How Does a Synthetic Grass Tennis Court Compare to a Real One?
Even in professional tournaments, the surfaces of tennis courts vary quite widely. From the real, traditional grass surfaces of Wimbledon to the hard synthetic courts of the Australian Open, these differences can have quite an effect on how tennis matches feel and play out. This means that, if you're considering having your own tennis court built, you have a difficult choice on your hands.
A lot of people like the look of grass courts because they're more natural and blend into landscaping better. The problem is, grass tends to grow, which means there's a lot of maintenance involved if you want your court to stay usable. If you like the look of grass but not all the work associated with it, synthetic turf might be a good option. But just how close is it to the real thing?
Appearance
If you examine it closely, you'll probably be able to tell the surface isn't real, living grass, but are you going to spend much time doing that? From normal distances, it certainly looks the part, and it's come a long way from the thick, chunky plastic grass strands of yesteryear.
Modern synthetic grass should blend into the rest of your garden just fine, so you'll get the look you're after.
Maintenance
The most obvious difference between real and synthetic grass is that the latter won't need frequent mowing, watering and all the other things that come with looking after a plant. It would be a mistake to think the synthetic grass is maintenance-free, however.
It will need regular sweeping and brushing to stay in good condition, and it's important to check it's draining properly. Some types of synthetic grass also need a regular application of sand. Most people find all of this is still less time-consuming than looking after real turf, though.
Gameplay
One of the most significant differences, which people aren't always prepared for, is the difference in play. Synthetic courts are typically much faster than natural grass, which can take a bit of getting used to. They also have slightly lower bounce, and you might find you have a bit less grip than you expect.
Durability
Synthetic grass is tough, and you won't find dry, scuffed and churned up patches as you can get with the real thing. As long as you keep up with the maintenance, it should last a long time.
Other differences
Because synthetic grass is prone to neither drying out in the summer or turning to a swamp when it's raining hard, you can pretty much play all year without worrying about damage to your court.
You'll also find that this makes the surface regular and uniform, so you can more easily predict what the ball will do, without any strange surprises. Contact a company that makes synthetic grass tennis courts for more information and assistance.
