Every sport requires practising, no matter how good you are at it. Tennis is not an exception to this rule. But, if you're a beginner and are just discovering this sport, besides a proper racquet, you should have the right tennis balls as well. Yes, they all look pretty much the same, except they aren't. Tennis balls differ in many things such as bounce, felt, and type of court they're meant for playing. So, if you're a beginner seek tennis balls for practice. These are the most important features you need to know.
How to Choose a Tennis Ball?
No matter if you're a pro, or are just discovering the magic of this sport, you'll need suitable tennis balls. Choosing the right balls is essential as they need to fit your needs. If you're a beginner you might think all tennis balls are the same, but there are many differences and more than 200 brands, so things might get confusing.
Recreational, Championship or Professional?
There are three basic quality levels of tennis balls made by top manufacturers: recreational, championship and professional level. The beginner tennis ball is considered recreational and is designed for practising. It's often placed in those ball machines, that "shoot" the ball so you can learn how to hit it. Tennis balls for practice should be only used for training purposes rather than for match play. Truth be told, many leagues don't allow players to use recreational balls.
Championship-level balls are a step up and you can use them for league match play as they have a better bounce and feel to them (suitable for intermediate players). Professional players use professional-level tennis balls; these are manufactured with top-quality materials and incorporate more technology than recreational and championship-level balls. They allow longer playability as are often used on the ATP/WTA pro tour - you get both performance and durability.
Pressureless Balls
This type of ball is often the first choice for beginners, recreational players or as a practice tool because it lasts longer than regular pressurized balls. These balls aren't filled with compressed air and have thicker walls on the core, which gives them a distinctive sound at impact. The pressureless training tennis balls also retain their bounce over time and have a longer lifespan than a pressurized ball. Keep in mind that these balls are heavier and harder than pressurized balls, which means they will affect the racquet with more force. The heavier force on your racquet means that these balls will affect your arms as well, which is why they aren't used in matches.
Extra Duty Balls
The extra-duty balls are specially made for hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt or other outdoor hard courts. These balls are far more durable because of their thick felt that won't get damaged no matter how hard the surface of the court is. The extra-duty balls are durable, but can't play as fast as regular-duty balls. The felt on extra-duty balls "fluffs up" earlier, allowing the felt to last longer but also to keep balance out the fast speed of most hard courts. These balls are pressurized and over time will lose their bounce. When seeking these balls, simply check for "XD" balls.
Regular Duty Balls
Regular duty balls are ideal for slower and softer courts (clay); these are made with less felt than their extra-duty counterparts. The clay court will absorb more of the impact of the ball, so duty balls require less felt. Regular duty ball felt is designed to stay compact for a longer time; this helps speed up the ball, balancing out the slower court surface. These balls are also suitable for indoor courts, and although you can use regular duty balls on outdoor hard courts, they won't last as long as extra duty balls. Regular duty balls are pressurized and will lose their bounce with time. These balls have an "RD" sign.
High Altitude Balls
These tennis balls are designed for use at altitudes above 1200 metres. At such heights, the air is thinner and the pressure difference between the inside of the ball and the air surrounding it will lead to a much faster flying off the ball. There will also be a higher bounce. This is why these balls are less pressurized or are entirely pressureless to help bring you a more normal ball bounce and playing experience.
Junior Balls
If you're a younger player who is just starting to practice tennis, then junior balls are the right choice for you. These have a big impact to help young player develop their skills. These balls fall based on hand-eye coordination level and age. Players aged 3-5 should use foam balls; these are the largest and slowers in this category. Red balls are a bit firmer and have more pressure inside, and are designed for children aged 9-10. The red balls have even more pressure in the ball and the circumference will be smaller. Green balls are the last step for junior balls, as these will be the closest to the regular “adult” balls. These balls are designed for players aged 11-13.