| Why install synthetic turf instead of real lawn? | | | | a court unless with proper footwear.Leveling The |
| Most of the following steps are not required when | | | | Playing CourtThe preliminary leveling of a court |
| you choose to install synthetic surfaces rather | | | | can be accomplished with a rake and a |
| than a traditional one. A court should have a slope | | | | straight-edged board, but after the clay has |
| of a few inches from one end to the other to | | | | become packed and hard it will be necessary to |
| carry off water. After the level is determined, all | | | | use considerable force in scraping off the |
| there is to making a court is to fill in or cut away | | | | inequalities. A metal cutting edge, such as a hoe or |
| soil and earth until the proper level space is | | | | scraper, will be found useful. A court should be |
| obtained. As a rule it is better to dig away for | | | | swept with a coarse broom to |
| a court rather than to fill in, as we thus obtain a | | | | distribute the fine material evenly. Another very |
| better bottom and one that will require but little | | | | good sweeper can be made from a piece of |
| rolling. In the case of a slope, it is well so to locate | | | | wood about six or eight feet long to which |
| the court that the amount of earth excavated | | | | several thicknesses of bagging have been tacked |
| from one end will be just about sufficient to fill in | | | | or fastened. The final step in making a court |
| the other.The final surfacing of a court is done by | | | | consists in marking it out.Since most courts are |
| means of clay and sand in the proportion of about | | | | marked so that they will be suitable either for |
| four or five to one, the clay of course being in | | | | singles or doubles or so that either two or four |
| excess. To mix clay and sand thoroughly, the | | | | people can play at a time. Where tape markers |
| former should first be pulverized thoroughly when | | | | are to be used, the proper distances will appear |
| dry and the mixture sifted over the court | | | | on the tape without measuring, but if lime is used |
| carefully and evenly. The next step is rolling and | | | | for marking a careful plotting will be necessary to |
| wetting, and more | | | | secure the proper distances, after which the |
| rolling and wetting until finally the whole is allowed | | | | corners should be indicated by angle irons, so that |
| to dry and is ready for play. The slight | | | | the court may be |
| irregularities and roller ridges that often appear in | | | | re-marked at any time without re-measuring. |
| a court will soon be worn off by the players' feet, | | | | Remember that synthetic turfs are almost free |
| but playing of course will not change the grade. A | | | | maintenance surfaces, and will save you time and |
| new court will be | | | | money at long last.Andrew Caxton is the |
| greatly improved by use, but no one should be | | | | webmaster and successful author of . A guide on |
| allowed on a court except with rubber-soled | | | | lawn mowers and garden tractors and how to |
| shoes. Heeled shoes will soon ruin a court, and it is | | | | choose the right type for your garden, including |
| bad practice even to allow any one to walk over | | | | synthetic turf for different garden styles. |