There’s More in a Can than Meets the Eye: Choosing the Right Tennis Balls

When buying tennis balls, you may select the cheapest can without even bothering to learn anything about the balls.
Nevertheless, the wrong tennis balls may not be suitable for the surface you play on or your level. The type of tennis balls you use directly impacts how you play.

General Information about Tennis Balls
Most people play with pressurized balls that come in cans containing three or four balls. Tennis balls are filled with air and are usually hollow, but some balls also contain nitrogen, which makes them last longer. Advanced or serious players often use a can of balls only once, but even casual players will find that balls in an opened can are not as bouncy after three or four weeks.

Felt Types and Court Surfaces
The can will describe the exterior of the tennis balls. The felt is described as regular duty, extra duty or high altitude. Extra duty felt is excellent for hard courts that are typically found at a park or school. Brands vary slightly in durability and how well the felt adheres to the ball, but the extra duty felt wears well against concrete, asphalt, and other hard surfaces best. Regular duty tennis balls are ideal for clay and indoor tennis courts since they will produce less exterior fuzziness. High altitude tennis balls should be used in geographic areas where the altitude affects the bounce of the ball. Some manufacturers make balls specifically suited for grass courts so read the can carefully before you buy. Some cans indicate the balls are suitable for more than one surface.

Practice Balls
Some cans are also labeled practice balls. Practice balls are usually less expensive, but do not have the same bounciness of other balls. They are ideal for young children or beginning players.
Determining the Life of a Used Ball
Once you play with your tennis balls, you may decide to use them again, but you should test them to make sure they are still good. First, look at the ball. If it appears bald or the felt is worn in places, discard it. If you have a new can, you can also compare the bounce of a new ball to a used one. Another way to test the bounciness of a ball is to hold it 100 inches from the ground and release it. The ball should bounce slightly more than halfway back if it is acceptable for play.

Tips to Find Your Favorite Ball
Most people tend to play on the same general surfaces. If you play regularly, you can look at reviews of tennis balls, but since everyone hits differently, you are better off trying different brands to determine which balls you prefer. Try a few different types of balls suited for the surface you use. Notice the amount of spin you get on the ball, how you hit, and whether the balls appear to maintain their bounciness during play. Pay attention to how you play with different balls, and you may find that you prefer one brand.
Now you know how to choose the right tennis balls for your level of play and court surface, it will be easier to take your game to the next level. Remember, your racket, the court surface and the ball influence how you play. Shop carefully, before grabbing a can of tennis balls off a store shelf. Reading about your tennis balls may improve your game.