Tennis

How to choose a tennis ball

Pressurized or pressure-less? Regular or extra duty? Soft or regular? Foam or felt? A ball with a higher bounce or one that's not quite so lively? One that flies quickly through the air or is a touch slower?

If you can't decide which tennis balls to buy, don't worry, as our guide will help you to choose the balls that are just right for you or your children.

First let's look at the different types of tennis balls and then we can consider which ones will suit you - that will depend on your level of play and your age, the surface you're playing on, and even the altitude of the court and the local climate.

Pressurized or pressure-less tennis balls?

If you are shopping for tennis balls, you’ll notice there are two main types: pressurized tennis balls and pressureless tennis balls. Understanding the difference is key to choosing the right ball for your game.

Tennis balls you’d find at tournaments and league matches, including those used on professional tours, are pressurized. The air inside gives them a higher bounce, lighter feel, faster sped and better spin. That combination makes them the standard for competitive play. The trade-off is durability. Over time and with use, pressurized balls lose pressure and won’t bounce as high as when you first opened the can.

Pressureless balls last longer, which is why many players use them as practice balls. The downside is they feel a bit heaver, move slower, and don’t take spin as well so they usually aren’t the best tennis balls for matches.

The packaging will also tell you which type of tennis ball you are buying. Pressurized balls come in vacuum-sealed cans to preserve their bounce, while pressureless balls are usually sold in boxes or mesh bags.

If you are looking for long-lasting balls for training sessions, pressureless may be right for you. But if you want a lively bunce and spin, pressurized tennis balls are the choice for competitive and recreational players alike.

Regular or extra duty?

Regular-duty balls are slightly faster but wear out more quickly. Extra-duty balls are more durable, fluffier, and slower. The difference is in the felt: regular balls have more wool, while extra-duty balls use more nylon.

Soft or harder?

Softer tennis balls are going to be easier on your arm and help you to prevent injury. However, they don't offer the same performance or speed as the standard, firmer balls.

How heavy should a tennis ball be?

The sport's governing body, the International Tennis Federation, only allow balls that weigh between 56 and 59.4 grams.

What color should tennis balls be?

The only colors permitted by the ITF for competitive play are yellow and white. Most balls are a neon yellow, sometimes called 'optic yellow'. However, Penn also offers a special Pink Championship ball that is made for recreational play. The ball was created to help support breast cancer research initiatives.

Which balls should recreational tennis players use?

It depends how often you get on court. If you're playing a lot, you might want to consider extra-duty balls pressurized tennis balls which aren't going to wear out as quickly as the regular-duty tennis balls. But much depends on which surface you play on.

Which balls are best for different surfaces?

If you mostly play on hard courts, extra-duty balls are going to last longer on that more abrasive surface. However, if you generally play on clay or grass courts, which are softer and more forgiving than hard courts, you are probably best choosing regular-duty tennis balls.

What tennis balls should beginners use?

Softer balls are fantastic for when you're learning the sport as they are gentler on your arm and body and help you to avoid injury. If you aren’t ready to jump into pressurized tennis balls right away, give pressureless a try or even start with a training ball like the green dot felt ball which will slow down the pace of the ball and allow you to learn faster and have more fun.

Which tennis balls should kids use?

Younger kids who are new to the game will love playing with foam balls - they are significantly softer and larger than regular tennis balls, making it easier for children to hit them and have fun. Kids can progress to red felt tennis balls and then on to orange felt balls and then green dot felt balls. Once kids are comfortable with green felt balls, they are probably ready to move on to standard tennis balls, though it's recommended that they use softer balls to avoid getting injured.

Kid is playing tennis with a red felt tennis ball and a green HEAD tennis racket on a hard court

Younger kids who are new to the game wil love playing with foam balls

Which balls should juniors use?

Softer balls will help juniors to stay injury-free. The red felt, orange felt and green dot balls will also slow down the pace of play, allowing juniors to be successful faster and have more fun as they learn. However, if they're going to be using different balls to compete in a tournament, it could help to practice with those balls before they compete.

Junior picking up orange felt tennis balls with a yellow HEAD tennis racket on a hard court

Softer balls will help juniors to stay injury-free

Which balls should coaches use?

Some coaches might prefer pressureless tennis balls as, unlike pressurized balls, they're not going to lose their bounce over time, especially in a ball machine. But most coaches use pressurized tennis balls to allow their students to prepare for a tournament or match play.

What ball should you use if you're playing at higher altitude?

The higher you are above sea level, the thinner the air and that means that the ball will fly quicker. You might find it easier to control a pressureless ball rather than playing with a livelier pressurized ball. However, Penn makes high-altitude pressurized balls that are recommended for elevations of 3,500 feet and above to help you control the ball.

Which balls are best for someone living in a country where it often rains?

When a tennis ball gets wet it will become heavier. If you live in a country with a rainy climate, you may want to look for an indoor court!

Which tennis balls do professionals use?

Professional players use pressurized balls, which offer a superior feel, allowing for greater control, touch, and precision on the court. While these balls tend to wear out faster, they are changed every few games in the tournaments, which also provides an advantage as fresh tennis balls travel faster and making serves and shots harder. Pros typically use the same tennis ball that matches the tournament surface they are playing on.

Why do tennis players carefully choose the balls they serve with?

Professional players often ask the ball kids for more than two balls. That's because they're looking for the smoother balls, which aren't so fluffy, as they will whizz through the air a little faster, giving their opponent less time to play their return.

How long should tennis balls last for?

That depends on the balls you chose, how often you play and the surface you play on. But when the balls start to feel tired and flat, lose their bounce or seem “dead”, it’s time to replace them.

What can you do with old tennis balls?

Try to avoid putting old balls in the trash and sending them off to landfill. You can find other uses for them. We've written an article on that very subject, which includes some inspiration on what you can do with old tennis balls.

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.