Ways To Play Well Hard Courts

By Jason Wallace

I've been fortunate enough to have played on every surface of tennis court during my life, and I appreciate them all. Each of the types of courts has its differences, some of which are good and some of which may work against you as a player.

The most popular surface in the world at the moment is the hard court. This is typically a green or blue court with painted lines and a concrete surface. You've likely seen it at the US Open and many other events.

Let's go into a few of the details about this type of court to see what makes it unique. If you've ever played on one, I'm sure you'll be able to relate to some of the things that I point out here.

The ball moves really quickly on hard courts, and you'll be in for a surprise if you typically play on clay courts. Those who excel in the serving department always enjoy the advantages of this surface, as fast serves will be even harder to hit back.

As far as baseline play goes, hard courts don't really work for or against people with this strategy. This is a good thing in many regards, as it won't ruin your chances of winning a match should you choose to stay back. Hard hitting can be an asset here.

If you're a fast runner, you won't be as well off as you will be when playing on clay. Since the ball moves quickly, you'll have a harder time tracking down balls.

Still, this isn't to say that your speed won't be an asset during a match, because it absolutely can and will. You're far better off as a fast runner playing here than you would be on grass, and a speedy player is certainly difficult to defeat if there are other weapons that player possesses as well.

As far as net play goes, some of the best volleyers in the world have had great success on hard courts. This is because of the fact that a serve and volley strategy is a terrific way to take full advantage of this surface.

Keep these elements in mind and you'll be well on your way next time you play on one of these courts. Good luck to you! - 31983

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