Puffs of dust were evidence of the ball breaking the surface of the pitch as it landed - and batting last should be awkward.

BBC: Jonathan Agnew column

Then there's the vertical bounce of the ball which is affected by the stiffness of the surface.

BBC: SPORT | Tennis | Rules and Equipment | On the rebound

Then, on a smooth. flour-free surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the dough is smooth and firm -- about 1 minute.

CNN: Pizza Dough

But it's not just the bounce and speed of the ball off the clay surface that sets it apart from other courts, and makes the French Open an elusive tournament for some players.

CNN: Tennis interactive: Why clay is so different

Picture what it would be like to roll a bowling ball onto the two-dimensional surface of a trampoline.

NPR: Einstein: Relatively Speaking, a Complicated Life

To prepare each pizza, place a ball of dough on a lightly floured surface.

CNN: Pizza Dough

Using the Sokka unit basically involves kicking a ball against a flat playing surface containing a number of electronic sensors that monitor accuracy and technique.

BBC: Kevin Keegan launches football training systems

These form a ball of plasma about 300 times hotter than the surface of the Sun.

BBC: Artist's representation of a black hole,

But on a high friction surface like clay, the ball will grip more and change the trajectory of the ball quite significantly.

BBC: SPORT | Tennis | Rules and Equipment | On the rebound

"Imagine that the mirror's surface is made of many smaller mirrors turned to different angles, like a disco ball, " said R.

CNN: Disco ball-inspired mirror gets rid of driver's blind spot

With groundsman Steve Rouse suggesting his dry pitch would suit seamers who "kiss" the surface, giving the ball every opportunity to swing, England omitted surprise call-up Darren Pattinson in favour of the fit-again Ryan Sidebottom.

BBC: England toil as S Africa dominate