Why are so many different types of tennis balls?
Everyone has seen a tennis ball before. The bright color sets them apart and makes them easy to identify. But did you know every tennis ball is NOT created equal, and that different types of balls are made for different purposes? Read on to learn if you are using the best tennis ball for your needs.
What are Extra Duty Tennis Balls?
As the name implies, the felt on these tennis balls is the toughest you can buy. This makes them ideal for hard court surfaces that wear down tennis balls the quickest. Most organized league play in the Unites States is played with an extra duty felt ball. And because they are more durable, most schools and country clubs use them in their teaching baskets. The most popular highest-end extra-duty felt tennis balls are:
What separates the more premium flight of tennis balls is the higher-end felt and quality control. These balls are played at some of the biggest tournaments in the world by the world's best players, but they are also more expensive.
The aforementioned brands like Wilson, PENN, Dunlop, and Babolat produce a quality midgrade option as well. These balls are still certified for USTA and ITF play, but they use slightly less premium materials. Good examples are:
These "championship" balls are a more economical choice for recreational players who want solid performance without spending an arm and a leg.
What are Practice Balls?
Practice balls often skirt the fancy packaging found on more premium balls, but they fit the bill nicely for teaching carts, ball machines, and players who are trying to improve their tennis and save money. Some good examples are:
What are Regular Duty Tennis Balls?
Whereas Extra-Duty felt is ideal for abrasive hard courts, and Regular Duty felt is designed for softer surfaces like clay and some cushioned indoor courts. They will move a little quicker through the air and hey won't absorb as much clay as the heavier-duty balls would. If regular felt tennis balls are used on hard courts, they will not last long, as the rough surface will chew through the thinner felt more quickly. Regular Duty balls are are available in premium, mid-grade options as well. Good picks are:
Pro PENN Marathon Regular Duty
What about High Altitude Tennis balls?
Each brand makes tennis balls designed for tennis courts located at elevations 4000 feet or higher. In higher elevations, the ball will bounce higher and fly through the air more quickly. High Altitude tennis balls help even out the difference and make it easier to control the ball in those settings.
What are the Red, Orange, and Green Balls About?
Red balls can be felt or foam and they are larger than standard tennis balls for a slower and lower bounce. They are designed for kids ages 6 and under to make tennis easier to learn and enjoy. These balls are played on a 36-foot court.
After graduating from Red, kids transition to Orange Balls around age 7-9. Orange balls match the size of a standard yellow ball, but their compression is less so they are slower and lower bouncing to accommodate for young players of smaller size. Orange ball play takes place on a 60-foot tennis court.
When young players graduate to green ball, they are using a regulation 78-foot court. These tennis balls are close to the speed and bounce of yellow ball, but still a little softer and slower to help players progress their skills with the proper mechanics.
What is great about the lower compression Red, Orange, and Green balls is that due to their lower compression, they last a good while. The felt will get torn up before they lose their bounce.
Pressureless Tennis Balls?
Pressureless tennis balls usually come in a box or a bag. They have a thicker core construction and are perfect for ball machines and players that want a long-lasting option. The downsides to pressureless balls are that they can feel "heavy" and "dead" they will not respond the same way pressurized balls will. That being said, if you are just learning the game or hitting tennis balls a couple of times a year, pressureless balls make a lot of sense.
With so many tennis balls on the market, there is definitely a "best tennis ball for you". Tennis balls are sold in cases (24 cans, 3 balls per can) or cans. Pro Tip: pressurized tennis balls must be ground shipped to maintain pressure. Find the best tennis balls in cases and cans at Tennis Express.
