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