CONSTRUCTION NOTES 325 



upon them, and because of the time and energy lost in running after balls, 

 they are not especially popular with good players. 



Asphalt courts. For many years asphalt tennis courts have been used 

 on the Pacific Coast and in the Southwest. The popularity of these courts 

 is largely due to the fact that they are so easily maintained, whereas it is 

 difficult to maintain turf or clay courts where there are periods of heavy 

 rainfall and prolonged drought. Because of the extremes in temperature in 

 the East and Middle West considerable difficulty was experienced with 

 some of the first courts to be constructed; courts cracked in the winter and 

 blistered in the summer. The difficulty has been remedied, however, and 

 there has been a rapid increase in the use of these paved courts in the East 

 and Middle West. 



Among the advantages of asphalt courts is that they provide a much 

 longer playing season, being usable during most of the year. Furthermore, 

 since their surface is non-absorbent they are available for play, if properly 

 graded and drained, within a few minutes after a rain. One of the greatest 

 advantages is that there is practically no expense involved in maintaining 

 them. If painted lines are used in marking the courts, it may be necessary 

 to renew them every year, but if laid in the cement, they will not have to 

 be replaced. The negligible expense of maintaining asphalt courts as com- 

 pared with that of maintaining clay and dirt courts is an important item, 

 especially in the case of park and recreation departments which usually 

 operate on a limited budget. Unless there is constant supervision, children 

 and even adults wearing street shoes may play or run on the courts. If the 

 surface is clay or dirt, much damage may result, but street shoes do not 

 injure paved courts. Paved surfaces also permit of faster and more accurate 

 play than is possible on courts where pebbles or irregular or soft surfaces 

 may deflect the ball. There is no loose dirt or dust to annoy players or 

 spectators when the paved courts are used. Under certain conditions it is 

 possible to flood the courts and use them for skating during winter months. 

 One disadvantage of asphalt courts is that they become very hot during 

 extremely warm weather. The chief objection that is raised to asphalt 

 courts is the high initial construction cost. It is true that this cost is greater 

 than in the case of clay or dirt (or even concrete) courts, but over a period 

 of years, they are cheaper. 



It has been claimed that asphalt (and concrete) courts are hard on the 

 feet of players, and some have felt that harmful effects might result from 

 playing on such courts. In the opinion of many authorities, however, no 

 harmful effects have resulted and this is probably due to the use of thick- 

 soled shoes by tennis players. It is not an easy matter to arrive at the 

 probable difference in cost of an asphalt court as compared with others and 



