"Checking the mark" on hardcourts?

Question

When players "check the mark" on hardcourt, are they looking for a physical bounce mark, or just getting a better view of where the think the ball landed? Does the ball leave a physical bounce mark on hardcourts like on clay?

Answer 1

It can leave a small mark on the blue surface because the ball is travelling at pace and skids along the floor, smearing the surface.

Players check the mark because they are looking for physical evidence from where they think the ball bounced and if they can contest a call, or simply applaud the quality of the shot.

The mark isn't always clear on harcourts, as it is on clay, which is why you can get players making challenges to calls which were way in.