How to Choose the Right Tennis Balls

While it may appear that all tennis balls are alike, the reality is quite different. Selecting the appropriate tennis ball for your playing surface, style, and personal preference can deliver significant advantages for your game.

Whilst all tennis balls have a rubber core, are filled with air and covered in felt, the composition of the felt differs, for example, some comprise natural wool and others have a mixture of synthetic materials and cotton.  Some balls have adhesives making the ball even stronger attached to the rubber core. 

Match tennis balls are yellow, because in 1972 the International Tennis Federation introduced yellow tennis balls into the rules of tennis, as research had shown these balls to be more visible to television viewers.

Usually tennis balls are sold in pressurized cans, to ensure that the pressure remains in the balls for longer. 

NOT ALL TENNIS BALLS ARE MADE EQUAL!

Having the right tennis balls for the surface that you are playing on will help to optimise your match performance. 

Firstly, tennis balls suitable for matches can be Extra Duty and Regular Duty. 

Extra Duty balls (XD)	Regular Duty balls (RD)
Best suited to hard courts, for example asphalt, concrete and other outdoor hard courts.	Best for slower surfaces, for example clay, acrylic courts, and indoor courts.
More durable because of their thick felt and last longer.  Not as fast as regular duty balls.  The felt on extra duty balls fluffs up earlier.  Lose their bounce over time.  Usually more expensive.	Have thinner synthetic felt, do not last as long. Play faster The felt remains compact for longer. Lose bounce over time.  Usually less expensive.

 

Your tennis balls guide based on surface type:

Surface	Best tennis balls for the surface
Hard Court	Wilson US Open Dunlop ATP Dunlop Fort
Clay court	Dunlop Australian Open Wilson Roland Garros
Grass court	Slazenger Wimbledon Ball
Astroturf	Slazenger Wimbledon
Carpet court	Slazenger Wimbledon Head
Best all-round balls for every surface	Wilson US Open Dunlop ATP Dunlop Fort

 

HOW DOES YOUR STYLE MATTER

As players develop their game, their needs change.

• Beginners: consider slower balls with a low pressure and a low bounce to develop your confidence, e.g. Dunlop Stage 1 balls.
• Intermediate Players: we would suggest moderate pace and bounce. All-court medium duty pressurised balls can help you develop your game, for example Dunlop Australian Open or Head Team.

Advanced Players: those who compete in tournaments and matches need a fast, high bouncing ball like Dunlop Fort All Court, Head Tour or Slazenger Championship that allow more topspin and power in your game, as well as faster serve, whilst retaining their pressure.