Have you played complete matches in the rain? If you have, you know very well that weather is a very important thing for every outdoor sport. And tennis is not an exception. Moreover, the rain effect is probably the most sensitive issue exactly for this sport.
What do you need to pay attention to?
The first thing every beginner has to know is whether it is a considerable obstacle to continue a match or workout or not.
So, here is the answer: yes, you can keep playing tennis while it’s raining if:
- you are playing on a proper surface
- it is not heavy rain
- you are wearing and using the right equipment
- you know how to play when the rain goes on. This is about a sort of special “rain style” of playing tennis
Can you play tennis in the rain? So, read the article to learn all the details. Let’s get started!
Type of court
As you know, there are three common kinds of tennis courts:
- grass courts
- hard courts
- red or green clay courts
They are very different in resistance to rain effects. For example, you should stop the game on the grass field even if light rain comes. Meanwhile, some amount of water will make clay courts even better for playing.
Take a look at the table to find out how to react to weather surprises correctly.
| Type of the surface you are playing now, what to do if the rain is getting started | |
| Grass courts | Can you play tennis in the rain on the grass? It would be better to stop playing right now if you don’t want to damage the wet court or hurt yourself and visit a doctor. The bad news is that all grass courts are extremely dangerous places to play tennis in the rain. The grass is just a little bit slippy surface even if it is not rainy. And when the humidity goes up, the grass court is like an ice rink. In addition, if you fall down, you can spoil some grass occasionally. In this case, the court will need to be recovered. It will be not for use and shut down for a while. |
| Hard courts | Such a surface can stand some water. There is no need to leave the court in light rain until the small puddles appear or you start to lose control of your movements because of the slippy ground. Keep in mind that asphalt or other hard courts cannot absorb the water at all. That’s why hard courts become dangerous in a few minutes of rain, especially for playing tennis. If you aren’t sure if it’s time to get some rest, take a simple test: walk across the court carefully. If you feel your feet are not slipping at all, it’s ok. Remember that the most sensitive area on a wet tennis court is the lines. They are the easiest way to fall down. Inspect them thoroughly first. And, please, don’t forget that a hard court (asphalt) is the worst place to fall down. Take care. |
| Clay courts | It is the best place to play tennis in the rain. Furthermore, dry clay courts aren’t a good thing. A red or green clay court gets even better because of the water. The surface becomes smooth. There is no dust or defects on the ground. It is a way to maintain an entire court in good condition. |
So, pouring the water is a part of the service. But the rain is ok until the clay becomes mud
Do you feel like slipping? Do the tennis balls have a bad bounce? Do the puddles appear? That’s it. The game is over. Get some rest.
What about the recovery time of a wet court after a rain delay?
Ok, the sun has already appeared from behind the clouds. Of course, it’s not enough to resume the match or workout right after the rain stops. The surface is still wet and dangerous. You have to wait.
How much time? It depends on the situation. Look at the table to clarify it at the moment.
Table: , ,
| Type of surface | Light rain | Heavy rain |
| Clay courts | 15-30 min | 1-3 hours |
| Hard courts | An hour | Several hours |
| Grass courts | Several hours | A whole day |
Keep in mind that all that is an approximate calculation. In the real world, many things contribute to the court’s recovery time such as the sun and wind, the tools you usually use to dry the surface, and so on.
Anyway, you have to assess the court’s condition by yourself. Make sure that there are no puddles or mud after heavy rain and the ground is dry enough.
Not only does it mean what wet clay or hard court you are playing on. The important thing is the equipment you are wearing and playing with. Let’s talk about it in the next paragraph.
Equipment for a wet court: tennis balls, rackets, sneakers
If you are going to play tennis when it’s rainy, it would be better to prepare thoroughly. Here are some tips on how to do it.
| Equipment | Tips |
| Shirts | Take two, three, or even four ones to put on while the match or workout goes on. Not only is it unpleasant to play wearing a wet shirt, but you can easily get a cold that way. |
| Tennis balls | Bring extra tennis balls. Does rain ruin tennis balls? No. Does the water affect tennis balls? Yes, it does. The thing is that tennis balls have a furry or hairy cover. It accumulates water, and a tennis ball becomes two or even three times heavier. If you are going to play with such a piece of equipment, forget about high-quality tennis. It’s much better to change a tennis ball frequently. |
| Sneakers | Put on ones that have extra material on their soles. It prevents slipping and falling down. |
| Towels | Take more. You will dry off your face, hands, body, and the handle of the racket with them. Towels are useful everywhere you face the water, aren’t they? |
| Racket | You’ve already known what to do. Take one more. It will be cool to get a racket with a dry handle while the rain goes on. Furthermore, wet tennis balls are heavier than they are in their usual state. It’s like a crash test for a racket. And it gets broken because of it. |
By the way, play with a racket made of synthetic gut strings when it’s rainy even if you are used to natural strings. They are much stronger and can handle the strikes on heavy tennis balls.
Well, it’s still not enough for safety and to win against your opponent while it’s rainy. You need to know how to behave on wet courts and learn the special “rainy style” of playing tennis.
How to play tennis in the rain?
You do have to play differently. Otherwise, there would be a risk to be injured. Moreover, you will be not good at playing in the rain the way you are used to. Here is the table that describes how to move.
| Element | Tips |
| Kick serve | Forget about it while it’s rainy. A kick serve requires clear movements and strength. It’s so hard to perform it perfectly when a clay or hard court is slippy, a handle of a racket is slippy too, and a tennis ball (full of water) is like a stone. Most likely, you will hurt your wrist or fall down. |
| Stance | It would be better to bend the knees. You’ll improve your balance that way and be ready to get low-coming tennis balls (most likely, they’ll be low-coming because an opponent won’t use a serve kick as well). Of course, by doing so, you won’t be able to run as fast as you can, but it’s not necessary when you are on a slippy court surface. Take care of your legs and keep yourself in a steady stance. |
| Tactiс | Play smart and economical tennis. Do not run a lot. |
| Slice shot | Use it more often. The rain cuts your opportunities to show all you can do on a tennis court, but it doesn’t bother you to perform slice shots. They are very confusing things for every competitor, no matter if it’s rainy or shiny. |
So, there were important points. But the most important thing is your health. Remember that the smartest decision is just waiting until the wet court dries.
To learn more about Scoring a Win for Tennis, check out this post here.
Frequently asked questions about playing tennis in the rain
How long after the rains can you play tennis?
It depends on the situation. Consider the surface you are going to play on, how long the rain was going on, the current weather, your skills, your equipment, etc. Generally, it takes a quarter of an hour to a day.
What happens if it rains during a tennis match?
There are two options: to play despite the rain and to wait for good weather conditions. The decision is made by a tournament referee.
If it’s not a professional tennis match (club tennis), both tennis players decide what to do.
How fast do tennis courts dry after rain?
It depends on the weather, the type of tennis court, and the activities to dry it off. It happens that fifteen minutes are enough. Sometimes, it is necessary to wait for a dry court until the next day.
Can you play tennis in 30-degree weather?
Yes, you can, but be careful. Drink a lot of water, put a hat on, and get breaks in a shady place.
Summary
Can you play tennis in the rain? Generally, yes, you ought to if you are one of the professional players playing professional matches and have no choice. But it would be better to wait until the wet court gets dried.
If you are going to play tennis despite the inclement weather, do it in a safe way. In particular, pay attention to the details:
- Type of court. Don’t play on wet grass. A clay court is the best choice. A wet hard court is fit for light rain.
- Equipment. Use proper sneakers and change the tennis balls, shirts, etc.
- Style of playing. Bend your knees, don’t perform a kick serve, and play economical tennis without much running.
Anyway, remember that tennis is just a game. The most important thing is your health. It would be better to keep away from extra risk. But the decision is yours, of course.
If you need to read about How Long Do Multifilament Strings Last, please read our article.