Need the best tennis balls for your game? Look no further than our top picks! These balls offer superior performance and durability.
The best tennis balls are now available from several different brands in various quantities. Beginners may believe that the type of tennis ball they buy is insignificant. After all, any old tennis ball should be enough, right?!
However, it’s vital to buy a quality can of tennis balls because it can make or break your experience on the court. Tennis balls lose their spring as they age, as you’ll notice when you hit one across the court for long enough and nothing is more frustrating than watching a tennis ball that has passed its prime bounce sloppily across the court.
We’ll make it easy for you to find the perfect tennis ball. We’ll highlight the best tennis balls on the market and explain what distinguishes them. The best tennis balls available today for every level of play are listed below, with recommendations based on personal experience and buyer feedback.
The Most Popular Tennis Ball Brands
Wilson and Penn are the most renowned tennis ball brands. These brands are most likely found at your local sporting goods or big box store. Of course, other tennis equipment companies produce high-quality tennis balls also. Some of these brands are: Dunlop, Babolat, Tecnifibre, Tourna, Slazenger, Gamma & Tretorn.
You can easily order any of these balls online on several platforms, but if you don’t live in a big metropolis, it may be more challenging to find those specialty brands locally. It’s natural to develop a preference for a particular brand of tennis ball. So, if you own a Wilson tennis racket, you may prefer Wilson tennis balls simply because of brand loyalty.
- Approved by USTA and ITF for competitive play
- Official Ball of the US Open
- Made with premium woven felt
- Extra Duty: Ideal performance on hard, abrasive courts
- Can includes 3 balls
- Official Recognition: USTA and ITF approve Wilson tennis balls, attesting to their quality and adherence to standards.
- Grand Slam Endorsement: Wilson is the chosen ball for prestigious events like the US Open and Australian Open Grand Slam Championships.
- NCAA Official Ball: Wilson holds the title of the official ball for NCAA tennis, both for men and women's competitions.
- Durable Performance: Designed for extended play on hard court surfaces, the extra-duty construction ensures longevity.
- Exclusive Dura-Weave Felt: Wilson's unique dura-weave felt enhances durability and overall ball performance.
- Versatile Use: Ideal for players at all levels, suitable for both tournament and recreational play.
- Top Choice in the US: Penn Championship is America's best-selling tennis ball, refined over a century.
- Consistent Performance: These balls offer controlled fiber release for even nap and natural rubber for a reliable feel, ensuring consistent play.
- Suitable for All Courts: While extra-duty is best for hard courts, they work on both indoor and outdoor softer surfaces.
- Officially Recognized: As the Official Ball of USTA Leagues, Penn Championship is approved by USTA and ITF, ensuring quality.
- Durable Design: The interlocked wool fiber design ensures long-lasting, like-new performance on the court.
- The Most Popular Tennis Ball Brands
- The 9 Best Tennis Balls
- Best Extra Duty Tennis Balls
- Best Regular Duty Tennis Balls
- Best High-Altitude Tennis Balls
- Best All-Court Tennis Balls
- Best tournament tennis balls
- Best Tennis Balls for Practice
- Best tennis balls for ball machines
- Best Pressureless tennis balls
- Best Alternative Balls
- Best Tennis Balls For Kids
- Best Tennis Foam Balls
- Best Tennis Balls For Each Skill Level
- Best Tennis Balls For Clay, Hard and Grass Courts
- Official Grand Slam Tournament Balls
- Different Types Of Tennis Balls
- Buying Guide
- FAQs
The 9 Best Tennis Balls
- Approved by USTA and ITF for competitive play
- Official Ball of the US Open
- Made with premium woven felt
- Extra Duty: Ideal performance on hard, abrasive courts
- Can includes 3 balls
These Wilson Championship balls have extra-durable felt, making them ideal for longer play on hard court surfaces.
Wilson’s exclusive Dura-Weave felt provides increased durability and performance, which makes this ball suitable for tournament and recreational play at all levels. It’s also the official for all NCAA tennis tournaments, which is just more evidence of a high-quality ball.
The Penn Championship, America’s best-selling ball, has excellent playability and consistency. This ball is perfect for hard court, outdoor, and asphalt play because of its extra-durable felt.
It’s also the official ball of USTA leagues all around the country. These balls won’t let you down any time you hit the court.
The Dunlop Fort All Court tennis ball is iconic and suitable for all types of court surfaces and all levels of play.
This is one of the most affordable balls on my list, and many tennis clubs use them regularly on their court. It stands out for its overall durability and consistency and, in my opinion, is an excellent buy for any serious tennis player.
Wilson’s prime tennis ball has an exclusive Duraweave felt suitable for all court surfaces. This ball provides extended play and durability, as well as improved performance.
The playability is second only to the Wilson US Open, and the price is slightly higher than for the Penn Championship balls. These are an excellent choice as they are also extremely durable.
Because of its long-lasting, consistent play, this tennis ball is one of the most popular out there!
The HD Core technology ensures long-lasting durability, and the superior woven felt is 15% brighter than traditional materials. They are are perfectly suited for tournament play on hard courts.
The Pro Penn Marathon, Penn’s longest-lasting tennis ball, is an excellent choice for the experienced tennis player looking for a premium tennis ball.
These Pro Penn Marathon balls are manufactured with extra-durable felt and are ideal for hard-court play. They last 22% longer than the average ball, making them stand out among the more durable options.
The Dunlop ATP Championship Extra Duty tennis ball is ideal for recreational and club players. The Extra Duty ball provides affordable performance with a long-lasting feel, making it ideal for warm-up or practice sessions suitable on all surfaces.
Maximum durability is provided by Dunlop’s Max Core and Durafelt HD Cloth technology. It also is officially endorsed by the ATP World Tour, making it another premium option.
Wilson introduced Triniti, the first of its kind designed with fully sustainable packaging, to the market. While there will be no “pop” sound as with a conventional ball can, the unique container is 100% recyclable after use.
The ball has an Engage Core, which incorporates plastomer material to keep the ball feeling fresh for four times longer than a standard core. A ball for the planet.
Best Extra Duty Tennis Balls
- Approved by USTA and ITF for competitive play
- Official Ball of the US Open
- Made with premium woven felt
- Extra Duty: Ideal performance on hard, abrasive courts
- Can includes 3 balls
- USTA and ITF Approved
- Wilson is the Official Ball of the US Open and Australian Open Grand Slam Championships as well as the official ball of NCAA Tennis (Men and Women)
- Extra Duty ideal for longer play on hard court surfaces
- Exclusive Dura-Weave felt from Wilson provides greater durability and improved performance
- Ideal ball for all levels of tournament and recreational play
- USTA and ITF approved for tournament and league play.
- Durafelt Technology provides excellent durability.
- 3-balls per can
Best Regular Duty Tennis Balls
- Comes in a case of 24 3-ball cans, 72 balls total
- Approved by USTA and ITF for competitive play
- Official Ball of the US Open
- Made with premium woven felt
- included components: tennis balls
- Listing comes in a special holiday case. Cans are the same
- 3-Balls per can, 12-Cans per case
Best High-Altitude Tennis Balls
- Wilson is the Official Ball of the US Open and the Australian Open Grand Slam Championships
- High-altitude core, ideal for longer play on courts above 3500 feet
- Exclusive Tex Tech Industries felt from Wilson provides premium performance and long lasting durability
- Ideal ball for tournament players who are looking for premium performance
- USTA and ITF Approved
- #1 Selling Ball in America: Tested and perfected over 100 years, Penn Championship is the top-selling tennis ball in the U.S.
- Penn Performance: Controlled fiber release for even nap, natural rubber for consistent feel and reduced shock, ensuring unparalleled consistency.
- Versatile Court Use: Suitable for hard court matches and indoor/outdoor softer, clay court surfaces. High altitude balls for elevations above 4000'.
- Official Ball: USTA Leagues' Official Ball, meeting high-quality and consistency standards. Available in extra-duty, regular duty, and high altitude versions. USTA and ITF approved.
- Lasting Durability: Interlocked wool fiber for prolonged performance, ensuring the balls play like new for an extended period.
- Wilson is the Official Ball of the US Open and the Australian Open Grand Slam Championships
- High-altitude core ideal for longer play on courts above 3500 feet
- Exclusive Dura-Weave felt from Wilson provides greater durability and improved performance
- Ideal ball for high school and recreational players
- USTA and ITF Approved
Best All-Court Tennis Balls
- Dura-Weave felt for tighter play and impressive logo wear
- Ideal performance on all court surfaces
- Can includes 3 balls; case includes 24 cans
- Balls are numbered to differentiate from balls used by other players on neighboring courts
- Approved by ITF and USTA for competitive play
- #1 Selling Ball in America: Tested and perfected over 100 years, Penn Championship is the top-selling tennis ball in the U.S.
- Penn Performance: Controlled fiber release for even nap, natural rubber for consistent feel and reduced shock, ensuring unparalleled consistency.
- Versatile Court Use: Suitable for hard court matches and indoor/outdoor softer, clay court surfaces. High altitude balls for elevations above 4000'.
- Official Ball: USTA Leagues' Official Ball, meeting high-quality and consistency standards. Available in extra-duty, regular duty, and high altitude versions. USTA and ITF approved.
- Lasting Durability: Interlocked wool fiber for prolonged performance, ensuring the balls play like new for an extended period.
Best tournament tennis balls
- Approved by USTA and ITF for competitive play
- Official Ball of the US Open
- Made with premium woven felt
- Extra Duty: Ideal performance on hard, abrasive courts
- Can includes 3 balls
- USTA and ITF approved for tournament and league play.
- Durafelt Technology provides excellent durability.
- 3-balls per can
- Penn Tour tennis balls are an update to Penn ATP World Tour balls, featuring a new name and updated packaging.
Best Tennis Balls for Practice
- Penn's longest lasting tennis ball
- LongPlay felt for extended play
- Smart Optik felt for optimum visibility
- 3 balls per can/24 cans per case (72 balls total)
- #1 Selling Ball in America: Tested and perfected over 100 years, Penn Championship is the top-selling tennis ball in the U.S.
- Penn Performance: Controlled fiber release for even nap, natural rubber for consistent feel and reduced shock, ensuring unparalleled consistency.
- Versatile Court Use: Suitable for hard court matches and indoor/outdoor softer, clay court surfaces. High altitude balls for elevations above 4000'.
- Official Ball: USTA Leagues' Official Ball, meeting high-quality and consistency standards. Available in extra-duty, regular duty, and high altitude versions. USTA and ITF approved.
- Lasting Durability: Interlocked wool fiber for prolonged performance, ensuring the balls play like new for an extended period.
Best tennis balls for ball machines
- #1 Selling Ball in America: Tested and perfected over 100 years, Penn Championship is the top-selling tennis ball in the U.S.
- Penn Performance: Controlled fiber release for even nap, natural rubber for consistent feel and reduced shock, ensuring unparalleled consistency.
- Versatile Court Use: Suitable for hard court matches and indoor/outdoor softer, clay court surfaces. High altitude balls for elevations above 4000'.
- Official Ball: USTA Leagues' Official Ball, meeting high-quality and consistency standards. Available in extra-duty, regular duty, and high altitude versions. USTA and ITF approved.
- Lasting Durability: Interlocked wool fiber for prolonged performance, ensuring the balls play like new for an extended period.
- Features Dunlop logo.
- Perfect for club and tournament level players.
- Sanctioned for ITF and USTA tournaments.
- 3-balls per can, 24 cans per case
Best Pressureless tennis balls
- Maximum Performance: Our tennis ball bucket and mesh bag contain pressureless balls that maintain consistent performance and durability over time, unlike standard pressurized balls that lose pressure.
- Ideal for Practice: Popular among teaching pros, tutors, and avid players for durability. Perfect for lessons, practice, and compatible with ball machines. Enjoy endless tennis fun.
- Consistency on All Courts: Versatile on any court type, hard or soft, making them ideal for teaching and enjoyable tennis sessions on various surfaces.
- Reusable Mesh Bag: Conveniently transport up to 18 tennis balls with our durable and reusable mesh bag, making it easy to carry your tennis balls anywhere.
- Perfect Sports Gift: A practical and high-quality gift for families, tennis enthusiasts, pro tennis teachers, or even for playing with pets. Enjoy tennis fun with this ideal sports gift.
- Consistent Bounce: These pressurless balls maintain a consistent bounce throughout their life, unlike regular tennis balls that go flat over time, ensuring reliable performance.
- Durable Felt: The extra durable felt on Tourna Pressurless tennis balls lasts a long time, making them ideal for tennis ball machines, practice, and even playing with pets.
- Regulation Size and Bounce: Tourna tennis balls are regulation size and bounce to the standard height, providing confidence in play and practice on all surfaces.
- 60 Balls Per Bag: Each bag includes 60 high-quality pressurless tennis balls, perfect for practice, ball throwing machines, or playing with pets.
- High Bounce: Designed for training strikes, these non-pressure tennis balls have a hard liner, making them suitable for small dogs. They offer excellent bounce height, almost like standard balls, ideal for professional training.
- Carry Bag: The Teloon Coach3 balls come in a reusable and closeable mesh bag for convenient transport and storage.
- Lightweight: Weighing 60g with a diameter of 2.5 inches, these balls are easy to carry and control. The bounce height is 1.5m (59in) when free-falling from a 2m height.
- Durable and Wear-Resistant: The extra durable felt on Teloon Pressurless tennis balls ensures a long lifespan. They are suitable for tennis ball machines, practice, and playing with pets.
- After-Sales Service: If you encounter quality issues with the tennis balls, you can contact Teloon for a replacement. They strive to ensure customer satisfaction and provide responsive support within 24 hours.
Best Alternative Balls
- America's #1 Selling Ball: Penn Championship, the result of 100 years of testing and perfecting, holds the title of the best-selling tennis ball in America.
- Penn Performance: Controlled fiber release ensures a consistently even nap, and the use of natural rubber provides a consistent feel and reduced shock. The Championship line delivers unparalleled consistency with every stroke.
- All Courts: While extra duty tennis balls are ideal for hard court matches, they can also be used on all indoor and outdoor softer clay court surfaces.
- Official Ball: Penn Championship is the Official Ball of USTA Leagues, guaranteeing a high-quality and consistent playing experience. It is available in extra-duty felt, regular duty felt, or extra-duty high altitude felt. USTA and ITF approved.
- Cans for a Cause: Penn supports breast cancer research by donating $.15 per can of pink all courts tennis balls sold.
- First performance tennis ball with fully recyclable packaging
- Engage Core integrates plastomer material that maintains fresh ball feel 4x longer than a standard core
- STR Felt is 50% more flexible than standard felt for more feel at contact and provides enhanced durability
- 5% of profits support worldwide sustainability efforts
- Sleeve includes 3 tennis balls
- Slightly slower and easier to hit than regular tennis balls
- Perfect for practice on full size courts
- Often used with 25" - 27" rackets
- Features minions-inspired logo design on ball
- Includes 4 balls per can
Best Tennis Balls For Kids
- America's #1 Selling Ball: Penn, with a century of testing and perfection, proudly offers the best-selling line of tennis balls in America.
- Great for Beginners: The QST 36 kids' tennis ball is specially designed for beginners, featuring lower compression for controlled bounce and a 75% reduced speed. Ideal for playing on a 36' court.
- Master the Basics: Penn junior tennis balls have a red and yellow 2-tone felt design that helps young players track spin, making them perfect for those mastering the basics of ball control.
- USTA Approved: Penn QST is approved by the USTA for the 10 and Under Tennis Program, ensuring high quality and consistency.
- Lasting Durability: Durable felt ensures that these all courts tennis balls will play like new for an extended period.
- America's #1 Selling Ball: Penn, with a century of testing and perfection, proudly produces the best-selling line of tennis balls in America.
- Great for Beginners: The QST 60 kids' tennis ball is designed for beginners, featuring lower compression for controlled bounce and a 50% reduced speed. Ideal for playing on a 60' court.
- Master the Basics: Penn youth tennis balls have an orange and yellow 2-tone felt design that helps players easily track spin, making them great for young players mastering the basics of ball control.
- USTA Approved: Penn QST is approved by the USTA for the 10 and Under Tennis Program, ensuring high quality and consistency.
- Lasting Durability: Durable felt ensures that these all courts tennis balls will play like new for an extended period.
- America's #1 Selling Ball: Penn, with a century of testing and perfection, proudly produces the best-selling line of tennis balls in America.
- Great for Beginners: The Control Plus kids' tennis ball features slightly lower compression for a controlled bounce and a 25% reduced speed. Ideal for beginners playing on a 78' court for the first time.
- Master the Basics: Penn reduced-speed tennis balls are suitable for players of any age who are still mastering proper ball control. The 25% reduced speed allows for longer rallies and better practice.
- USTA Approved: Penn Control Plus is approved by the USTA for the 10 and Under Tennis Program, ensuring high quality and consistency.
- Lasting Durability: Durable felt ensures that these all courts tennis balls will play like new for an extended period.
Best Tennis Foam Balls
- America's #1 Selling Ball: Penn, with a century of testing and perfection, proudly produces the best-selling line of tennis balls in America.
- Great for Beginners: The QST 36 kids' foam tennis ball features a higher density for a controlled bounce and reduced speed. Ideal for beginners playing on a 36' court.
- Master the Basics: With a red and yellow 2-tone felt design that allows players to easily track spin, Penn junior tennis balls are great for young players still mastering their hand-eye coordination.
- Oversized: An ideal first tennis ball, the QST foam has an oversized diameter for simplified training and practice.
- USTA Approved: Penn QST is a high-quality and consistent ball, approved by the USTA for the 10 and Under Tennis Program.
- Oversized soft foam tennis ball
- Desinged for 36' courts, driveways and playgrounds
- 25% less bounce
- ITF Approved
- 6 Tennis Balls
Best Tennis Balls For Each Skill Level
- Top Choice in the US: Penn Championship is America's best-selling tennis ball, refined over a century.
- Consistent Performance: These balls offer controlled fiber release for even nap and natural rubber for a reliable feel, ensuring consistent play.
- Suitable for All Courts: While extra-duty is best for hard courts, they work on both indoor and outdoor softer surfaces.
- Officially Recognized: As the Official Ball of USTA Leagues, Penn Championship is approved by USTA and ITF, ensuring quality.
- Durable Design: The interlocked wool fiber design ensures long-lasting, like-new performance on the court.
- Official Recognition: USTA and ITF approve Wilson tennis balls, attesting to their quality and adherence to standards.
- Grand Slam Endorsement: Wilson is the chosen ball for prestigious events like the US Open and Australian Open Grand Slam Championships.
- NCAA Official Ball: Wilson holds the title of the official ball for NCAA tennis, both for men and women's competitions.
- Durable Performance: Designed for extended play on hard court surfaces, the extra-duty construction ensures longevity.
- Exclusive Dura-Weave Felt: Wilson's unique dura-weave felt enhances durability and overall ball performance.
- Versatile Use: Ideal for players at all levels, suitable for both tournament and recreational play.
- Approved by USTA and ITF for competitive play
- Official Ball of the US Open
- Made with premium woven felt
- Extra Duty: Ideal performance on hard, abrasive courts
- Can includes 3 balls
Best Tennis Balls For Clay, Hard and Grass Courts
- Approved by USTA and ITF for competitive play
- Official Ball of the US Open
- Made with premium woven felt
- Extra Duty: Ideal performance on hard, abrasive courts
- Can includes 3 balls
- Slazenger ultimate performance tennis ball
- Slazenger’s patented hydro guard technology repels up to 70 percent more water than a standard ball
- With tour core and premium woven cloth
- 3 Ball tin
- Ideal for elite tournament and club play; Material: rubber
Official Grand Slam Tournament Balls
- Quantlty: 1 Can (3-Balls)
- Wilson's official Roland Garros 2020 tennis balls
- Superior performance on clay
- Approved by the French tennis federation and the international tennis federation
- Set of 3 balls, can with lid
- Contents: 1 x Wilson Roland Garros official can of three balls, suitable for clay courts
- Slazenger ultimate performance tennis ball
- Slazenger’s patented hydro guard technology repels up to 70 percent more water than a standard ball
- With tour core and premium woven cloth
- 3 Ball tin
- Ideal for elite tournament and club play; Material: rubber
- Approved by USTA and ITF for competitive play
- Official Ball of the US Open
- Made with premium woven felt
- Extra Duty: Ideal performance on hard, abrasive courts
- Can includes 3 balls
Different Types Of Tennis Balls
Regular duty
Balls labeled “Regular Duty” are made for softer surfaces like clay or indoor courts. These balls may fluff up more than Extra Duty balls due to extra moisture and dirt, but this is minimized using a thinner felt that is more tightly wrapped around the core.
Extra Duty
Hard surfaces, including asphalt and other outside hard courts, require extra-duty balls. Their felt covering is thicker and has more fuzz, allowing them to be used on hard surfaces for longer periods of time. When hunting for extra-duty balls, you may come across the term “XD,” which is short for extra duty.
High altitude
High-altitude tennis balls, as the name suggests, are intended for use at high altitudes. Players who play at or above 4,000 feet above sea level may consider these types of balls since greater altitudes might cause pressurized tennis balls to bounce higher and travel faster.
Pressurized Balls
Pressurized tennis balls contain compressed air in rubber balls with fuzzy fabric covers. Pressureless balls, on the other hand, are solid on the inside. They are generally have more bounce, travel faster and are more responsive to spin compared to pressureless tennis balls.
Pressureless Balls
Pressureless tennis balls have a harder rubber core, unlike pressurized tennis balls, making them seem harder and dead to strike. However, these balls become more bouncy as the felt cover fades and the rubber inside weakens.
Pressureless balls are more durable but also heavier, and as a result, they produce less spin and necessitate greater power to strike. They are perfect for ball machines and clinics.
Low Compression Balls
The low-compression red, orange, and green balls make it easier for children to learn to play tennis. Low-compression balls come in three variations: red, orange, and green, which are softer and bounce lower than yellow balls.
Because they bounce lower, players have more time until contact, giving them greater control and helping them in developing proper stroke technique.
Buying Guide
Skill Level
Tennis balls made specifically for young players are much bigger and slower moving. As kids learn the fundamentals of this sport and develop their skills, manufacturers try to minimize the possibility of injuries.
Beginners have a variety of options to choose from, but whether they are children or adults, choosing softer tennis balls is always a good idea because while they may not be as quick, they can help you practice some shots more diligently.
By switching between using softer balls during practice sessions and keeping pressurized balls when playing matches, intermediate players can aim to gradually improve their skills while avoiding potential injuries.
Finally, competitive and more advanced players will use the ball chosen for the tournament they are playing in, which should always be pressurized.
Surface
There are four kinds of tennis courts hard, clay, grass, and synthetic. The type of court surface you play on influences the performance and durability of the balls as well as the outcome of the game. As a result, it is critical to understand what makes the difference and what type of ball is the best choice based on where you are playing.
Regular-duty tennis balls are for playing on a clay or carpet court. They’re made of softer, thinner materials that work nicely on these surfaces.
Extra duty -is the best option for playing on hard courts that can be quite tough on the ball. Extra-duty tennis balls are built with a harder, thicker material that is more resilient and lasts you a lot longer.
Grass court – Like regular duty, these balls are stain-resistant and, in most cases, water-resistant. This prevents the ball from changing color or absorbing moisture from the grass.
Weather
If you reside in a generally humid or dry climate, you should keep this in mind when choosing your tennis ball. According to popular opinion, tennis balls absorb moisture in humid weather, causing the ball to grow fluffier and heavier.
This can be a problem if you are prone to developing tennis elbow and generally have difficulty generating power with your strokes. If you live in a dry climate, you should opt for softer and heavier balls.
Weight
Because of their increased longevity, heavier tennis balls tend to bounce lower and are used on harder surfaces. They can sustain a more abrasive, gritty hard court impact for longer than a lighter-weight ball.
Lighter balls tend to bounce higher and are used on softer surfaces, but they can also increase the speed of play on a fast hard court. Because lighter balls need less energy to be struck well, they will travel faster through the air than heavier balls.
Felt
Tennis balls fluff up differently depending on the thickness and weave of the felt, which also affects how long the ball will stay “fresh.” A ball with a more compact felt will shoot into the air, but one with a thicker, fluffier felt will feel softer and have more spin. However, this can also change depending on the weave of the felt. In general, thicker felt fluffs up faster.
For instance, a compact felt Wilson US Open ball and a fluffy Slazenger Wimbledon ball both fluff up fast. So, with this one, it all depends on how each ball performs individually.
ITF Approval
Having the correct kind of high-quality ball is crucial for individuals who enjoy playing competitive tennis. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) must provide its blessing before any credible tennis ball brands make their balls available to the wider public.
To guarantee a level of consistency in quality, ITF has set relatively rigorous approval standards. A ball must perform well across a range of characteristics, including durability, to be accepted. The ball will be given an ITF grade based on how long it lasts before it loses its usability for upcoming matches.
A quality tennis ball should withstand several swings, if not more, without significantly losing bounce when being used. This ensures that competitive players can use these approved balls to play matches flawlessly.
Price
Budget is frequently a key consideration when buying tennis balls. Fortunately, many different tennis ball options are available at different price points. The Wilson or Penn Championship balls will still allow you to have a fun game without breaking the bank, but if you are on a strict budget, you might want to go with one of the more affordable options listed above.
But remember that these tennis balls won’t last as long as some of the higher-quality ones on our list. Choose the best tennis ball for your game by taking into account both your budget and your individual needs in terms of playing style.
FAQs
What’s the History of Tennis Balls?
Given that the history of tennis is a little murky, it is unclear when the first tennis ball was ever used. However, the first records of using a ball for play date back to the 15th century. At that time, the spherical object was composed of a variety of materials, including leather that had been filled with either human or horse hair.
Later, it was said that a ball was made in Scotland using a sheep or goat’s stomach tied together with rope. Woolen fabric strips were tightly coiled around a cork core later on in the 18th century. The original tennis game, referred to as Real Tennis, is still played using this kind of ball.
The use of vulcanized rubber around 1870 brought about a revolution in ball manufacture. Additionally, the Germans improved the bounce of the balls by adding air to them. The balls we use today are an improvement on this prototype.
Historically, balls were either black or white in color, depending on the background color of the courts. The ITF changed the tennis rules in 1972 to include yellow tennis balls because studies had revealed that viewers of television could better see these balls. Wimbledon, meanwhile, maintained to utilize the customary white ball before switching to yellow balls in 1986.
What Are Tennis Balls Made Of?
Modern tennis balls are constructed from a two-piece, hollow rubber shell filled with pressurized gas. Felt composed of wool or nylon is used to cover the rubber shell. According to the ITF, tennis balls should have a diameter between 2 1/2 and 2 5/8 inches and a weight between 2 and 2 1/16 oz.
What’s the Difference Between Pressurized and Pressureless Tennis Balls?
Pressureless balls are made from soft rubber and do not contain air inside, while pressurized balls are designed with a core of air that is then covered in rubber. Pressureless balls have a harder, deadlier feel when struck and the ball also bounces lower as a result than a pressurized tennis ball would.
What Are the Red, Orange, Green, and Yellow Balls?
Stage 3 (Red): These beginner balls are designed for young children to help them develop skills, proper movement, fine-tune coordination, and enhance confidence. They are approved for use on a 36-foot court. (Age Group: 8 years or younger)
Stage 2 (Orange): These balls have a lower flight and are ideal for playing on 60-foot courts. The game is still slowed down quite a bit despite things being more advanced than Stage 3. (Age Group: 10 years or younger)
Stage 1 (Green): The last stage before a tournament-approved tennis ball has a lower bounce and helps beginners use good technique. Typically used on a full-size 78 ft length tennis court. (Age Group: 12 years or younger)
How Often Should You Open a New Can of Balls?
Every time you play. A tennis ball’s lifespan for the average player is between 2 and 4 hours of play. When played by big hitters, some highly abrasive hard courts will cause balls to wear out more quickly. Wet clay courts will make balls heavier and harder to hit since they will have absorbed moisture and dirt.
This explains why balls are changed considerably more frequently in professional matches. The pressure in a can of balls will last roughly two weeks after it has been opened if they are not used. Experts claim that once a can of balls is opened, they lose their bounce in a week or less, even without playing with them.
Why Are Tennis Balls Sold in Pressurized Containers?
The tennis balls are kept from going flat by the pressurized cans, as we already explained earlier.
Remember that most tennis balls are already under pressure; the pressure only decreases once play begins. Because of this, if tennis balls weren’t stored in pressurized containers, they would become flat even before play started.
Why Do Tennis Players Carefully Choose the Balls They Serve With?
Pros frequently want more than two balls from the ball kids before their first serve. They do this because they want smoother and less fluffy balls since they will travel through the air a little bit quicker and give their opponent less time to hit their return.
How Long Should Tennis Balls Last For?
Your choice of balls, frequency of play, and playing surface all have an impact on this. However, you should consider replacing the balls if they begin to feel flat and worn out and stop bouncing as high as they did when you first started playing with them.
What Can You Do with Old Tennis Balls?
Keep used balls out of the trash and landfills. They can be recycled or put to other uses as an alternative.
What’s the Difference Between a Regular Duty and An Extra Duty Ball?
Extra duty is a different kind of felt that is made specifically for use on hardcourts and also is significantly thicker. Regular duty is adaptable enough to be played on clay courts and hard courts. Extra duty balls on a hardcourt will also last slightly longer than regular duty balls.
What Do the Numbers on Tennis Balls Mean?
Tennis balls have numbers printed so players can tell their balls apart from balls coming from another court. Most tennis players play in an area where other players are on adjacent courts, and more than one court may likely be utilizing the same brand and style of ball.
Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.