Synthetic grass is a uniquely varied surface that can play like a fast grass court with uncontrollable slide or like a lethargic hard court as sticky as warm tar. The vast majority of Synthetic Grass courts are sanded but un-sanded courts are not uncommon. As the un-sanded variety play not dissimilar to hard courts I will therefore concentrate on the sanded variety.

1. Establish control of the point by getting your opponent moving. (Once you start a point retrieving it is hard to regain the upper hand.)

2. Once you've got your opponent running, always play to the open court with the intention of approaching the net.

3. When running to the backhand side use slice, it will be more effective than top-spin because you can;

   1. Retain better balance whilst sliding.

   2. Utilise more options, eg lob, drop shot, deep ball.

   3. Vary the ball contact point easier, leading to better disguise.

   4. Keep the ball low so even if you hit the ball short, your opponent is less likely to attack. It's difficult to get enough work on these short balls to ward off an adequate passing shot response.

4. Use topspin from central locations and when near perfect balance has been achieved.

5. Serve as wide as possible then hit the second shot firmly into the open court and attempt to approach the net.

6. Recover low and split step long and early. Bluff in order to get your opponent to change his stroke mid stream.

7. When volleying, hold back the volley in order to make the opponent commit to a side and then play behind them.

8. Buy a pair of flat bottom Herring bone shoes and make sure they have good ankle support for sliding. Eg Nike Clay Courts.

9. Be patent when defending and don't commit to early too a direction trying to read the play. When attacking be totally committal.

10. Stay calm, smooth and pay special attention to your opponents preparation it will give you a valuable insight into their intentions.

By incorporating these tips into your Synthetic grass court play I'm sure you'll lift your game sufficiently enough to turn those close matches around and maybe even achieve the unexpected win or two.