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Interspecific comparisons of C 3 turfgrass for tennis use: II. Investigation of ball friction, ball bounce, and associated factors in replicated grass courts
Author(s) -
Ebdon J. S.,
James I.,
DaCosta M.,
Lu J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.1002/csc2.20277
Subject(s) - agrostis stolonifera , agrostis , poa pratensis , lolium perenne , biology , ball (mathematics) , botany , cultivar , festuca rubra , interspecific competition , horticulture , poaceae , mathematics , geometry
Tennis is played on many different surfaces including natural grass, which plays fast because of low ball bounce (i.e., coefficient of restitution [COR]) and low ball‐to‐surface friction (coefficient of friction [COF]) that increase the pace (ball speed) of tennis. Effects of various C 3 turfgrasses on COF and COR have not been investigated. Our objectives were to evaluate eight cultivars of various species randomized within three official size tennis courts: (a) ‘Keeneland’ Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L., KB), (b) ‘Rubix’ KB, (c) ‘Villa’ velvet bentgrass ( Agrostis canina L., VBG), (d) ‘Puritan’ colonial bentgrass ( Agrostis capillaris L., CL), (e) ‘007’ creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera L., CB), (f) fine fescue ( Festuca sp., FF) mixture, (g) ‘Karma’ perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L, PR), and (h) ‘Wicked’ PR. Friction was measured using a weighted sled and ball bounce (BB) to derive COR was measured using a vertical drop height of 254 cm. Bounce (i.e., COR) to satisfy the International Tennis Federation (ITF) minimum of 50% BB (COR = 0.70) was not observed on any of the species evaluated. Species such as FF and PR were able to achieve BB to satisfy the ITF 80% BB minimum to that observed on smooth concrete. Linear regression indicated that 170 g of surface hardness for FF and PR to as much as 200 g on KB and higher on BG may be needed to achieve a COR = 0.70. Hemi‐ and lignocellulose cell wall fractions were correlated with COR and COF but exhibited significant and opposite relationships. Achieving higher COF may be a more practical means to slow court pace of notoriously fast grass courts. Future research will be needed to investigate the effects of cultural practices on COF.