Evening star., 1924-02-10

These are all suitable in their way,
but no one of them answers the re-
qulrements for universal court and
with the tremendous growth OF in
terclub and international play the
ueSirability of having a standardized
SURFACE is beyond question. Grass
used to be the only surface used for
international conte~tS. but as man
countries do not have turf courts.
1t is becoming more and more i'm
found.
Courts of Other Nations.
, In England turf is still the most
popular surface. but it is gradually
being given-up for hard courts esp-
cially tho'e with a fine red gravel
top dressing that drain rapidly after
rain. This year a new surface is
being tried out which is green 1t
is cheaper than red gravel and dries
quite as rapidly. They are also ex-
perlmenting with porous cement
which drains instantly. 1t has prac-
expensive to build and is hard on
the feet.
! France is now trying out a black
. clay which packs down as hard as
asphalt. Colbert told ME that the
French players like it better than
the ordinary clay court because of
its darker color and the fact that
1t eliminates dust and slipping. IL
requires constant care. however, and
is too hard for comfort.
South Africans have a very salts
factory court surface composed of
ant-heap, dyed green. The Austria
lianS go them one better and use
for their courts ant nests that they
obtain from the tops Of trees. The
! players from these countries claim
! that these courts are far superior
J, to any found elsewhere but the de-
nights OF an ant-heap court are not
/ for Europe and America. India has
| It's own faVor1te court made from
son why tennis does not flourish
| there.
| Perfect Indoor Surface.
America is working hard to find the
perfect court. For indoor tennis the
heavy variety of Iinoleum that is put
on the decks of our battleships seems
to meet every requirement save that
iof expense. So popular has il become
{ that every club that can afford il is
! laying it down over its wood floors
1t makes perfect playing surface
as it is absolutely level, neither slip
! pery nor too fast, and its thickness
gives one the feeling OF playing on
| turf.
! 1t is durable in any climate, is the
rlght color, and requires no attep-
tlon after once being put down. Since
I
| dation, the expense is doubled, and il
| is Impractical for outdoor use. Til
\ den prefers this to any other indoor
| surface, and advises its use in place
| OF plain wood or canvas covering
Two years ago experiments were
begun with an entirely new surface,
! VI hlch may ultimately become the
standard court of the world. Over q
u heavy quality Of roofing paper.
| which in turn Is tarred and covered
with second iayer Of the paper.
/ This extends to the backstops SO that
there is d smooth ahnroken surface.
| 1t is then paiutn! dart green with =
weatherproof p2iI,t. Alter two years
| of constant use in q popular club.
| under the most irving climatic con-
ditions, the Suritue is still in per-
feet condition.
J Fine in Livery Respect.
The double layer gives the same
spongy feeling that linoleum does.
The bound is true and the surface ID
tneither too fast nor too slow for play.
| There is no dust, no skidding, and
the court is always ready for use, as
it requires 10 care except 4 coat cf
paint every year ur two.
The astounding feature of this
type of court is that it costs less to
build than any other. il is within the
means Of every small club. Further
experiments are bt ing carried out 10
see If the paper can be laid without
the cinder founda lion. II this proves
to be possible, ii will further reduce
the cost. Old clay courts can then be
reSurface6 at a minimum cost, and
the expense of watering, rolling and
marking courts will be eliminated.
l already have written an article
on the advantages to be derived from:
n home court. This new surface is
one that answers every requirement.
From short distance it has the ap-
pearance of a green lawn, and its
price and the fact that it needs no
care brings it within the reach Of the
! average family.