Clay, hard, grass: how court surfaces differ and why ours is clay

Our club has clay courts (that same red clay you see at Roland Garros). That's no accident: for amateur tennis, clay is the healthiest surface there is.

The three main surfaces

• Clay. Slow bounce, the ball "sits up" higher. Rallies are longer; endurance and tactics matter more. The surface has give and lets you slide — minimal impact on knees and ankles.
• Hard. Asphalt/acrylic. Medium speed, true bounce. The most common surface — and the toughest on the joints.
• Grass. Fast, low bounce, short rallies. Almost nonexistent in Russia — except for historic Lahta, where the game in 1888 was played on grass.

What clay means for you

1. Your joints will thank you. If you're 35+ or have had injuries, clay is noticeably more comfortable than hard courts.
2. Smarter tennis. On a slow surface you can't blast an opponent off the court with one shot — you learn to construct the rally.
3. Sliding. The signature clay-court slide into the ball is a joy of its own (and a skill).

Clay quirks

After playing, you're expected to sweep the court with a drag net — it takes 2 minutes and it's part of the culture of the game. Herringbone-sole sneakers are best (more on footwear), and your socks will come out orange. Consider it war paint.