Reasons why Clay is the Best Tennis Court Surface for Senior Citizens in Aged Care Facilities

Aged care facilities must have some physical activity program for senior citizens, and tennis is a good example. However, before a facility installs a tennis court, the property manager must know the most suitable surfacing for senior citizens. Clay tennis courts are the best choice for the elderly and seniors, and this article will walk you through why you should choose clay for your own senior care facility tennis court surfacing. 

Shock-Absorbing Surface

Unlike the younger generation, senior citizens have to be very careful with their joints because of deteriorating synovial fluid levels as well as ligament strength. Therefore, the elderly should avoid environments that put a lot of pressure on their knee and ankle joints. Therefore, the best tennis court surfacing for this group should offer excellent shock absorption capabilities to protect joints. Clay court surfacing offers this property since it is made from compacted soil. Clay compresses easily when a load is applied, thereby preventing injuries to senior citizens.

Slow Ball Movement

As people age, it is a well-known fact that they get slow. You do not expect the elderly to run across a tennis court like their younger counterparts. The speed of the ball should consequently be slow enough to allow senior citizens to both enjoy a game and also avoid injuries. On grass courts, the ball moves faster due to the smooth surface of the grass — artificial or natural. Therefore, smooth court surfaces are not the best for the elderly. However, since clay court tennis surfaces are made from fine and coarse grains, the ball tends to move at slow speeds. It can be attributed to the high friction created between the ball and the clay surface. The speed allows senior citizens to reach the ball, consequently making tennis matches enjoyable.  

Low Heat Index

Have you ever played any game on concrete or asphalt court surfacing in the middle of a hot summer day? Since concrete reflects heat, it can get overbearingly hot, even to fit athletes.  Therefore, senior citizens do not stand a chance on such surfaces. The same cannot be said of clay court thanks to its low thermal conductivity and low heat index. Additionally, clay is an excellent insulator which means it can absorb heat from the atmosphere and retain in thereby preventing heat loss to the atmosphere. Therefore, senior citizens can play on clay surface tennis court comfortably without worrying about heat.