different from clay and hardcourts being that, the ball stays much lower, not nearly as much of a bounce. Also you'll find the ball to skid more so if you have a good slice use it on grass. The most obvious one is that the surface is much faster, or at least it used to be.

Players adapt their style by trying to end points sooner I.e. S&V.

Lastly, Sampras and Federer?
 
It is a bit harder to be dominant on grass than it is on clay. On grass, even if you are a great player, someone could come along and blast you off the court whereas on clay, for someone like Nadal, he knows that the only way he can lose if someone can out grind him and there are very few players capable of that.
 
T

TennisandMusic

Guest
It is a bit harder to be dominant on grass than it is on clay. On grass, even if you are a great player, someone could come along and blast you off the court whereas on clay, for someone like Nadal, he knows that the only way he can lose if someone can out grind him and there are very few players capable of that.

No it is MUCH easier to be dominant on grass because of the nature of being able to serve your way through matches. You get FAR more free points on grass.

Look at how many "dominant" players racked up multiple Wimbledon titles. Many, many players. Now how many people have dominated at RG? Two? It's just quite a bit harder to keep that up on clay. It's far more physical and requires more than a serve.

I've played on multiple grass as well as clay courts. I know that if I am serving well, I have a good chance of winning, even if I am otherwise "off" that day. Not so on clay. You have to actually play tennis to win on clay. It is quite tough.

All of that said, grass definitely has it's own challenges. But as the Bryan brothers have said, a caveman can win Wimbledon.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
No it is MUCH easier to be dominant on grass because of the nature of being able to serve your way through matches. You get FAR more free points on grass.

Look at how many "dominant" players racked up multiple Wimbledon titles. Many, many players. Now how many people have dominated at RG? Two? It's just quite a bit harder to keep that up on clay. It's far more physical and requires more than a serve.

I think they are roughly similar. In the Open Era, RG had 8 multi-title winners: Kodes, Borg, Wilander, Lendl, Kuerten, Courier, Bruguera and Nadal. Wimbledon had just 2 more with 10: Laver, Newcombe, Connors, Borg, McEnroe, Becker, Edberg, Sampras, Federer and Nadal (the last being even more dominant on clay of course).

I've played on multiple grass as well as clay courts. I know that if I am serving well, I have a good chance of winning, even if I am otherwise "off" that day. Not so on clay. You have to actually play tennis to win on clay. It is quite tough.

I don't know. Historically, there have been more 1 time winners at Roland Garros (10 in the Open Era) than at any of the other Slams ( 6 at the AO, 4 at Wimbledon and 3 at the USO). This suggests there are more players who are able to be clay court specialists than there are on any of the other surfaces.

All of that said, grass definitely has it's own challenges. But as the Bryan brothers have said, a caveman can win Wimbledon.

They said WHAT?? :shock:
 
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Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
It works both ways really. Clay takes more grinding and endurance so you could say it's harder to win. There are not many guys, if any, who match Nadal for endurance so he's already at a big advantage on clay. Obviously it's not the only reason he wins, but it is part of it. Conversely on grass you get more free points on serve, but you're at more risk to be served off the court, and there are a lot more guys with huge serves than Nadal-like endurance.
 

TTMR

Hall of Fame
Now I want to look at cow dung courts. I have never played on them. I understand they are common at high priced clubs in India.
So I am curious: what are the challenges when playing on cow dung?
How does a cow dung surface affect bounce and spin compared to clay and hardcourts?
How do players have to adapt their style of play when playing on cow dung?
 
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