Now that you've got your racquet, ready to hit some balls? To the untrained eye, almost all tennis balls you encounter would be similar. However, there are subtle differences which you should definitely take note of, especially for beginners.
Uncover some tips and tricks to help you find the most suitable tennis balls for your game.
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Tips to Find the Most Suitable Tennis Ball
1. Beginners
For fresh starters, pressureless balls with soft cores are the most suitable, as they're comfortable to hit. Also, they won't surprise you either by bouncing too high, being too fast, or spinning off unexpectedly.
These balls are easily recognizable as they're made from a mix of yellow felt and another colour.
Pro Tip:
When it comes to tennis balls aimed at beginners, there is not much of a difference between the major brands. So just choose whichever is best priced, or catches your eye with its aesthetics.
If you're really new, you may also prefer coloured balls (red, orange, green) which are generally targeted towards younger players, and are more forgiving.
2. Training
If you are an occasional player that doesn’t want to replace your balls after every single match, then this is the field for you. These balls are aimed at casual yet experienced players, but only on a recreational level. If you only play less than twice a week, pressureless balls with a hard core would meet your needs.
Training balls are generally designed to be whacked repeatedly for hours on end. They need to suffer as little wear as possible, no matter how long they're played with. To help them stay so long-lasting, they're made from very thick rubber and thinner felt, meaning they're less likely to fray.
Pro Tip:
Similar to the beginner balls, these balls do not tend to differ in quality significantly between brands. Some of the common ones to go for include Wilson Trainers and Dunlop Coaching balls. Other brands to consider include Head, Penn and Prince.
3. Regular Play
For more experienced and frequent players, ball quality will start to have an influence on your gameplay.
Pressurised tennis balls are your go-to if you're looking for a smooth shot, as they've got air injected inside them. Thanks to their soft rubber, these balls are comfortable to hit and bouncier than the ones mentioned above. Also, they have fairly thick felt that enables you to put a lot of spin on them.
One step down from professional balls, championship balls offer great durability and overall good quality. They are also designed to go as many rounds are you are willing to, so feel free to use them for your sparring sessions.
Most of the major brands produce them, with brands like Dunlop and Head offering Championship and Pro series. Other brands to consider include Penn, Slazenger and Wilson.
Pro Tip:
When you're ready to step up and play like your favourite athletes, consider buying professional balls. These can be tournament-affiliated balls (eg. Slazenger Wimbledon ball, Wilson US Open ball), or top-tier balls produced by each brand (Dunlop Fort Elite ball, Head Tour XT ball).
While these balls have premium, high quality felt that doesn’t fray easily, they have a high level of pressure which doesn't last long beyond a match or two - making them less bang for your buck.
Once you've got both your racquet and balls sorted, it's time to hone your skills on the court. Join SimplyTennis today and learn how to hit some winners!
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