Grass
Natural turf grown on soil — the traditional surface for many field sports and, in tennis, a fast court with a low, skiddy bounce.
Overview
Grass is a natural playing surface: living turf grown from a soil base, mown short and rolled firm to make an even area to play on. Underfoot it feels soft and cushioned compared with hard surfaces, and its exact condition depends on the type of grass, how closely it is cut, how dry it is and how much play it has already taken.
How grass plays changes with its state. In tennis it is traditionally the fastest of the main surfaces — the ball skids low off the turf and holds its pace, so points tend to be short and the surface rewards serving and moving forward to the net. It is also the classic surface for many outdoor sports, including football, rugby, cricket, field hockey and golf. Because it is a living surface, grass is sensitive to weather and wear: rain, heat and heavy use all change how firm, fast and true it plays, and worn areas can grow uneven over the course of a match.
How it plays
- In tennis the ball skids through low and fast off the turf, keeping rallies short and rewarding a serve-and-volley, net-rushing style of play.
- The bounce tends to sit lower and can be less predictable than on hard or clay courts, particularly as the surface wears through a match.
- Studded or spiked footwear is used to grip the turf, and footing shifts from firm and grippy when dry to slicker when the grass is wet.
- As a living surface, grass responds to weather and heavy use — it can play faster and firmer when dry and slower or softer when damp.
- Across football, rugby, cricket, field hockey and golf it gives a soft, natural footing that many outdoor sports were originally built around.
Where it’s used
Sports that use grass:
Tennis
A singles or doubles racquet sport that blends agility, strategy and stamina on court.
Football
The world’s most popular team sport — endless running, teamwork and community in one game.
Rugby
A physical team sport of carrying, passing and kicking an oval ball toward the opposing line.
Cricket
A bat-and-ball team sport where sides take turns to bat and to bowl and field, scoring runs.
Field Hockey
An outdoor team sport that uses curved sticks to move a ball, built on agility and teamwork.
Golf
A precision target sport played across an outdoor course, blending skill, strategy and a long walk in the open air.
American Football
A strategic, position-based team sport of set plays, sprinting and coordinated teamwork on a marked field.
Baseball
A bat-and-ball team sport where two sides alternate between batting and fielding to score runs.
Softball
A friendly bat-and-ball team sport, closely related to baseball, played with a larger, softer ball.
Lacrosse
A fast, stick-and-ball team sport of catching, cradling and shooting a small ball toward a goal.
Ultimate Frisbee
A fast, non-contact team sport played with a flying disc, known for constant running and self-refereeing.
Related playing surfaces
Hard court
A rigid acrylic, concrete or asphalt court that gives a true, consistent, medium-paced bounce — the standard multi-use outdoor surface.
Artificial turf
Synthetic grass, often filled with sand or rubber, that gives a firm, even, all-weather surface. It plays faster and truer than worn natural grass.
Clay
A soft, granular racquet-sport surface of crushed brick, stone or shale that slows the ball, gives a high bounce and lets players slide into shots.
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Facilities
- Tennis courtA rectangular marked court, divided across the middle by a net, where tennis is played as singles or doubles.
- Football pitchThe large rectangular grass or artificial-turf field on which football (soccer) is played, with a goal at each end.
- Padel courtAn enclosed court, much smaller than a tennis court, walled with glass and mesh so the ball can be played off the walls.
- Multi-use games area (MUGA)A fenced outdoor hard-surface area marked for several sports, common in schools, parks and community facilities.
- Sports hallA large indoor hall with multi-sport line markings, used for court sports like basketball, volleyball and badminton.
Equipment
- Football boots (cleats)Studded footwear that grips the pitch for football and other field sports.
- Padel racketA solid, stringless perforated racket used to play padel.
- BasketballA large, inflated ball with a dimpled surface used to play basketball.
- Tennis racquetA strung frame with a handle used to hit the ball in tennis.
- Tennis ballA hollow rubber ball covered in felt used in tennis and related racquet sports.
Techniques
- Tennis ServeThe overhead stroke that starts every point, hit from behind the baseline into the diagonally opposite service box.
- VolleyA shot played near the net by blocking the ball out of the air before it bounces, using a short, firm punch rather than a full swing.
- Topspin ForehandA forehand groundstroke hit with a low-to-high swing that puts forward spin on the ball so it dips and kicks up on landing.
- One-Handed BackhandA backhand groundstroke struck with a single hand on the grip, driving through the ball with a full extension of the hitting arm.
- HeaderA technique for controlling or striking the ball with the forehead in football, used to pass, shoot or clear the ball in the air.
Tactics
- Serve and volleyAn attacking tennis tactic where the server follows their serve to the net to finish the point with a volley.
- Net playControlling the point from close to the net with volleys, smashes and touch shots to cut down an opponent’s time.
- Baseline playA patient tennis style built around rallying from the back of the court and constructing points with groundstrokes.
- Doubles formationHow a pair positions itself on court — one up, one back, or both at the net — to control space in doubles.
- Fast breakPushing the ball up court at speed after a turnover or rebound to score before the defence sets up.
Skills
- FootworkThe skill of moving efficiently around the playing area to be in position for each shot or action.
- Net playThe skill of controlling points close to the net with volleys and touch shots.
- ServingThe skill of putting the ball or shuttle into play to start a point or rally.
- DiggingThe volleyball skill of controlling a hard-driven ball low to keep it in play.
- RallyingThe skill of exchanging shots back and forth to build and win a point.
Disciplines
- CyclocrossCyclocross is lap racing on a short off-road circuit of grass, mud, and sand, where riders often dismount to carry the bike over obstacles.
- Speed ClimbingA timed format where climbers ascend a route as fast as possible, most recognizably as a head-to-head race on a standardized competition wall.
- Whitewater & CreekingWhitewater kayaking is the descent of moving rivers and rapids, with creeking focused on steep, technical drops and low-volume runs.