Defining & Exploring Tennis Balls
+ FAQs About Them
In this article, I explore the topic of tennis balls, provide a clear definition, and answer the most common questions on the subject.
Definition
A small hollow object made of rubber, covered in fluorescent yellow felt and pressurized so that it bounces.
Examples In A Sentence
Ok, it’s time to pick up the tennis balls.
That tennis ball just barely caught the line.
A Necessary Expense
Tennis balls are a unique piece of equipment developed exclusively for the sport and are necessary to play tennis.
Most cans come with three balls. This number permits the server to carry at least two for their first and second serve. A total of three also allows players to rotate them throughout the match.
Having extra balls during a match helps keep play moving because you don’t have to chase them down as much, but the more balls you use, the more expensive it gets.
Unfortunately, once opened, tennis balls begin to lose their pressure. As a result, unless you play multiple times per week, where you’d get good use out of more than three balls, you may want to consider only opening one can at a time to save yourself money.
FAQs
What color is a tennis ball?
Tennis balls come in a variety of colors. However, the most common type of ball is yellow or, more specifically, optic yellow.
Why are tennis balls yellow?
Originally, they were typically white or black, depending on the color of the court to help increase visibility. However, in 1972 the ITF introduced yellow balls because they were significantly more easy to see on TV. Wimbledon didn’t adopt yellow balls up until 1986.
How big is a tennis ball? What size is the diameter or dimension?
The most common type used in recreational and professional play will have a diameter that ranges from 6.54-6.86 cm (2.57-2.70 in).
At the tour level, there are four types of balls permitted for play which include:
- Type 1 (fast) 6.54-6.86 cm (2.57-2.70 in)
- Type 2 (medium) 6.54-6.86 cm (2.57-2.70 in)
- Type 3 (slow) 7.00-7.30 cm (2.76-2.87 in)
- Type 4 (high altitude) 6.54-6.86 cm (2.57-2.70 in)
Type 3 and type 4 are only allowed for use on tennis courts 1,219 m (4,000 feet) above sea level.
For 10 and Under Tennis, there is a range suited for different levels of play. They include:
- Stage 1 8.00-9.00 cm (3.15-3.54 inches) Any
- Stage 2 7.00-8.00 cm (2.76-3.15 inches) Yellow and red
- Stage 3 6.00-6.86 cm (2.36-2.70 inches) Yellow and orange
- Stage 4 6.30-6.86 cm (2.48-2.70 inches) Yellow and green
How much does a tennis ball weigh?
The standard weight of all professional and recreational tennis balls is 56.0-59.4 grams (0.123-0.131 lbs) or 1.975-2.095 ounces.
For 10 and Under Yennis, the weight requirements for each type of ball varies as follows:
- Stage 1 25.0-43.0 grams (0.882-1.517 oz)
- Stage 2 36.0-49.0 grams (1.270-1.728 oz)
- Stage 3 36.0-46.9 grams (1.270-1.654 oz)
- Stage 4 47.0-51.5 grams (1.658-1.817 oz)
What are tennis balls made of?
They consist of a two-piece rubber shell that manufacturers mold together to form a hollow core, injected with pressurized gas to give the ball its bounce, and wrapped with a synthetic felt that glues to the surface for durability.
How are tennis balls made?
They’re made through a 10 step production process that includes:
- Crushing of rubber material that’s formed into sheets
- Cutting of rubber sheets into chunks of rubber called slugs
- Molding of slugs into half pieces of the core
- Gluing of two half pieces to form the core
- Pressurizing the core to give the ball its bounce
- Cutting felt into dog bone shaped pieces
- Gluing of the felt onto the core of the ball
- Curing of felt to ensure strong adhesion
- Labeling of each ball with the manufacturer’s logo
- Packing of the balls into pressurized cans
Why are tennis balls fuzzy?
The fuzz exists for a few different reasons, including:
- Durability: the fuzzy felt material that wraps the outer rubber core helps increase its lifespan.
- Control: the fuzz also helps players control the ball, improving the spin potential through the Magnus Force, where the fuzz catches air as it rotates and causes the ball to drop with topspin or float upward with backspin.
- Speed: at the same time, the fuzz increases the drag on the ball as it moves through the air, which reduces the speed at which the ball travels.
- Bounce: last but not least, the fuzzy felt material gives the ball a unique bounce that’s not too high or too low.
What’s inside a tennis ball?
Underneath the outer layer of felt, the inside contains a hollow rubber core. The core is pressurized with air or nitrogen, which helps gives the ball its bounce.
What is the tennis ball smell?
The smell of a freshly opened can is the result of a mixture of the materials used to create a tennis ball, which primarily consists of a rubber core, glue, and felt outer covering.
How or why does a tennis ball bounce?
They bounce due to their spherical shape, hollow rubber inner core, and, most importantly, the fact that they are pressurized.
Why do tennis balls come in cans?
The most common type of ball is pressurized to help give the ball its bounce. As such, cans are pressurized during the packaging to ensure the balls maintain their pressure up until the point a consumer receives and plays with them.
However, not all tennis balls come in cans. Pressureless tennis balls often come in buckets or bags, especially when sold in bulk.
Why do tennis balls have numbers on them?
The numbers help players keep track of their balls while playing next to other courts. They typically come in cans of three balls, all with the same number for this purpose.
Will a tennis ball sink or float?
A tennis ball will float because buoyant rubber material forms the core of the ball, and they are hollow and filled with air.
Will a tennis ball explode in a fire?
A tennis ball will not explode in a fire. Nitrogen, which is often used to pressurize balls, is not flammable.
Will a tennis ball dent a car?
Absolutely. If hit hard and directly at a car, a tennis ball can easily dent a vehicle. However, any ball hit out of a court that strikes a car in a parking lot is very unlikely to make a dent.
What kind of gas is a tennis ball filled with?
Pressurized air, or a mixture of air and nitrogen, is the gas used to pressurize a tennis ball.
What kind of tennis balls do the four majors (Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open) use?
- Wimbledon: Slazenger has been the official ball of Wimbledon since 1902.
- US Open: Wilson provides the official ball for the US Open.
- French Open: up until 2011, the French Open was using Dunlop balls. However, Babolat introduced their first ball in 2001, and the French Open switch to their brand in 2011.
- Australian Open: Wilson provides the official ball for the US Open.
How many tennis balls does each of the four majors (Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open) use per year?
- Wimbledon: ~54,000 balls
- US Open: ~70,000 balls
- French Open: ~65,000 balls
- Australian Open: ~40,000 balls
Who makes tennis balls?
The five most popular manufacturers include:
- Penn
- Wilson
- Dunlop
- Gamma
- Slazenger
Wrapping Up
Have questions about tennis balls? Let me know in the comments below – I’m here to help.
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are the green dot tennis balls pressurized?
Hi Jaimie,
Thanks for the question. Unfortunately, this isn’t made super clear in a lot of product descriptions.
You can purchase green dot tennis balls as pressurized or pressureless. If they come in a bag or bucket, they are pressureless. However, if they come in a can, they are pressurized, and the balls will behave differently – expect more bounce out of the balls in a can.
Unfortunately, many retailers say ‘pressurized’ in the title or description even when they come in a bag, which is misleading.
I hope that helps.
All the best,
Jon
Why are there lines on a tennis ball?
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for stopping by – great question!
There are lines on tennis balls because two pieces of felt are glued together with a rubberized mixture to form the outer layer, so it’s a byproduct of the production process.
All the best,
Jon