This group is for all tennis clubs with shale courts and owners of private shale courts to discuss all aspects of building, maintaining and playing on shale tennis courts.

Shale is a type of clay tennis court found mainly in Britain (known as blaes in Scotland). Traditional shale is made from brick-dust laid on a bed of clinker (ash). Shale courts are medium paced which makes them faster than European clay courts and porous macadam courts but slower than grass. More information is available on the website of Sutton Churches Tennis Club at www.clubtennis.co.uk.

Shale courts can be high maintenance and shale materials and expertise is becoming more and more scarce. This group is particularly designed for members to share maintenance tips and tricks and help find suitable suppliers and contractors.