Drag Brushes for Artificial Clay Tennis Courts
Are you having a new artificial clay surface installed at your tennis club? Are you now wondering which drag brushes for artificial clay tennis courts you should purchase to keep your new surface in good condition?
Read on to find out which tennis drag brush might be best for your new court installation.
The artificial clay surface
New artificial clay tennis courts can be a sizeable investment for clubs. Keeping them in good condition for as long as possible is therefore important to maximise performance, longevity, and return on investment for club members.
Unlike a natural clay surface, which is built from multiple layers of lava rock, sand and crushed brick dust, an artificial clay surface is constructed more simply. Generally speaking, it consists of a specialised carpet that is filled with heat-treated, coloured silica sand.
The treated sand is brushed into the carpet pile to support and stabilise it. The surface is then overfilled with additional sand to at least 2–3 mm above the carpet pile. This allows players to slide across the surface in a way that is similar to playing on a natural clay court.
Regular brushing with a specific drag brush for artificial clay courts is essential to maintain the playing characteristics of the surface.
Combi drag brushes for artificial clay surfaces
Earlier this week a customer contacted us about a new artificial clay court being installed at their club. They had several questions about the maintenance equipment required for this type of surface.
Below is the conversation that followed, which we think could also be useful for other tennis clubs in the same situation.
Question
We understand that to maximise the longevity of the surface and maintain good playing conditions, sweeping or dragging the surface after play is recommended. Could you advise which drag brushes you would recommend? Perhaps one that performs best, and also a lighter-weight option for members who may struggle with heavier equipment.
Answer
Our combination drag brushes, which are drag brushes with an integrated drag mat, are the most popular maintenance tool for artificial clay courts.
We supply two options:
- Premium Combi Drag Brush – 11 kg
- Regular Combi Drag Brush – 6 kg
If you are installing several courts, we usually recommend having at least one heavier Premium Combi brush, with regular Combi brushes used on the other courts.
The regular Combi brush is available in two widths:
- 2 m width (most popular option)
- 1.5 m width
If weight is a concern, the 1.5 m brush is a very lightweight option at just 5 kg, while still remaining effective for routine court maintenance.
Combi drag brush vs separate drag brush and drag mat
Question
How does your Combi drag brush compare in weight and function to your Standard drag brush?
Answer
The Standard drag brush (1.5 m) weighs 6.5 kg. This makes it heavier than the 1.5 m Combi drag brush (5 kg) because the brush head is wider and has:
- 5 rows of bristles instead of 3
- a surrounding aluminium frame
The purpose of the drag brush is to loosen the sand infill. Brushing prevents the infill from compacting.
If the infill becomes compacted because it is not brushed regularly, the surface can clog up and become waterlogged during rainy weather. A waterlogged surface can encourage moss growth and faster deterioration of the carpet.
The drag mat, on the other hand, smooths the infill and redistributes it evenly across the court, returning sand to areas where it has been displaced by heavier foot traffic.
For proper maintenance of artificial clay tennis courts, you therefore need both tools - a brush and a mat.
You can either:
- use a separate drag brush and drag mat, or
- choose a combined brush and mat (Combi drag brush).
In practice, most clubs prefer the Combi drag brushes, because members only need to go over the surface once rather than making two separate passes.
Heavier brushes can be more effective. However, very heavy equipment can sometimes lead to complaints from members who struggle to move the brush or hang it back on its storage hook.
For this reason:
- Professional venues with dedicated ground staff often prefer the heavier Premium Combi brush for maximum effectiveness.
- Clubs run by volunteers or members usually prefer the lighter Regular Combi brush.
A good compromise is to keep one heavier brush on one court and rotate it periodically between courts to ensure effective brushing when needed.
And what about line sweepers?
Question
QuestionWould you recommend line sweepers for artificial clay courts, or are they mainly required for natural clay courts?
Answer
A properly installed artificial clay court should have 2–3 mm of sand infill above the carpet pile.
Because of this, sand will occasionally be brushed over the court lines during routine sweeping. For this reason, you will still need a line sweeper to clean the lines from time to time.
You have two main options:
Rotary line sweepers
For example, the Match Liner. These are more expensive but much easier and more enjoyable to use, which means they are more likely to be used regularly by club members.
Basic line brushes
These are simple and inexpensive narrow brushes. They work perfectly well, although they require a little more practice to use effectively.
Discounts and offers
Question
Are there any additional discounts available if we order multiple products?
Answer
At present we offer £20 off each drag brush when you purchase two or more. This discount is applied automatically at checkout.
We also offer similar quantity discounts on tennis nets, scoreboards and line sweepers.
In addition, we operate a club partnership programme. Your club can receive an additional 5% discount on your entire order by participating.
To qualify, your club simply needs to feature our logo and a link on your tennis club’s website.
More information about the programme can be found here: Tennis Club Discounts
We also offer free shipping on orders over £600. If you are close to the free shipping threshold, you might consider adding clay court accessories such as storage hooks or maintenance signs.
Summary
For most clubs with a new artificial clay surface, we recommend Combi drag brushes with an integrated drag mat. These tools make routine court maintenance quicker and easier for members.
If your venue has several courts, consider purchasing at least one Premium Combi drag brush. This heavier brush provides the most effective deep brushing and can be rotated between courts when required. Regular Combi brushes can then be used for everyday maintenance.
Before purchasing equipment, it is also worth checking with your court installer, as drag brushes or line sweepers may already be included in your installation package.
Accessories such as storage hooks help keep equipment safely off the playing surface and reduce trip hazards. Maintenance reminder signs can also help guide members on how to brush courts correctly.
You can conveniently order all your artificial clay court maintenance equipment from one place here: Clay Court Maintenance Tools
If card payment is not suitable for your club, simply select “payment by bank transfer” at checkout.
As always, if you have any questions about tennis court equipment, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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You might also be interested in the following related articles:
Drag Brush or Drag Mat
Top-up Infill Sand for Artificial Clay Courts
