Five Simple Tips To Pick the Right Tennis Balls

At the time of writing, there were 58 tennis ball brands and 292 models of ITF-approved tennis balls. While many of the brands may be familiar to you, the sheer number of tennis ball models on the list can throw you off. Here are a few things to consider while picking tennis balls that suit your game.

You can see a high-level summary from the list of ITF-approved balls below:

Through a process of elimination, you can narrow down your options and land on the kind of balls that suit your game. The intent of this post is not to recommend one brand or model of balls over another.

Types

The ITF has categorized tennis balls for adults into four types.

Type 1 (fast): For play on slow court surfaces (e.g., clay courts)

Type 2 (medium): For medium/standard-speed surfaces (e.g., hard courts)

Type 3 (slow): For fast court surfaces (e.g., grass courts)

High-Altitude: For play on courts 4000 ft above sea level (or higher)

Shown below is a snapshot of tennis ball specs from the ITF site.

For a casual tennis player, the “Type” classification doesn’t mean much since the tennis ball manufacturers rarely display the type of balls packed into the cans. The good news is that by applying the process of elimination shown below, you can quickly eliminate the balls that are not right for you.

Ignore categories of balls that don’t apply to you

The 2022 list of approved tennis balls includes 103 balls for juniors and 13 for high-altitude play. Most adult players can ignore these two categories. If you play on a hard court, you can ignore the two Type 1 balls listed on the site. There are no Type 3 balls on the 2022 list.

That will leave you with 174 tennis ball models categorized as Type 2. When you hear the term “standard ball,” think Type 2.

Pressurized or non-pressurized tennis balls?

From an adult tennis perspective, pressurized balls are the norm for match and club play. Pressure-less balls are great for ball machines and situations where the ball’s durability takes precedence over other factors.

Out of the 174 Type 2 balls listed on the ITF site, 163 are pressurized. Unless you are buying balls for practice, you would want to pick a Type 2 pressurized ball.

Felt Type – Look for the “Ideal for” marking on the tennis ball can

All certified adult tennis balls have to conform to a specification range. The manufacturers achieve speed, durability, bounce, and other characteristics by incorporating variations in the rubber core and the felt that go into the balls’ construction.

Regular duty: Regular duty balls come with a softer felt and are ideal for clay courts and indoor courts. Their durability tends to be lower on the more abrasive outdoor hardcourts.

Extra duty: Extra-duty tennis balls have a thicker felt which can withstand the friction on outdoor hard courts, giving them a longer playable life.

All court balls: There does not appear to be a consistent definition of what constitutes an all-court felt. ITF specs for Type 2 balls do not change based on the felt type. So, one can only assume that all-court balls fall somewhere between regular duty and extra duty balls from a durability point of view.

Balls used on grass courts undergo a special stain-resistant treatment to prevent the felt from picking up the grass’s color. Considering that grass courts are rare, this treated felt type is not one you typically see in your local sports store.

To help you make the correct choice, manufacturers typically display an “Ideal for” marking on most tennis ball cans.

Colours

Adult tennis balls come in yellow or white. Due to their better visibility characteristics, yellow tennis balls have largely displaced white balls on store shelves.

For juniors, the three colours approved are Green (Stage 1) for ages 9-10; Orange (Stage 2) for ages 8-10; Red (Stage 3) for ages 5-8.

You may be surprised to find that Thailand is the largest tennis ball-producing country in the world. The fact that Thailand is the largest global producer of natural rubber may have something to do with it.

Tennis Ball brands and models

The top ten brands of Type 2 pressurized balls are shown below.

The model names used by manufacturers range from tournament names to court types to random adjectives. If there are standards behind generic terms such as “Championship, “Tour,” and “Elite,” they are not widely understood among the playing public.

Shown below are some random model names of tennis balls.

From a manufacturer’s perspective, brands and models help them slot their products into different pricing tiers. For consumers, it’s a bit like picking a good wine. What you like may not be what someone else prefers.

Most club players would barely notice minor differences in characteristics between new balls from different manufacturers. Generally speaking, players seldom agree on the superiority of one set of balls over another.

A good set of balls is crucial for consistency. In a game where negative points often determine the outcome of a match, an unpredictable ball is one that you don’t need. Since all Type 2 pressurized balls have the same specs and tolerances, it will come down to personal preferences and criteria such as court surface, durability, and cost.

If a particular brand and model is available at a price point that you like, you may want to crosscheck the ITF site to see if it is the type and felt suited for your court surface.

At the very least, you will know what not to buy.