2012 Reconditioning Catalog Topics Inside:
º Scarification – Why It’s Critical º Introducing the Har-Tru Gator Spreader º º
Don’t Forget About the Nets & Posts TNT Gauge
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elcome to our reconditioning newsletter and catalog. The objective of this issue is to share the latest information on methods for reconditioning courts and products that can make the process easier and more effective.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Topics • Scarification – Why It’s Crucial............................................................................................. • Introducing the Har-Tru Gator Spreader.......................................................................... • Don’t Forget About the Nets & Posts................................................................................ • TNT Gauge................................................................................................................................. Products • Lute/Sacrifiers................................................................................................................ • Gator Rake..................................................................................................................... • Tow Scarifier................................................................................................................... • Nets & Posts................................................................................................................... • TNT Gauge..................................................................................................................... • QuickStart Lines............................................................................................................
SCARIFICATION – WHY IT’S CRITICAL
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carification is critical during reconditioning and at other times of the year. If you remember to do one thing this top dressing season, remember to scarify your court before you add new material. This is a simple exercise that takes less than 10 minutes but can save you hours of hassle and frustration. A compacted, seasoned court has a very smooth surface and it’s difficult to get new Har-Tru to stick to it without proper preparation. Scarification is akin to sanding prior to painting. It loosens and breaks up the existing surface layer and this allows the new and old surface material to blend together. Remember as well that the Har-Tru directly out of the bag will be a different gradation than the Har-Tru on your court and it’s desirable to mix and homogenize the surface layer for best performance. Scarification is particularly critical before patching a court. During the reconditioning process it is
important to patch the high play areas such as baselines and service boxes so they don’t hold water or create irregular bounces. A typical patch may be ¼” thick and require 5-8 bags of Har-Tru to get the surface back to level. If you fail to scarify thoroughly prior to applying a patch the likelihood of the patch failing and coming apart from the surface during rolling or match play is very high. Just scratch or break up the court surface with any of our scarification tools discussed in this issue and the consistency and speed with which your patches will take to the court surface will be greatly improved. Scarification is not only beneficial during reconditioning. It is extremely beneficial for a number
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of other reasons and should be a part of your periodic maintenance program, performed once every 1-2 weeks.
form a loose, granular, cushion between the compacted surface and the player’s feet. This allows for light drying of the loose surface material while the layer below maintains its moisture and stability. When a court seems bald or crusty scarify it immediately and as much as necessary to regenerate the sliding material. Many choose to add material instead. This is an acceptable solution but scarification may be less costly and less time consuming, and while it might look like that sliding material has gone away, it really has just been ground in and needs to be brought back up from the compacted layer.
Here are a few reasons why: Har-Tru Courts Need to Breathe – Scarification keeps the court surface porous. This makes it receptive to water and allows water to evaporate freely from the surface when the court is used and when environmental conditions are right. This “breathing” – exchange of air and water - stabilizes the surface and insures consistent traction. Many courts remain porous with little assistance but some receive so much play that they get very hard and impervious. Sun baked courts in the south and west, indoor courts and sub-surface irrigated courts are particularly susceptible to having the surface layer get crusted over and locked up. Adding daily or weekly scarification prevents adverse conditions from taking hold and helps alleviate them if they do.
Scarification Prevents Growth – Har-Tru can be a fertile environment for moss, weeds and algae. What prevents these from growing is regular agitation of the court surface. This occurs every time the court is used and/or swept. The low play areas along the fence and net lines are most susceptible as they get the least use but it is not uncommon for growth that started in these low play areas to creep out onto the playing area. This can make the surface unpredictably and dangerously slippery. It’s hard to eliminate growth once it has taken hold so at the first hint of a problem scarify daily or weekly as needed to eliminate it.
Sacarification Improves Traction – Scarification will generate sliding material. While not all courts need this it is generally a good thing for subsurface irrigated courts, indoor courts and crusty compacted courts. The optimal situation is to have enough surface material to
Scarification Tools Tool
Best Use
Depth of Penetration
Suggested Frequency
Lute Scarifier
Patching/Localized hard spots/ Growth on court edges
Shallow
Hand tool – use as often as necessary
24” Hand Rake
Growth on court edges/Localized hard spots
Medium – Deep
Hand tool – use as often as necessary
72” Hand Rake
Keep court porous
Shallow – Medium
Hand tool – use daily
Hand/Tow Model Gator Rake
Top dressing/patching/Keep courts porous/Prevent growth
Medium
Hand or tow tool – use daily
Court Devil Jr
Growth on court edges/Localized hard spots/Patching
Medium – Deep
Hand tool – use weekly or monthly
Court Devil
Top dressing/Patching/Keep courts porous/Eliminate and prevent growth
Medium – Deep
Tow tool – use weekly or monthly
Tow Scarifier
Keep courts porous/Eliminate and prevent growth/Heavy top dressing
Deep
Tow tool – Cannot be pulled over tapes – Use monthly or once or twice a year
Shallow = 1/32”
Medium = 1/16” - ¼”
Deep = ¼” – ½”
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LUTE/SCARIFIER
HAND GATOR RAKE
SCR04 - 30”
SCR1324 – 24”
SCR05 - 48”
The lute/scarifier is two tools in one – made of allaluminum for scarifying, leveling and removing loose granules. It is strong and sturdy, yet light enough to use all day and excellent for spreading new material during top-dressing.The concave shape of the 30”-wide blade allows the tool to “float” along the surface, without grabbing or digging in. Also available in 48” width.
The 24” wide hand rake is designed for agitating the court surface along the fence line to remove and prevent moss and other growth. It is also very effective when used on small hard-pan areas. It is very aggressive and chews up the court surface with very little effort.
TOW MODEL GATOR RAKE SCR12TO
Weight Towers - SCR12WA. Weights not included. The Har-Tru Gator Rake is one of the finest grooming and leveling tools we have ever offered. The product is all aluminum and stainless steel. The tine system is composed of stainless steel rods less than 1/8th inch in diameter that puts just the right bite into your court surface, leaving a finely groomed, highly manicured appearance. The Har-Tru Gator Rake can be towed behind a cart or pulled by hand depending on your needs. Weight can be added to the top of the rake on special weight towers (must be purchased separately) to increase the aggressiveness of the tool and help it dig into hard packed courts, regenerating loose sliding material.
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COURT DEVIL
TOW SCARIFIER
SCR01
SCR03 SCR03NAI - Replacement nails
Designed to agitate the court surface without removing or damaging existing line tapes. It helps prevent and break up mineral deposits, mold, algae and fungus that may tighten the court surface. The court is scarified with circular steel blades mounted on free-turning axles. W eight 105 lbs., width 48”.
This 48”-wide heavy-duty tow model scarifier is truly a workhorse for loosening the top surface on Har-Tru courts. It is especially good for indoor courts and sun-baked southern courts with excess calcium build up. The unit is heavy enough to allow its two rows of case-hardened nails to really penetrate the surface. • Staggered nails on each row prevent clumps. • Sized to fit between the alley tape. • Levered wheels lift unit over tapes so tapes can be left in place. • Adjustable tow hitch fits most utility vehicles. • Adjustable steel rails lower nails as they wear down. • Removable steel plate allows for easy nail replacement. • 40D nails – 3/16” diameter by 5” long
COURT DEVIL JR. SCR02
This smaller hand-model Court Devil is designed for maintaining areas along court perimeters and beneath the net line. It is also great for loosening localized hard spots.Weight 85 lbs., width 16”.
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INTRODUCING THE HAR-TRU GATOR SPREADER
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any of our customers have fallen in love with the TruFlo spreaders we carry - understandably. These spreaders do an exceptional job of laying out Har-Tru in a smooth, even blanket even under damp surface conditions. So why introduce a new spreader? The Har-Tru Gator Spreader is a contractor-grade product specifically designed to handle the rigors of heavy top dressing. Additionally, unlike the TruFlo line, the Gator Spreader is an adjustable rate spreader that allows you to fine tune the flow of material according to your needs. The solid, 14 gauge, galvaneal body holds up to 6 bags. The wheels and bearings are designed to support 1200 LBS of weight. The unit is 59� wide and comes as a tow or hand model. Minimal assembly required.
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DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE NETS & POSTS!
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ow nice it is to gaze upon a Har-Tru court that has just been reconditioned.You may have worked all day and as the sun gets low the deep, textured, green color emerges, bringing out the pristine, new, white tapes. It’s remarkable that after this fine work so many facilities will put up dirty, 5 year old, nets on rusty, scratched-up posts. The reality is that a player stepping out on the court is far more likely to notice the net and posts than the court surface. You can do something about that. 1. Once reconditioning is complete pull out your posts, thoroughly sand them down and repaint them using an outdoor spray paint. Eventually net posts should be replaced for both safety and aesthetic reasons. There is no hard, fast rule about how long they can last but watch out for rusting and flaking around the bases of the posts where they come into contact with the court surface.
When its time for replacement you may want to consider aluminum. Aluminum is a bit more expensive but will maintain its appearance and structural integrity longer than steel. If your posts are not in sleeves but were installed directly into a permanent foundation it is possible to retrofit new posts over the top of them, rather than having to dig up your old posts. This involves cutting the existing posts
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off 18” above the ground and then installing new posts directly over the top. Your existing posts must be 2 7/8” outside diameter posts for this to work. 2. Nets generally hold up 3-5 years, depending on the type of net you purchase but the head bands will typically get covered with mold and mildew within one year. Instituting a regime to clean the headband with mild dish soap and a soft scrub brush or wash cloth will help preserve the net’s appearance for much longer. Note that the use of bleach, heavy detergent soap or coarse brushes may cause the headband to prematurely crumble. If you use a net with a canvas headband there is not any good way to clean it once mildew sets in. POSTS
The Har-Tru Net Net PostPost Line Line The Har-Tru Product Number PST10 PST10R PST20 PST30 PSTSTE
Description Har-Tru Deluxe Internal Wind Post Har-Tru Deluxe Internal Wind Retrofit Post Har-Tru Advantage External Wind Post Har-Tru Advantage Internal Wind Post Har-Tru Classic Steel Post
Material Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Steel
Shape Tear Drop Tear Drop Round Round Round
Wind Mechanism Internal Internal Internal External External
Color Options Black/Green Black/Green Black/Green Black/Green Black/Green
Cap Options Silver Silver Silver Silver N/A
NETS
The Best Nets
LTIMATE U NET
GRAND SLAM
CHALLENGER & PRO TOUR
STOCK # WARRANTY STYLE NET BODY
FUTURE
HEADBAND
SIDEBAND
We represent what we believe to be the best net manufacturers in the world. Before our private label goes on, each model is thoroughly tested. GROMMETS
DOWELS
DESCRIPTION
ULTIMATE NETULT 5 Year Taper Machine Woven Double Layer 3.0 Matte Stainless Steel 16 MM The full double net Double All Rows Finish for ultimate durability GRAND SLAM NETGSL 5 Year Taper CHALLENGER NETCLG 4 Year Regular
Hand Woven Double Top
Double Layer
Machine Woven Double Layer Double Top
3.0 Matte Stainless Steel 16 MM Finish 2.5 Matte Finish
Stainless Steel
12 MM
Fitted net with hand made knots and great durability Good durability
PRO TOUR NETPRO 4 Year Taper Machine Woven Double Layer 2.5 Matte Stainless Steel 12 MM Fitted net with Double Top Finish good durability FUTURE NETFUT 3 Year Regular Single Single Layer 2.5 Matte Finish
Solid Brass
12 MM
Best value
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TNT GAUGE
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hile you are sprucing up your nets and posts you may want to consider adding a TNT, net tensioning gauge to some or all of your courts. New this year, this innovative product provides a simple and reliable solution to consistent net tension. A shot that hits the net cord is challenging enough. Competitive players want the experience to be the same from court to court and the TNT gauge allows for greater predictability by synchronizing net tension across a multiple courts. Perhaps more importantly, the TNT gauge promotes safety. If someone bounces or falls
on the net, the cord and the posts can be dangerously stressed. With the TNT gauge installed the spring yields first reducing risk and protecting players. This product has been used and tested at the professional and collegiate levels. Order them for your facility today.
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10 & UNDER TENNIS LINES Har-Tru has developed the first set of temporary and permanent lines specifically for Har-Tru courts. The temporary lines can be installed by one person in 5-7 minutes. The permanent lines are colored dark green to blend into the Har-Tru surface.
PATENT PENDING
Introducing
36’ Temporary Lines – TAPQS36 Our 36’ temporary lines come in red, to match the red ball used on 36’courts and to show up sharply against the Har-Tru green. The system comes in two pieces, an outside rectangle and an inside I. The pieces are attached together with Velcro and secured to the court surfaces with just 10 nails. Nails are included with the lines. Lines are 1” wide. 60’ Temporary Lines – TAPQS60 These lines are identical to the 36’ lines except they are colored orange to match the orange ball used in 60’ tennis. 10 nails (included) secure these to the court. There are no Velcro connections with the 60’ lines. All intersections are stitched together. Lines are 1 1/2” wide. 36’ & 60’ Permanent Lines – TAPQSGP60 The 60’ lines are made from our Herringbone tape but are colored green. These are designed for courts that are regularly used for both full size and 60’ play. The green color helps the 60’ layout blend into the court when the regulation size court is in use. These lines are nailed into the court surface similar to standard court lines. Each box comes with 180’ of tape, enough for one 60’ court or one 36’ court.
Har-Tru Maintenance Certification Seminars The Har-Tru Maintenance Certification Seminars focus on indoor, outdoor and bubbled Har-Tru courts. Seminar attendees get 2 days of intense classroom and “hands-on” learning around clay court construction, the latest tools and the best maintenance practices. August 20-23, 2012.......................................................................John McEnroe Tennis Academy, Randall’s Island, NY September 13-16, 2012.................................................................... Pelican Landing Tennis Center, Bonita Springs, FL September 22-26, 2012........................................................................International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, RI October 15-17, 2012................................................................................................ Farmington CC, Charlottesville,VA October 21-25, 2012.................................................................................................. Racquet Club of Irvine, Irvine, CA
USPTA Teaching professionals receive 6 continuing education credits for attending any of these seminars.
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heavy wash-out area