Types of Tennis Balls
So, probably you never thought about buying balls, how do they differ from each other? But they noticed that some balls last a long time, while others wear out and quickly lose pressure. Let’s try to figure it out.
In ancient times, balls were made from sheep’s skin and only at the beginning of the 19th century did they learn to make balls from rubber. To this day, all tennis balls are made of rubber with an external fabric coating. The standard ball weight ranges from 57 to 58 grams. And its diameter is an average of 6.5 cm. The type of external coating of a tennis ball depends on whether the ball is made with or without pressure. The ball with pressure loses the rebound gradually with the release of air from it, as if you imagine a balloon that is slowly blown away. And tennis balls without pressure keep the rebound for a very long time.
Pressure tennis balls are the most selling balls. They are considered better for playing than balls without pressure until they are new, but lose a quick rebound. Most world-class players throw these tennis balls after one game. Wilson research has shown that such a ball becomes unusable after 2 weeks of play. Therefore, Wilson has developed a series of Double Core balls with another inner coating so that the air does not come out so quickly and accordingly these balls will last longer than usual. And Gamma produces nitrogen-filled balls and air leakage is much slower.
Tennis balls without pressure get their bounce because of the surface structure, which maintains elasticity without the help of air, which presses from the inside. When such tennis balls are new, they are usually tougher and the rebound is less, but the longer you use, the rebound becomes better, because the ball cover wears out, making them easier. Such tennis balls become unusable only when they completely “bald” and become too jumping and lose aerodynamics.
Next, we will tell you how many types in theory balls are divided.
The tennis ball is divided in speed into 4 types, 3 types of tennis ball coverage, and 2 ball rebound values. So, if you collect all the possible combinations of 4X3X2, then it turns out as many as 24 different types of tennis balls. And divide it by the companies that produce balls. Then you can choose for a long time. And probably, all the same, you would be right if you didn’t think about which tennis ball you are buying !!!! Since this is all a theory and it is unlikely that every manufacturer makes such a large number of types of balls !!!
But the balls still divide in speed.
In 2000, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) allowed 3 types of standard tennis balls for competition. Before that, only balls with an average speed were allowed. Now allowed “fast” balls to increase speed on slow courts, and “slow” balls to slow down the game on fast courts, for example on grass courts.
Slow tennis balls in speed: larger diameter, the same weight. Needed for beginners and those who need more time to warm up.
Average ball speed: Almost all major types of balls. Suitable for most players.
Quick balls: hard to find and rarely used. Suitable for players who like a soft ground coating, but would like to play a quick game.
By covering the fabric balls are divided as follows.
Ball coverage is developed taking into account the type of court:
Typical fabric coating (Regular duty): created mainly for clay courts and indoor courts. A thinner coating is designed so that tennis balls do not fluff out quickly, i.e. do not become fluffy. Therefore, such balls wear out quickly on harder surfaces.
Extra ball coverage (Extra duty): designed for paved courts. The density of the coating allows less “wash” the ball on the court. On the ground or in the hall, such balls become fluffy.
Grass ball felt: regular balls, the only difference being they don’t get dirty on the grass.
