The Ultimate Tennis Balls Buying Guide
If you choose the Tecnifibre XLD – 4 pieces tennis balls, you select a set of pressureless tennis balls characterized by the famous Enduro Formula rubber material.
On the other hand, the Dunlop Fort Max TP KNLTB tennis balls are also offered in a tin per 4 pieces and belong to gas-filled tennis balls. The latter is therefore highly suitable for use during competitions and tournaments.
The Ultimate Tennis Balls Buying Guide
Tennis balls come in all kinds depending on the objective, the surface and the age category. So don’t just choose a gas-filled or pressure-free tennis ball or one of the many stage tennis balls, but keep in mind the ease of use that you want to assign to it.
In the buying guide below, we would like to take you on a beautiful journey through the world of tennis balls, making a choice a little easier for you at the end of the ride. It is an excellent recommendation to read the guide before comparing the different tennis balls and offers.
Gas-filled or Pressureless Tennis Balls?
If you are looking for a suitable set of tennis balls, it is wise to be aware of the different current types. In this way, we can already make an important distinction between the gas-filled tennis balls on the one hand and the pressureless ones on the other, each with the necessary pluses and minuses.
Gas-filled tennis balls are – how could it be otherwise – balls filled with gas and are often packed in an associated tin that was also filled with gas. This prevents the tennis balls from losing gas before use.
Gas-filled tennis balls guarantee a certain hardness that results in lower susceptibility to injury, good striking properties and an excellent bounce capacity, making them popular with many tennis players.
Please note; with each use, such a tennis ball loses a certain amount of gas and consequently pressure, so it often has to be replaced after a few games. Moreover, they are less suitable for novice players and children.
On the other hand, pressure-free tennis balls are entirely gas-free and therefore have no internal pressure, which naturally improves their lifespan.
But make no mistake, because they guarantee a reasonably hardcore despite their non-existent inner pressure. This makes the pressureless tennis balls highly suitable for novice players and uses during training sessions.
What Are Stage Tennis Balls?
Although the filled and unpressurized tennis balls seem to be the most frequent, we should not lose sight of a third category; the so-called “stage balls”.
Stage tennis balls were filled with microcells, which were filled with air. Because the air cannot escape from the ball, it will always present the same hardness.
Compared to gas-filled and unpressurized tennis balls, stage tennis balls feel pretty soft, resulting in significantly less bounce power and, therefore more time for the player to react to the ball. This makes them highly suitable for novice players and children.
Within the stage tennis balls category, we can distinguish between the green, orange and red or the stage 1, 2 and 3 tennis balls. For example, the stage 1 (green) tennis balls are characterized by the traditional properties of a pressureless tennis ball, albeit with a strongly reduced pressure at the core.
As a result, they enjoy less bounce, making them suitable for children aged 10 to 12 who have already taken their first steps in the tennis world.
The stage 2 (orange) tennis balls are also based on the principle of pressureless tennis balls, with a core whose pressure is even lower than the stage 1 balls. This makes them highly suitable for novice players within an age group of 8 to 10 years old.
Finally, the stage 3 (red) tennis balls are suitable for giving the little one training and initiation lessons. Therefore, we are talking about an age category up to and including 8 years old.
Such tennis balls were made of sponge/foam material, which considerably limits the bounce ability and makes it slightly easier for young children to respond to the ball.
The Composition and Color of the Tennis Ball
Although there are many different tennis balls, their composition seems to be quite similar. Where tennis balls used to consist mainly of quality leather and hair or wool, today the traditional tennis ball seems to be made of durable rubber and felt.
In addition, the rubber guarantees sturdiness and durability, while the felt should stimulate and improve the ball’s aerodynamic properties. Depending on the type of tennis ball, the hollow inside is filled with gas or with microcells or air.
The whole is – admittedly in most cases – finished with yellow felt fabric, although, as became apparent in the previous piece, many other colors such as red, orange and green can also occur.
What About the Budget?
Finally, we would like to draw attention to the possible price tag briefly. For example, the price can easily vary from 5 to 6 euros for a set of 3 pieces of Dunlop tennis balls to no less than 140 euros for a discount package consisting of 60 pieces of stage 2 tennis balls.
Apparent deviations can occur here, whereby the price is influenced – to a greater or lesser extent – by the type of tennis ball, the color, the brand and the quantity.
For example, a tin of gas-filled Slazenger Wimbledon tennis balls will be offered a lot more expensive than a set of Dunlop tennis balls intended for the recreational or novice player.
Read More:
