Clay Courts
Clay Court
The Clay court has been around for many, many years. These courts are typically constructed of natural clays, found in the ground all over long Island.
Because of the use of natural clay and the varying thickness of this layer, no two courts are the same. Every clay court will react differently to rain, heat, etc. They are usually made of a thick layer of this clay. (Typically eight to twenty inches thick).
This layer of clay is graded with pitch to run off water, flattened, compacted and a layer of crushed stone is spread over it. The crushed stone (usually two to four tons of Har-Tru) is no more than 1/10” thick and acts as a sliding surface and gives the court its color and soft texture.
It is considered a soft surface, simply because you slide to a stop. This makes it easier on the joints and rest of the body, compared to an all-weather court.
This court’s advantages are it’s soft nature and it’s low installation cost. These courts need yearly resurfacing (done in the spring) and usually weekly maintenance. They must be swept (dragging a 7 ft’ wide broom across the court) after play, to keep the court even and maintain a true bounce.
