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Gravel is a mixture of crushed rubble, such as brick and roof tiles. It is used, among other things, as a substrate for tennis courts, for the so-called infield in baseball, and sometimes for athletic tracks, the so-called cinder tracks. Gravel can also be used as a base for petanque.
What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
Gravel: The king of tennis courts
Gravel is a mixture of broken brick and other rubble used as a surface for tennis courts. It is a relatively cheap option and is therefore widely used in Dutch tennis clubs.
Why is gravel so popular?
Many tennis players prefer to play on clay courts because of the slow and high bounce of the ball. This slows down the game and gives players more time to react. In addition, clay is a traditional surface for tennis courts and is often associated with professional tournaments such as Roland Garros.
What are the disadvantages of gravel?
Unfortunately, clay courts also have a few drawbacks. They are sensitive to moisture and unplayable after a period of frost thaw. In addition, clay courts require intensive maintenance, which is labour-intensive.
A traditional clay court has a short playing season from April to September and requires a lot of maintenance. This can be a problem for many tennis clubs and may prompt them to switch to synthetic turf. In addition, gravel is sensitive to rain and can become slippery when wet.
How can you play on clay all year round?
With an underfloor heating system, a clay court can be played all year round. By laying a pipe system of PE pipes under the lava layer, relatively warm groundwater can be pumped to keep the track free of ice and snow, even in light to moderate frost.
Did you know?
- Clay courts are the most common jobs in the Netherlands.
- The top layer of a clay court is usually 2,3 cm of rolled gravel.
- Gravel can also be used as a base for petanque.
- Gravel is sensitive to rain and can become slippery when wet.
The advantages of clay courts
Clay courts have a number of advantages. For example, they are relatively cheap to build and many players prefer this type of course. Clay courts also have good playing characteristics and are suitable for intensive use.
Gravel-plus Premium: a special clay court
To reduce the disadvantages of traditional clay courts, the gravel-plus Premium court has been developed. This track is laid with a slope and consists mainly of crushed roof tiles. The rainwater is cleverly drained, making the track less sensitive to moisture.
Gravel vs artificial grass
Although gravel is the most common type of track in the Netherlands, there are also other options. For example, synthetic turf courts are on the rise. Artificial turf courts are not maintenance-free, but maintenance is generally less intensive than with clay courts.
Which job type should you choose?
If you are going to build a tennis court, it is important to look at the different types of courts and their advantages and disadvantages. Clay courts are suitable for intensive use and have good playing characteristics, but require intensive maintenance. Artificial grass courts are less maintenance-intensive, but are less close to the playing characteristics of clay courts. It is therefore important to look at what best suits your wishes and needs.
How do you maintain a Gravel Tennis Court?
Although clay courts are easy to maintain, they do require regular maintenance. To maintain the water permeability of the top layer, clay courts must be swept and rolled regularly. Any pits and holes should also be filled and the track should be watered regularly to prevent dust formation.
Did you know?
- The Netherlands is a country where traditionally there are many clay courts. Many Dutch tennis players therefore prefer clay courts.
- Clay courts are not only popular among tennis players, but are also used as a surface for petanque and athletics tracks.
- Clay courts require more maintenance than synthetic turf courts, but offer a unique playing experience that many players prefer over other types of tennis courts.
Tennis Force ® II: the tennis court you can play on all year round
Traditional clay courts are sensitive to water, so you can no longer use them after a heavy rain shower playing tennis. But with the Tennis Force ® II court that is a thing of the past! Due to the vertical and horizontal drainage, the course can be played more quickly after a heavy rain shower.
Less maintenance
A regular clay court requires fairly intensive maintenance. But with the Tennis Force ® II court that is a thing of the past! This all-weather clay court reduces the maintenance that is quite intensive with a regular clay court.
Sustainable and circular
The Tennis Force ® II court is not only sustainable, but also circular. The RST granules that make up the track are characterized by their durability and circular construction. Thanks to in-house production, you don't have to worry about a low water surcharge.
Suitable for multiple sports
In addition to tennis, the Tennis Force ® II court is also suitable for other sports, such as padel. And for artificial grass football pitches there is the RST Future, available as a foundation layer. Due to the low penetration value, RST Future is also suitable for other sports in addition to artificial grass football.
In short, with the Tennis Force ® II court you can play tennis all year round, without having to worry about rain or intensive maintenance. And all this in a sustainable and circular way!
Gravel-plus Premium: the tennis court of the future
Gravel-plus Premium is the newest and most advanced tennis court on the market. It is a type of track that is laid with a slope and consists of a mixture of ground roof tiles and other materials. Due to the composition of the gravel and the way rainwater is drained, this court is better than traditional tennis courts.
Why is Gravel-plus Premium better than other tennis courts?
Gravel-plus Premium has many advantages over other tennis courts. For example, it has improved water drainage due to the slight slope and the drainage gutters at the edges of the track. This makes the course quickly playable again after a rain shower. In addition, it has a harder top layer, which leads to less damage and easier spring maintenance. The playing characteristics are second to none with excellent ball bounce and controlled sliding and turning.
What are the benefits of Gravel-plus Premium for tennis clubs?
Gravel-plus Premium offers many benefits for tennis clubs. It is maintenance-friendly and has both vertical and horizontal water drainage. This means that the costs of maintenance and renovation of clay courts can be better budgeted. In addition, Gravel-plus Premium has a limited lifespan, which means that there are fewer annoying and time-consuming discussions about unexpected high costs and changes to membership rates. Members are also less bothered by waiting for courses to be playable again after a rain shower and the facilities are worth more to members.
Advantage Redcourt: the perfect tennis court for all seasons
Advantage Redcourt is a tennis court construction that has the playing characteristics and appearance of a clay tennis court, but offers the advantages of an all-weather court. It combines the playing characteristics and appearance of clay with the advantages of a four-season course.
What are the benefits of Advantage Redcourt?
This tennis court only needs to be installed on a stable and drain-free surface. No irrigation is required on this playground, making the costs for a sprinkler system a thing of the past. As with traditional clay courts, players on Advantage Redcourt can make controlled movements, so that the entire court can be played excellently.
What does Advantage Redcourt look like?
Advantage Redcourt has the natural look and playing characteristics of clay, but no water spraying is required. Visible ball marks are possible, which makes the game even more realistic.
What is the cost of Advantage Redcourt?
The costs for the construction of a sand artificial grass red tennis court are generally higher than those of a clay tennis court. On the other hand, the tennis court can be used all year round, so also in the winter months. The construction of Advantage Redcourt will take several weeks.
