Once you have done your research and picked the right racket, you need to decide which balls you need. It's not as much as a commitment as buying a racket as you will be using the balls for a much shorter time. Because tennis balls are designed for specific uses such as practice, wet weather or hard surfaces it also means that with the right balls you can be prepared for any game.
There are many types of balls available today, but they can all be classified into the categories below.
1. Colour
Not surprisingly most tennis balls are yellow. Some brands employ more sophisticated dying processes, which make the balls easier to see, for example the Wimbledon ultra vis range. These styles are ideal for playing outdoors or in poor light conditions. Having even just one tube of these balls in your bag means that the game doesn't have to stop for poor light.
The exception to the standard colours are those from the ITF's traffic light scheme. They are aimed at beginners and travel slower than standard balls. This enables new players to enjoy the game and progress through the stages until they have the confidence and ability to play on a standard court with regulation balls.
Balls in the traffic light scheme are colour coded as follows:
- Red - the slowest. For new players
- Orange - medium speed. For improvers
- Green - the fastest. For confident players
2. Pressure
All balls are pressurised to some extent.
Regulation balls are kept under pressure until first used, then the bounce will deteriorate. As the bounce is a key factor, they will need to be replaced often for consistency - hence the phrase "new balls please" we all hear at tennis tournaments.
A practice ball may have less pressure, but they are more durable to last longer. As they age, they will lose fuzz from the surface. The performance will then vary as the ball loses its aerodynamic properties.
3. Felt
Balls come in two basic felt types. Regular and extra duty. If you are playing an a hard court then try and go for balls with extra duty. They are more durable and will last much longer without fraying.
4. Technology
Balls are not just designed to keep bouncing over the net for as long as possible. Whatever your needs you will find that a ball has been designed to meet them, whether it is increased visibility, durability or even water resistance.
5. Brand
Don't worry about being loyal to a particular brand. As I mentioned previously there are balls designed for many conditions and a die-hard Slazenger player may find Prince balls more suitable for their specific needs. The most popular brands are Head, Slazenger, Prince, Karakal, Wilson, Dunlop and Tretorn. Try them all out and see which is best for you.
The main thing I would always say about tennis balls is just to follow this simple advice and once you have decided on which balls are best for you, buy a small amount and test them out. Buying tennis balls is less of a science than buying a racket.
When you find your favourites then look for bulk deals. You can make pretty decent savings if you are willing to buy large amounts.