The grass tennis courts of Wimbledon are among the most recognizable in the world.
But despite its fame, grass is one of the rarest surfaces on which tennis is played today; many tennis fans and players may never set foot on its lush turf during their lifetimes.
How does the iconic Centre Court lawn compare to the gritty red clay courts of the French Open, where last year’s Summer Olympics took place? Understanding how different tennis court surfaces like grass and clay play requires knowledge of the physics behind them.
Wimbledon’s grass courts create fast, low bounces
There are fundamental differences in the physics of grass and clay courts, says Arun Bansil, a university distinguished professor of physics at Northeastern University.
“Grass courts have lower friction and absorb more energy during the bounce,” Bansil says. “As a result, the ball bounces low due to loss of vertical speed, but bounces fast due to lower friction and smaller loss of horizontal speed.”
It’s that zippy, low-bouncing quality that defines gameplay on a grass court. For amateurs and professionals alike, the surface is among the trickiest on which to find your footing — requiring that you keep your body low to meet the ball.
Read more at Northeastern Global News.
Photo: Press Association via AP Images
