| 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 surface pace is defined as Test Method ITF CS 01/01 and is described in the Initial ITF Study on Performance Standards for Tennis Court Surfaces booklet which was published in 1997. This publication is currently under review and a new edition will be published in the near future. To order a copy of the current edition, go to the publications section.
The device used to measure surface pace is known as the Sestée. Using laser technology housed 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 Surface Classification scheme.
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