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