| Court surface testing |
 | | Sestée |  | | Ball cannon |  | | Surface pace testing on Centre Court at Wimbledon |
As well as court surface classification, the Technical centre also carries out other research projects such as how the surface pace of tennis courts changes over time.
The official test method for measuring court pace is defined as Test Method ITF CS 01/02 and is described in the ITF Guide to Test Methods for Tennis Court Surfaces which is contained within the latest edition of the ITF Approved Tennis Balls and Classified Court Surfaces booklet, which can be downloaded from here.
The device used to measure court pace is known as the Sestée. Using laser technology in its two boxes, the Sestée mathematically reconstructs the trajectory of the ball before and after impact, from which pace is calculated. An air-powered cannon is used to project the ball through the boxes at a speed of 30 m/s and at an approach angle of 16° without any spin.
Court speed is determined primarily by the friction between the ball and the court surface (coefficient of friction or COF) and some what by the liveliness of the court (coefficient of restitution or COR). The more friction, the more the ball slows down. The higher the bounce (large COR) the more the ball slows down.
Click here for details of the ITF Court Pace Classification Programme.
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