If you are a tennis fan and actually play the game yourself, you may have experienced a match on a clay court. This is the very old red surface that has been used in countries like France and Spain since the game originated.

This is a unique surface and makes the playing style completely different from other surfaces. To actually play on clay is an exciting experience.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of playing on red clay and would like to know a bit more about it, here are some interesting facts.

This surface lends itself more to those who play from the baseline, as opposed to those who serve and volley. A great clay court player must have impeccable groundstrokes.

If you ever see a player approach the net while playing on clay, it’s very rare. Those who rely on its booming serve will also find that it doesn’t have the effect on this surface as it does on others.

So why is the strategy of this game so different? Well, it’s very simple, clay is a thick and heavy surface that sticks to the ball and therefore slows it down considerably.

You won’t see the ball speed up after it hits the clay, like you would on a hard court. Coarse clay will have the opposite effect.

As the ball has slowed down; it will bounce much higher than other surfaces, giving players more time to get to the ball and return it. This is why the clay can boast of having some of the longest tennis matches played on it.

The rallies are obviously longer and the shots are easier to hit than they would be on hard courts. A sure winner on grass is probably achievable on clay.

Those who are faster on the court will always have an advantage over their opponents.