What Are Tennis Players Looking for When Choosing Balls?
Choosing the right tennis ball matters for every player, from beginners to professionals. The ball can influence how rallies develop, how shots feel on the strings, and how long a match keeps its rhythm.
Not all tennis balls behave the same. Some feel faster, others softer, and their response can vary as the match unfolds. This is why players tend to be selective rather than treating every can as identical.
This blog post explores what makes tennis balls differ, why some are set aside, how the surface beneath your feet plays a role, what’s behind the quick glance before a serve, and how often fresh balls are brought into play. Read on to learn more.
What Makes One Tennis Ball Different from Another?
Tennis balls may look similar at first, but subtle details influence how they perform. There are two primary categories players often consider, both involving how the ball feels off the strings and moves through the air.
One factor involves how the inside of the ball is constructed. Some balls are built to offer a livelier bounce early on, while others are made to stay consistent over a longer span. The way the outer layer is designed also affects how the ball travels and how it holds up on different courts.
Pressurised balls contain compressed air, giving them a springy bounce and a crisp contact at impact. Over time, that internal pressure begins to fade once the can is opened, leading to a softer, less responsive feel. Pressureless balls, by contrast, use thicker rubber to maintain rebound. These can feel firmer and slightly heavier, but their bounce stays more stable even after extended use—often preferred for drills and machines. However, pressureless balls are rarely used in professional matches, as they don’t offer the same responsiveness or feel that high-level players expect during competition.
The felt covering also varies. Extra-duty felt is thicker, built for rougher surfaces, though it can fluff up as play continues. Regular-duty felt is lighter, allowing the ball to stay cleaner and more streamlined, especially on dustier courts.
Even though size and mass are standardised across the sport, brands differ in construction techniques—like how the felt is attached, the composition of rubber, or how seams are finished. Playing conditions influence all this, too. In colder settings, for example, balls tend to feel less lively. In thinner air, some models are specifically designed to avoid exaggerated flight.
With these variables, it becomes clear why some players prefer certain balls in particular situations and might avoid others.
Why Do Tennis Players Reject Balls?
It’s common to see players inspect two or three balls and return one. The reasons aren’t always obvious, but they often relate to consistency in performance.
A ball might be set aside if it no longer matches the others in feel or behaviour. This could be due to a worn patch, an uneven bounce, or a subtle change in shape. Sometimes, it’s the condition of the surface material that prompts rejection, especially if it’s visibly changed since its last use.
As previously noted, felt condition plays a part. A ball that has fluffed up will grip the air differently, slowing slightly as it travels. That might suit a drawn-out baseline exchange, but be less effective for a flatter strike. A tighter-felt ball, on the other hand, might travel quicker and with a cleaner path—useful for precise, forceful shots. If the weather is damp or the surface has left grit on the ball, players often notice the added weight or altered spin.
Ultimately, players are trying to reduce the chance of the ball behaving unexpectedly. Selecting from the available options helps keep the flow of the point predictable—not just for one player, but for both.
Do Court Surfaces Affect Ball Choice?
Very much so. The surface beneath the players’ feet alters how the ball reacts, and this shapes which balls are paired with which courts.
Hard courts, for instance, are rough on materials. A ball needs to hold up to repeated impact, which is why a thicker felt is often used here. On softer surfaces, like clay, different priorities emerge. A finer felt can reduce how much of the court the ball collects, helping it stay in motion rather than drag.
Grass introduces its own demands—lower bounces and a quicker pace are common, so events might select balls designed to maintain a consistent trajectory even as the court wears.
Certain balls are also chosen based on playing conditions. Faster balls may be used on surfaces that slow play down, and vice versa. This keeps rallies engaging without altering the essence of the match. High-altitude venues use specific models as well—ones tailored to behave more predictably in thinner air.
These decisions are usually made in advance by tournament organisers. Players and coaches then train with those same balls before the event, adjusting equipment and practice routines accordingly.
Why Tennis Players Check The Ball Before Serving
What looks like a small pause before serving is often a deliberate choice. Players aren’t just picking any ball—they’re choosing one suited to the type of delivery they want to make.
Earlier, we touched on the difference between newer and more worn balls. That becomes especially relevant on serve. A fresher ball might offer more speed off the racket, which can help when aiming for a direct strike. One that’s been used slightly longer could offer more grip, which some players use to their advantage when adding spin or shaping the ball’s bounce.
There’s also a practical reason behind the glance. If a ball is wet or irregular, it can behave unpredictably or feel strange in the hand. By filtering out options that could interfere with technique, the server can focus entirely on placement and execution.
Beyond the physical aspect, the moment of selection offers a short mental pause—a time to gather thoughts, settle the breath, and approach the point with clarity.
How Often Do They Change Balls In Tennis?
In professional matches, fresh balls are introduced regularly—not after every few points, but according to a planned rotation.
To start, a new set is used for the pre-match warm-up and the first seven games. After that, replacements are brought in every nine games. This timing reflects how quickly the balls wear at the outset, and how their performance shifts as the felt becomes more textured.
New balls behave slightly differently—flighting through the air with more pace and bouncing a bit higher. Players often take this into account, especially servers who may adjust their tactics just after a change.
Ball swaps always happen at the start of a game, never mid-way through one. So if a tiebreak falls at the wrong moment, the change waits. Extreme conditions can prompt exceptions—such as after rain, if balls have absorbed moisture—but the general goal remains: to keep the conditions consistent from one phase of the match to the next.
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