Tennis
How to Choose the Right Tennis Ball
Choosing the right tennis ball can make a big difference to your game. Whether you’re playing competitively, hitting with friends, coaching juniors or just getting started, the right tennis ball can help you get more from every session.
But with different types, speeds, constructions and levels of performance available, which tennis ball is right for you?
In this guide, we’ll explain how to choose a tennis ball, the difference between pressurised and pressureless tennis balls, which balls are best for different players and surfaces, and most importantly, which Tennis Australia Approved tennis balls you can use for competition in Australia.
Tennis Australia Approved Tennis Balls
If you play competitive tennis in Australia, choosing a Tennis Australia Approved tennis ball is particularly important.
Tennis Australia maintains an approved list of tennis balls that meet the required standards for competitive play. The current list includes HEAD Tour, HEAD Tour XT and HEAD Stage 1 Green Ball, making them important options for Australian players across adult and junior tennis.
HEAD Tour – Tennis Australia Approved
HEAD Tour is a premium performance tennis ball designed for players looking for speed, spin and consistent performance.The HEAD Tour ball is designed to give your game more speed and spin, making it a strong choice for competitive players and regular match play, and is best suited to a slower court.
As a Tennis Australia approved tennis ball, HEAD Tour is suitable for Australian competitive tennis where an approved standard ball is required.
HEAD Tour XT – Tennis Australia Approved
HEAD Tour XT is designed for players who value touch, control and accuracy.Its construction is designed to provide enhanced feel when the ball makes contact with the racquet, making it a popular option for players who want a responsive, controlled ball for training and competition. This ball is best suited to faster court surfaces.
HEAD Tour XT is also a Tennis Australia approved tennis ball, making it suitable for competitive play in Australia where an approved ball is required.
Best for: Competitive players, club players and those looking for feel and control.
HEAD Green – Stage 1 Green Ball
The HEAD Stage 1 Green tennis ball is designed for developing players who are progressing towards a standard tennis ball.Green balls are slower than standard tennis balls, giving younger players more time to react, prepare their shots and develop consistency. Tennis Australia recommends green-ball play as part of the development pathway for young players.
HEAD Stage 1 Green is included in Tennis Australia’s approved introductory ball list, making it an important option for Australian junior competition and green-ball programs.
Best for: Junior players progressing through the green-ball stage, developing players and green-ball competition.
Why choose a Tennis Australia approved tennis ball?
If you’re competing in an Australian tournament or sanctioned competition, always check the specific competition requirements before choosing your tennis balls.Using a Tennis Australia approved ball means you can be confident that the ball has been assessed against the standards required for competitive play.
For Australian players looking for HEAD tennis balls, HEAD Tour, HEAD Tour XT and HEAD Stage 1 Green provide approved options across different levels of the game.
Pressurised or pressureless tennis balls?
One of the biggest differences between tennis balls is whether they are pressurised or pressureless.What are pressurised tennis balls?
Pressurised tennis balls are the most common type of tennis ball used for competitive and recreational match play.The air pressure inside the ball gives it a lively response, consistent bounce and responsive feel. Pressurised tennis balls are also designed to provide the speed and spin that experienced players expect.
This is why pressurised tennis balls are used throughout competitive tennis, including club competitions and professional tournaments.
The trade-off is that pressurised tennis balls gradually lose pressure with use. As this happens, the ball will lose some of its original bounce, speed and feel.
Pressurised tennis balls are therefore stored in sealed cans to help maintain their performance until they are opened.
What are pressureless tennis balls?
Pressureless tennis balls don’t rely on internal air pressure to produce their bounce. Instead, their performance comes from the rubber construction of the ball.Because they don’t lose internal pressure in the same way as a pressurised ball, pressureless tennis balls can last significantly longer. This makes them useful for training sessions, ball machines and situations where durability is more important than match-like performance.
The downside is that pressureless tennis balls can feel different from standard pressurised balls. They can feel firmer or heavier through the racquet and generally don’t provide the same lively response.
In simple terms:
What makes a good tennis ball?
A quality tennis ball needs to deliver a consistent combination of bounce, speed, feel, spin and durability.The importance of each characteristic will depend on the player.
A competitive player might prioritise feel, control and consistent performance, while a coach may place greater importance on durability. A junior player may benefit more from a slower ball that gives them additional time to react.
The right tennis ball is ultimately the one that matches your level, playing style and purpose.
How heavy is a tennis ball?
The sport's governing body, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), only allow balls that weigh between 56 and 59.4 grams.What colour are tennis balls?
The ITF permits tennis balls used in competitive play to be yellow or white. The bright yellow colour used on most modern tennis balls provides high visibility against the court and surrounding environment, helping players track the ball during fast-paced rallies.Which tennis balls are best for recreational players?
For recreational players, the best tennis ball depends on how often you play and what type of tennis you enjoy.If you regularly play matches or social tennis, a pressurised performance ball such as HEAD Tour or HEAD Tour XT can provide the feel and performance you would expect from a competition-quality tennis ball.
For players who are just starting out, a more forgiving or slower tennis ball can make learning the game easier.
If you’re coaching, practising frequently or using a ball machine, durability may be more important, making pressureless balls another option worth considering.
Which tennis balls are best for different court surfaces?
The court surface you play on can affect the way a tennis ball performs and how quickly the felt wears.Tennis balls for hard courts
Hard courts are generally more abrasive than softer court surfaces, so tennis ball felt can wear more quickly.If you regularly play on hard courts, choosing a durable, high-quality tennis ball can help you get more life from each can.
Tennis balls for clay courts
Clay courts are generally less abrasive on the felt than hard courts, although clay can collect on the surface of the ball and affect its appearance and feel.A consistent, quality tennis ball is important for maintaining predictable bounce and performance.
Tennis balls for grass courts
Grass courts are relatively gentle on the felt, but the naturally faster playing conditions mean that a consistent tennis ball is still important.HEAD Tour and HEAD Tour XT are both designed for all-court play.
What tennis balls should beginners use?
If you’re learning tennis for the first time, a standard tennis ball can sometimes feel fast and difficult to control.A slower ball can give beginners more time to react, prepare their racquet and make clean contact.
This can help players develop their technique and confidence before progressing to a standard tennis ball.
For adult beginners, choosing a tennis ball that feels comfortable and manageable can make the learning process more enjoyable.
Which tennis balls should kids use?
Younger players benefit from using tennis balls that are appropriate for their age and ability.Tennis Australia uses a staged approach to help children learn the game, with red, orange and green balls providing progressively faster levels of play. Slower balls give children more time to react and make it easier to develop rallies, movement and technique.
Stage 3 Red tennis balls
Red balls are designed for the earliest stages of learning. Their slower speed and bounce help young players experience successful rallies sooner.
Stage 2 Orange tennis balls
Orange balls provide the next step in the progression, allowing players to develop their technique while gradually adapting to a faster ball.
Stage 1 Green tennis balls
Green balls, including HEAD Stage 1 Green, are the final stage before progressing to a standard tennis ball.
They provide a more familiar tennis-ball experience while still giving developing players additional time to react and control the ball.
HEAD Stage 1 Green Ball is also included on Tennis Australia’s approved ball list.
Which tennis balls should juniors use?
The right tennis ball can make a significant difference to junior development. Using a slower ball allows young players to develop their strokes, movement, positioning and tactical awareness without having to deal with the speed and bounce of a standard tennis ball too early.As players develop, they can progress from red to orange and then green balls before moving to a standard tennis ball.
For juniors preparing for competition, it is also important to practise with the same type of ball they will use in their matches.
Which tennis balls should coaches use?
Coaches often use different types of tennis balls depending on the purpose of the session.Pressureless balls can be useful for high-volume training and ball machines because they maintain their bounce for longer.
Pressurised balls are useful when the aim is to replicate match conditions and prepare players for competition.
For junior coaching, using red, orange and green balls allows coaches to match the pace of the ball to the player’s development. For Australian junior competition, coaches should also be aware of the relevant Tennis Australia approved tennis ball requirements.
Can you play tennis with wet tennis balls?
It’s best to avoid playing with wet tennis balls.When a tennis ball becomes wet, it can absorb water and become heavier. This changes the way it feels through the racquet and can affect its speed and bounce.
If your tennis balls become wet, allow them to dry naturally before using them again.
Which tennis balls do professional tennis players use?
Professional tennis players use pressurised tennis balls that meet the specifications required for their tournaments.At the professional level, players are highly sensitive to differences in ball speed, bounce, feel and condition.
Tennis balls are regularly replaced during professional tournaments to maintain consistent playing conditions.
Professional players can also be particular about the condition of the balls they use. A newer ball with smoother felt will generally travel differently through the air compared with a ball that has become worn and fluffy.
Why do tennis players ask for certain tennis balls?
If you watch professional tennis, you may notice players asking for several balls from the ball kids before serving.This allows them to choose the ball they prefer. Players will often look for a ball with smoother, less-fluffy felt. As the felt becomes more worn, it creates greater air resistance and can affect the way the ball travels.
A smoother ball can travel through the air more quickly, which can be particularly useful when serving.
How long do tennis balls last?
How long a tennis ball lasts depends on several factors, including:
The easiest way to tell when a tennis ball needs replacing is to pay attention to how it feels and performs.
If the ball has lost its bounce, feels noticeably softer or flatter, has heavily worn felt or simply feels “dead” off the racquet, it is probably time for a fresh can.
Now you should be more informed about the different types of tennis balls and also which ones might be best for you or your children.