• Grass tennis courts influence how you play tennis.tennis image by Christopher Walker from Fotolia.com
  
  The surface of a tennis court has a big influence on how players play the sport. Their choice of strokes, style of play and strategy are influenced by the surface. Grass courts provide different advantages for different players. Tennis players with a hard, slice serve, and players with a a serve-and-volley game find playing on grass to their advantage. Whatever your style of play or choice of strokes, playing on grass is a unique experience.
  
  

Style of Play

• The player with a serve-and-volley style of play has an advantage over his opponent on grass. A fast, well-placed serve will cause your opponent to hit a weak, defensive return, giving you immediate control of the point. By positioning yourself at the net, you give yourself the opportunity to hit a point-ending volley. This may very well be a game- or a match-ending shot.
  
  

Shot Selection

• When playing on grass, it is to your advantage to put "slice" on your ground strokes. This is an undercut, a backward spin, that keeps the ball low after contacting the grass surface, causing your opponent to hit up on the ball. This is a great shot to hit when approaching the net, as you will set yourself up for a put-away volley. A slice serve is another great shot, and if hit correctly will pull your opponent wide off the court, allowing you to hit the ball into the open court for a winner. A slice serve will many times result in an ace, an unreturnable serve. Tennis players who hit flatter balls, with less topspin, have more of an advantage. This type of shot keeps the ball low and out of your opponent's strike zone. Drop shots are very effective on grass because, as the ball lands just over the net, it dies, making it harder for you opponent to hit before it bounces twice.
  
  

Physical Advantages

• Grass is a naturally soft surface and provides more cushioning under foot compared to unforgiving hard court surfaces. This makes it easier on your body by reducing the amount of shock absorbed by the joints. However, it can be a disadvantage to some players. When the ball contacts a grass surface, it tends to skid and stay low, and the bounce can be unpredictable. This can be hard on the knees of some players, especially tall players who do not like to lower their bodies to the ball. Shorter players may find this to be an advantage.