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Website Focuses on Developing Players on Clay

Har-Tru Sports has revamped HarTru.com to offer competitive information that focuses on junior player development and innovation, emphasizing why playing on clay is a key to developing championship tennis.

“Playing on a clay court teaches players to think, create and tactically respond to each point,” the new website says. “Clay court players develop enhanced footwork, balance and dexterity—all skills necessary for success on any tennis surface.”

According to the Har-Tru website, 88% of top 10 players learned to play on clay courts. The USTA recently installed clay courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., to help developing juniors learn the nuances of playing on the softer surface.

HarTru.com also lists “10 Reasons to Train on Clay”:

1. Long points mean more decisions must be made per point, resulting in improved decision-making.
2. Long points require more mental endurance, resulting in greater mental toughness.
3. More shots come back on clay and players learn to be patient.
4. Adjusting to losing a point because of a bad bounce or loss of footing helps players mature emotionally.
5. Conditions on clay can be fast or slow depending on the day. Players learn to recognize this and adapt.
6. Longer points and longer matches help players develop their strength, fitness and endurance.
7. It is extremely difficult to end a point and to do so a player must learn a wide variety of shots, spins and angles.
8. The slippery footing teaches players to slide while maintaining balance and control.
9. Occasional bad bounces make players’ strokes more adaptable.
10. The softer, sliding nature of clay protects the body from injury.

Posted on May 31, 2011
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