The Different Types of Tennis Balls

If you think that tennis balls are simply yellow fuzzyindoor and clay courts. Extra duty balls would get too
balls, one no different from another, you are mostfuzzy if used on clay courts.
definitely wrong. Tennis balls are much more than that.· Extra duty tennis balls are used on grass
Here are some facts about tennis balls that you maycourts and tennis courts.
or may not already know:· High altitude tennis balls are used in places like
Pressurized vs. Pressureless Tennis Balls:Denver where you are playing 4,000 feet or more
· There are two main types of tennis balls:above sea level. These balls have different pressure -
pressurized and pressureless.regular balls would bounce too much at this elevation.
· Pressurized tennis balls have a hollow core,Tennis Ball "Fuzziness:"
filled with air. Some tennis ball manufacturers use· Without the yellow (or white...) fuzziness of
nitrogen in the center, because this air tends to lasttennis balls, the game of tennis would be a whole lot
longer - pressurized balls will lose their pressure afterdifferent. The fuzz of the tennis balls creates friction.
about a month or so after opening the pressurized canThe fuzziness of the balls creates dray in the air,
that they come in. As they lose their pressure, theymaking topspin and backspin more pronounced and
become "dead" and do not bounce so well.more possible.
· Pressureless balls have a solid core. TheseNumbers on the Tennis Balls:
tennis balls are great for anyone who does not play· Have you ever wondered what the numbers
tennis that often and/or to use and training tennis balls.on your tennis balls meant? Do they reference the
These tennis balls do not lose their bounce. However,weight or style of the tennis balls, etc.? No.
the felt will slowly wear off, and they will eventually· The numbers on the tennis balls are simply
need to be replaced.for your benefit - if you are playing with Wilson 1 balls,
Regular Duty, Extra Duty, or High Altitude Tennis Balls:and the people on the court next to you are playing
· When you buy tennis balls, the container thatwith Wilson 2 balls, it is easier to retrieve your tennis
they come in should be clearly marked with what kindballs when they wander onto another tennis court. The
of balls it contains - regular duty, extra duty, or highnumbers help you tell your balls apart from other
altitude tennis balls.players' balls (assuming that you are not using the
· Regular duty tennis balls should be used onsame brand and same number of tennis balls!