If you are lucky enough to have access to a claycourt, you – yes YOU – should be playing on clay regularly. Yes, the footing is different from playing on a hardcourt, but it’s just dirt – you won’t fall down!!
Here are some reasons why playing on clay is a good idea:
- The court is softer than hardcourt, making it much easier on your body. Your body doesn’t take the constant pounding like it does on hardcourts.
- Because it’s easier on your body, playing on clay can extend your tennis playing career 5 to 10 years.
- The bounce of the ball on clay is “slower”, giving you more time to get to a ball and giving you more time to set up to hit it.
- Because you can get to more balls on clay (and so can your opponent), points tend to last a little longer, giving you more exercise.
- Because the points last a little longer, you will learn to be more patient during a point – not going for a winner too soon in a point. You will learn to “work the point” and wait for opportunities to attack.
- Juniors – remember that almost every man and woman in the top 100 in the world on the pro tour grew up playing on clay.