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