[Top 24] Best Tennis Ball Reviews 2022
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Finding the best tennis balls from the 200 approved brands from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) is not a piece of cake. We know that. To float your boat for finding the perfect tennis ball we have prepared this guide for you after spending 15+ hours of effort.
Our review procedure and why should you trust it?
- In this tennis balls reviews guide, we have reviewed different types of balls separately. Balls for practice, balls for hard court, for a clay court, balls for high altitude surfaces, and balls for kids.
- During the process of reviewing we focused on the performance, usability, quality, and price worthiness of each product.
- We reviewed the most popular balls but were not biased towards any particular brand.
- We mention both pros and cons for every product.
Best Tennis Balls at a Glance
- Penn Pressureless Tennis Balls – Best for practice
- Wilson Championship Extra Duty – Best for hard court
- Wilson US Open Regular Duty Tennis Ball – Top pick for clay court
- Wilson Sporting Goods Championship High Altitude Tennis Balls – The best high altitude tennis ball
Top 3 Best Tennis Balls for Practice – Pressureless Tennis Balls
Top 5 Extra Duty Tennis Balls for Hard/Green Court
Top 5 Quality Regular Duty Tennis Balls for Clay/Soft/Indoor Court
Top 3 Recommended Tennis Balls for High Altitude Surfaces
Top 5 Tennis Balls for Kids of Different Ages
Top 3 Best Tennis Balls for Practice – Pressureless Tennis Balls – Detail Reviews
1. Penn Pressureless Tennis Balls – Our Best Pick in Practice Ball Category
Durability: 5 / 5
Rebound: 4.5 / 5
Felt: 4.5 / 5
Suitable for: Ball machine/Practice/Recreational
Editor’s Rating: 5 / 5
- Perfect for individual practice and to use in the ball machine.
- High-quality felt construction.
- A good amount of bounce.
- Long-lasting.
- Easy to store and carry with the reusable plastic bucket.
- No overpowering smell.
- Affordable price.
- None.
Detail Review
Penn pressureless balls can be the perfect choice for beginners. You will get 48 balls with a reusable plastic bucket with this package.
How cool is that?
Not really cool if they don’t perform well. But the good thing is they perform well during practicing, and they are ideal to be used in the ball machine.
You will sense the smooth feeling because of the high-quality felt construction. What about the bounce and durability? They bounce really well and are very much durable. As the balls get older they start gaining more bounce.
2. Gamma Bucket Pressureless – Our 2nd Choice in Practice Balls Category
Durability: 4.7 / 5
Rebound: 4.5 / 5
Felt: 4.8 / 5
Suitable for: Ball machine/Practice/Recreational
Editor’s Rating: 4.6 / 5
- A popular choice among tennis teachers, students, avid players.
- It doesn’t lose pressure easily.
- Consistent.
- Durable.
- Easy to carry and store with a reusable poly bucket.
- Made with double rubber core and woven felt for extra consistency.
- Good bounce.
- No odor.
- Dogs like this ball too.
- Affordable price.
- None.
Detail Review
Another 48 balls bucket, but this time from Gamma. When it is about pressureless practice balls, Gamma is one of the most popular choices among tennis teachers, students, and players. These pressureless balls do not lose pressure and bounce over time which gives you consistency and durability.
3. Tourna Pressureless Balls – Our 3rd Choice in Practice Balls Category
Durability: 4.7 / 5
Rebound: 4.3 / 5
Felt: 4.5 / 5
Suitable for: Ball machine/Practice/Recreational
Editor’s Rating: 4.6 / 5
- These balls never go dead.
- Perfect to use in ball machine and for practicing.
- Suitable for recreational play as well.
- Gives the perfect amount of bounce.
- Trouble-free to store and carry.
- The bright yellow color gives good visibility.
- Can be a good choice for dogs, and a gym.
- Initially, you may not like the smell of the balls. But at times you will get used to it.
Detail Review
These are just perfect to use in the ball machine or for individual practice. Tourna pressureless balls are not bad for recreational playing as well. One of the main benefits you will get from these practice balls is, that they never go dead. They bounce less than the pressurized balls and slows the game down for beginners which are very helpful for hand-eye coordination. Most beginners will find this option very useful for learning. For practicing, any level of a player may go for this.
Top 5 Extra Duty Tennis Balls for Hard/Green Court – Detail Reviews
1. Wilson Championship Extra Duty – Our Top Pick for Hard/Green Court
Durability: 5 / 5
Rebound: 5 / 5
Felt: 5 / 5
Suitable for: Hardcourt/recreational/local tournament
Editor’s Rating: 5 / 5
- Manufactured with exclusive Duraweave Interlocking Fiber Technology, that makes this model extra durable.
- Provides high performance.
- Good bounce.
- Spins easily.
- Consistent.
- Extra-duty felt.
- Control with nylon wool blend.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- None.
Detail Review
This is Wilson’s another great extra-duty ball specially designed for hard court. Ideal for local tournaments and recreational play. These balls are manufactured with exclusive Duraweave Interlocking Fiber Technology, which makes them durable and provides excellent performance on the court.
2. Pro Penn Marathon Extra Duty – Our 2nd Pick for Hard/Green Court
Durability: 4.6 / 5
Rebound: 4.6 / 5
Felt: 4.6 / 5
Suitable for: Hardcourt/recreational/local tournament
Editor’s Rating: 4.6 / 5
- Encore Technology for longer lasting core (22% more longevity).
- Lasts long. According to Penn’s claim, these are their longest-lasting tennis balls.
- LongPlay felt for extended play.
- Perfect for hard court.
- Optimal visibility ensured by Smart Optik felt.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- You may feel it a bit heavy to start with, but after playing some sets, you will get used to it.
- A bit expensive but you will not regret using this product.
Detail Review
As the name suggests, Pro Penn Marathon is Penn’s longest-lasting model. This model features exclusive Encore Technology for longer lasting core (22% more longevity), and LongPlay felt for extended play. Not only that, they have Smart Optik felt for optimal visibility, and they are perfect for playing on hard court. This ball is approved for USTA and ITF competitions.
3. Wilson US Open Extra Duty – Our 3rd Choice for Hard/Green Court
Durability: 4.5 / 5
Rebound: 4.5 / 5
Felt: 4.5 / 5
Suitable for: Hardcourt/recreational/local tournament
Editor’s Rating: 4.5 / 5
- Made with premium tex/tech industries felt.
- Durable.
- Provides excellent bounce.
- You will have a professional feeling using this ball.
- Spins easily.
- Since 1979, Wilson has been the only official ball of the US Open.
- Affordable to every level of players.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- Some users found these balls wear easily. But from our experience, this is not true. We played six sets to find a very little recognizable change in the behavior.
Detail Review
These are made optimally for playing on hard court and made with premium tex/tech industries felt. Wilson manufactures these balls for professional players. So no doubt, you will get professional feeling playing with this model. Beginners can use these balls too, to improve their performance.
4. Penn Championship Extra Duty – Our 4th Choice for Hard/Green Court
Durability: 4.5 / 5
Rebound: 4.5 / 5
Felt: 4.5 / 5
Suitable for: Hardcourt/recreational/local tournament
Editor’s Rating: 4.5 / 5
- Perfect choice to play on hard court.
- Interlocked wool fiber composition makes the ball durable.
- Deep elastic seams give reduced cracking.
- Natural rubber construction ensures a consistent feel and reduced shock.
- You will get a satisfactory bounce even after a month.
- Official USTA league tennis ball.
- Sometimes you may see an uneven bounce. But this is very rare. You can overlook this point.
Detail Review
These extra-duty balls are ideal for playing on a hard court. These are the official USTA league tennis balls. So you know how high the quality is.
Penn is labeling on the can that these are America’s number 1 selling tennis balls, but we can’t guarantee this claim as we did not do enough research on this topic. But like others, we also trust Penn as they are one of the dominant brands in the tennis industry.
These balls have interlocked wool fiber composition, meaning the woolen fiber interlocks the fuzz. This interlocked wool fiber composition makes them durable, while a deep elastic seam offers reduced cracking.
5. Penn Pink Championship Extra Duty – Our 5th Choice for Hard/Green Court
Durability: 4.5 / 5
Rebound: 4.5 / 5
Felt: 4.5 / 5
Suitable for: Hardcourt/recreational/local tournament
Editor’s Rating: 4.5 / 5
- Made with premium grade wool (optic pink wool).
- Very long-lasting.
- Have a good bounce.
- Championship quality extra duty ball.
- Offers the same consistency and feels like other championship quality balls.
- Easy to spot.
- Good choice for local tournament play or recreational play.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- None.
Detail Review
The pink felt looks a bit strange, but there is a great cause behind the scene? Can you guess the reason? Yes, you are right. To promote breast cancer awareness, Penn teamed up with the American Cancer Society. That is why the felt is pink in color. Penn donates a portion of sales from each canto breast cancer research.
The ball is made with premium-grade wool (optic pink wool) to ensure longevity. They stay firm for weeks after opening the can. These are championship quality products, and usable for local tournaments.
Top 5 Quality Regular Duty Tennis Balls for Clay/Soft/Indoor Court – Detail Reviews
1. Wilson US Open Regular Duty – Our Top Pick for Clay/Soft/Indoor Court
Durability: 4.5 / 5
Rebound: 5 / 5
Felt: 4.6 / 5
Suitable for: Clay/Soft/Indoor/recreational/ tournament
Editor’s Rating: 5 / 5
- Excellent ball for clay/soft or an indoor court.
- Made with premium-grade wool to ensure durability and consistency.
- Provides good bounce.
- You will have a great feeling using these balls.
- Official ball of U.S Open since 1979.
- Easy to spot.
- Affordable price.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- Not a good option for hard court.
Detail Review
Wilson US Open Regular Tennis Balls are long-lasting balls made with high-quality premium grade wool. These are the official tennis balls of the U.S Open. Excellent playability and consistency made Wilson one of the best brands in the tennis industry. Let’s have a look at some of the features, pros, and cons of this model.
2. Wilson Championship Regular Duty – Our 2nd Pick for Clay/Soft/Indoor Court
Durability: 4.5 / 5
Rebound: 4.6 / 5
Felt: 4.6 / 5
Suitable for: Clay/Soft/Indoor/recreational/ tournament
Editor’s Rating: 4.6 / 5
- Perfect for clay/soft court and indoor court.
- Duraweave felt ensures durability, consistency, and performance.
- The Right amount of bounce.
- Regular duty felt.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- Not good for hard or green court.
Detail Review
Another excellent choice to play on clay/soft courts. When it is about playing on a clay court, Wilson and Penn are the top two brands you can rely on, and forget about the rest. This model features Duraweave felt that provides durability and consistency.
3. Penn Championship Regular Duty – Our 3rd Choice for Clay/Soft/Indoor Court
Durability: 4.5 / 5
Rebound: 4 / 5
Felt: 4.5 / 5
Suitable for: Clay/Soft/Indoor/recreational/ tournament
Editor’s Rating: 4.5 / 5
- Best for clay/soft or an indoor court.
- Consistent.
- Interlocked wool fiber confirms longer wear.
- Deep elastic seam reduces cracking.
- Features natural rubber for reduced shock and reliable feel.
- This is the official ball of the USTA league tennis.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- Not a perfect choice for hard court and green court.
Detail Review
This is a very popular option for playing on a clay/soft court or an indoor court. This regular duty ball is claimed to be America’s number 1 selling ball by Penn. The interlocked wool fiber confirms longer wear, and a deep elastic seam reduces cracking.
4. Pro Penn Marathon Regular Duty – Our 4th Choice for Clay/Soft/Indoor Court
Durability: 5 / 5
Rebound: 4 / 5
Felt: 4.5 / 5
Suitable for: Clay/Soft/Indoor/recreational/ tournament
Editor’s Rating: 4.5 / 5
- Ideal for clay/soft court and indoor court.
- Encode Technology provides a 22% longer-lasting core.
- Smart Optik Felt Technology gives maximum visibility.
- LongPlay felt ensures durability.
- Good bounce.
- Spins easily.
- Excellent feeling.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- Number one choice among USPTA teaching professionals.
- Not ideal for hard or green court.
Detail Review
Pro Penn Marathon is the longest-lasting tennis ball from Penn, ideal for clay/soft and indoor courts. Several modern technologies have been implemented in this model including Encore Technology, Smart Optik Felt Technology, and LongPlay felt.
Encore Technology provides a 22% longer-lasting core. Smart Optik Felt Technology gives maximum visibility, and LongPlay felt ensures durability.
5. Penn ATP Regular Duty – Our 4th Choice for Clay/Soft/Indoor Court
Durability: 4.5 / 5
Rebound: 4 / 5
Felt: 4.5 / 5
Suitable for: Clay/Soft/Indoor/recreational/ tournament
Editor’s Rating: 4.4 / 5
- Good for clay/soft court.
- Smart Optik felt that increases the visibility by 19% than any standard ball.
- Tournament grade felt and technical grade rubber core to provide the precise bounce.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- Not a good choice for the hard court.
- You may find these balls too light.
Detail Review
Penn ATP regular duty is the updated version of the Penn ATP World Tour regular duty tennis balls. This is the official ball of the ATP Masters Series. To ensure precise bounce, it features tournament-grade felt and technical-grade rubber core. Smart Optik felt increases 19% visibility than standard balls.
Top 3 Recommended Tennis Balls for High Altitude Surfaces – Detail Reviews
1. Wilson Championship – Our Best Pick for High Altitude Surface
Durability: 4.6 / 5
Rebound: 6 / 5
Felt: 5 / 5
Suitable for: High altitude – all court
Editor’s Rating: 5 / 5
- Suitable for all types of courts.
- Made with Wilson’s Duraweave felt.
- Provides great playability and consistency.
- Perfect bounce for playing on high-altitude court at an elevation of 3500 feet or higher.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- You may feel too much pressure from the ball.
Detail Review
If you have already read our previous reviews on Wilson Championship balls, then you already know these are made with exclusive Duraweave interlocking fiber technology. Duraweave felt gives playability and consistency, which will give both you and your opponent a great feeling on the court. The high-altitude core makes the ball perfect for playing on courts above 3500 feet or higher.
2. Wilson US Open – Our 2nd Choice for High Altitude Surface
Durability: 5 / 5
Rebound: 4.8 / 5
Felt: 4.7 / 5
Suitable for: High altitude – all court
Editor’s Rating: 4.8 / 5
- Suitable for all courts.
- Made with high-quality premium-grade wool.
- Consistent, durable.
- High altitude core for best performance on 3500 feet or higher.
- Perfect for both practice, and competitive matches.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- None.
Detail Review
Like every other Wilson US Open ball, this ball is also made with premium-grade felt for consistency, durability, and playability. Every level of player finds this ball as a good option to play with on a high-altitude court.
3. Penn Championship XD – Our 3rd Choice for High Altitude Surface
Durability: 5 / 5
Rebound: 4.5 / 5
Felt: 4.5 / 5
Suitable for: High altitude – all court
Editor’s Rating: 4.5 / 5
- Perfect to play on a court that is 3500 feet or higher.
- Extra-duty felt.
- High altitude core for added performance.
- Natural rubber for reduced shocking.
- Interlocked wool fiber for longer wear.
- Deep elastic seam help to reduce cracking.
- A good amount of bounce.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- None.
Detail Review
These are specially made to play on the high-altitude courts at an elevation of 3500 feet and higher. Besides every other feature that a Penn championship extra duty ball provides, this one has the high altitude core for added performance.
Top 5 Tennis Balls for Kids of Different Ages – Detail Reviews
Penn QST 36 Foam Red Tennis Balls – Stage 3 – Age Range:5-8 years
Age Level: 5-8 years
Type: Stage 3 – Foam
Speciality: Low bounce, larger diameter
Suitable for: 36 ft court
Editor’s Rating: 5 / 5
- Foam ball. Popular among kids because of the soft feeling and color combination.
- Ideal for kids ages 5 to 8 years.
- Recommended to play on 36 ft court, short court, driveway.
- Low bounce to make life easy for the kids.
- A large diameter to make it perfectly visible, and easier to hit.
- People buy this model for their dogs too.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- Less durable than standard construction balls.
Detail Review
Stage 3 balls are categorized into two types. Standard construction, and foam. Penn QST is a foam ball. Your kid may like the color combination and soft feeling of this model. The size of this model is larger, hence easy to see and hit. Many people buy this model for their dogs too.
Le Petit Kids Tennis Balls-Stage 3 Standard Construction-Age:5-8 years
Age Level: 5-8 years
Type: Stage 3- Standard construction
Speciality: Large size, low bounce, good color combination
Suitable for: 36 ft court
Editor’s Rating: 5 / 5
- Designed for ages 5 to 8 years.
- Ideal to play on 36 ft court, short court, or driveway.
- USTA and ITF approved.
- The combination of yellow and red color can be pleasant to the eyes of the kids.
- A bit large in size and the bounce is low, which is exactly what your kids will like to have.
- Easy to hit.
- None.
Detail Review
This is a stage 3 ball. Between the two types of stage 3, this is the standard construction version. Like other stage 3 balls, this is also designed especially for ages 5 to 8 years. A perfect option to play on a 36 ft court.
Wilson US Open Orange Balls – Stage 2
Age Level: 8-10 years
Type: Stage 2
Speciality: 50% slower than standard balls, soft, good color combination
Suitable for: 60 ft court
Editor’s Rating: 5 / 5
- Designed for ages 8 to 10 years.
- Ideal to play on 60 ft court.
- 75mm felt surface, and Dimension is 2.60 x 6.20 x 3.50 inches (L x W x H).
- USTA and ITF approved.
- Low compression balls, and 50% slower than standard balls. The slowness gives the player enough time to prepare the hit.
- Children like the softness and color of this model.
- The bounce of the ball is very low. Sometimes you may feel frustrated because of the very low bounce.
Detail Review
This is a stage 2 ball and a perfect choice for ages 8 to 10. As this is a stage 2 ball, so they are ideal to play on a 60 ft court. So here are some key features and benefits of this model.
Wilson US Open Tournament Tennis Balls – Stage 1
Age Level: 10-12 years
Type: Stage 1
Speciality: 25% lower bounce than standard balls
Suitable for: 78 ft court
Editor’s Rating: 5 / 5
- Designed for ages 10 to 12 years.
- Perfect for an adult who is about to learn the game or just started learning.
- This model is perfect for 78 ft court, driveways, and playground.
- The bounce is 25% lower than standard balls.
- Easy to hit.
- Pressurized green felt.
- A bit more bouncy than other stage 1 options.
Detail Review
Stage 1 balls are recommended for boys or girls aging 10 years or above, but perfect for the age range of 10-12 years. Not only that, this is an ideal choice for an adult who is about to learn the game, or just started learning.
Gamma Sports Kids Training (Transition) Balls
Age Level: Variation available
Type: Options available for all Stage 3, stage 2, stage 1
Speciality: Variation available
Suitable for: Variation available
Editor’s Rating: 5 / 5
- Gamma maintains good quality like other brands such as Wilson, Penn, or Dunlop but the price is lower compared to other brands.
- Have a bit higher bounce than their counterparts of other brands.
- These are soft and have low bounce compared to standard balls which help a new learner to learn the game with comfort.
- Bigger in size compared to their standard counterparts, hence easier to hit.
- Less re-usable than other brands.
Detail Review
These are the most popular choice among the kids. You can buy either stage 3 quick (red) dot balls (for 5 – 8 years children), stage 2 orange dot (for 8-10 years kids), or stage 1 green dot balls (for 9 – 12 years kids and adult who has just started learning). All of these types have a good reputation, and they are popular among the respective age groups. Usually, Gamma kids’ balls are a bit more bouncy than their counterparts of other brands. But the bounce is easily manageable.
If you are not sure yet about the general characteristics of stage 3, stage 2, and stage 1 balls then make sure to click here to learn about them first.
Tennis Ball Buying Guide
What are the three types of tennis balls that are categorized by major brands?
Well, neither the technology is sitting idle nor the different brands in the tennis industry. As a result, this industry is evolving and becoming smarter day by day to serve different purposes.
The manufacturers divide the balls into three categories based on the quality level. i) Recreational level ii) Championship level iii) Professional level.
Recreational Level
Recreational balls are perfect for practice, and to be used in a ball machine. Particularly in the tennis camps.
If you have just started playing tennis, you can go for this level as the price is comparatively lower than other levels of balls. These are not usable in any tournament or league match.
They produce bounce from their outer rubber shell surface. Here is the interesting part; as the outer surface begins to fade, they start gaining more bounce.
Championship Level
Championship level ball is a step up in the category compared to the recreational level. They are usually less expensive than their professional-level counterpart.
This type is allowed to be used in the league and small tournaments, or you can say in local tournaments. Based on the playing court a championship level ball can be of regular duty, extra duty, or high altitude ones.
Championship level balls bring satisfaction to the intermediate players mostly, but beginners also will not face any problems. An advanced player may not want to spend money on this type.
Professional Level
Professional level balls are the highest quality ones among these three levels. Professional players use these balls for major tournaments. Especially in tournaments like Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
Like championship balls, these are also produced to serve the purpose of regular duty, extra duty, or high altitude.
No wonder these are good for power, and spin. They have a proper amount of bounce as well. The only problem with professional-level balls is that the life span is shorter than other levels.
In Summary
- Recreational level ones are the right choice for practice or recreational play, and are perfect for use in a ball machine. They are also used to train the players in the tennis camp but not in any tournament or league match.
- Championship-level ones are used in local tournaments or leagues.
- Professional level balls are used in major tournaments, particularly in tournaments like Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
Classification Based on the Playing Court
One question for you.
Name some types of courts we usually play on.
Yes, you are thinking right. We play on a clay court, indoor court, green court, carpet court, and hard court.
Is not it great that you can get tennis balls of different types to make your game perfect based on the different courts?
Let’s have a look at the two types of balls based on different court types.
Regular Duty
If you are looking for your best little buddy that is suitable for clay court and the indoor court then regular duty balls should be your best choice.
Naturally, the clay court slows down the speed of the ball and reduces the skid. On the other hand, the ball absorbs more clay in clay courts due to extra slides. But if you use regular duty types then they will not consume clay and will help to make the best shot.
How? They have less fluff, and thinner felt that is woven tightly around the core. That means the clay court is not able to penetrate the felt and hence not able to cause the ball to puff up.
Extra Duty
Extra duty balls are usable for both hard court and green court. These are higher quality balls than the regular duty ones.
Due to the nature of the hardcourt, you need a durable solution that does not wear down too fast and also a heavier one. That is why extra duty balls are the best choice to serve this purpose.
They have the thick felt, made out of high nylon content mixed wool, that is woven on the core. As the felt is woven instead of tightening around the core, that is why the extra duty balls perform longer and better.
In Summary
- Regular duty balls have thinner felt that is woven tightly around the core. That is why they are perfect for playing on the clay court and indoor courts.
- Extra duty balls have thicker felt that is woven loosely around the core. That is why they are ideal for playing on hard courts, and green courts.
What are the pressureless and pressurized balls?
This is another factor that you will want to keep in your mind while choosing the best tennis balls based on your need. Let’s know what the difference between a pressureless ball and a pressurized ball means.
Pressureless Tennis Balls
Beginners often use this type of ball. These are the best choice for recreational playing, to be used in the ball machine, and practicing. They last long and they don’t lose bounce over time. In fact, they start gaining bounce as the felt begins to fade.
As these balls last long, that is why they are favorite among the players who do not want to spend money frequently to buy a new one. In other words, they are mostly used by casual players.
They have harder and thicker outer shells than their pressurized counterparts. That is why you may feel it heavier while hitting them, which some people don’t like.
Pressureless balls are mostly used in Europe while US-based players prefer pressurized balls.
Pressurized Tennis Balls
Pressurized balls are used by professional players in tournaments and league matches. These are the ones that you find in a can. The core of the ball is filled with compressed air or nitrogen. The cans also have air pressures inside which keeps the balls from going dead.
Some people use the pressurized balls and keep them in the bag for long, which is not wise action at all. The ball will start causing problems and losing bounce if you keep them outside of the can for too long. As soon as you remove them from the can, their decay process starts.
This type of ball bounces (because of internal air) higher than its pressureless counterparts, and is also able to generate more spin, but its lifespan is very short. A study found that the lifetime of this type is mostly two weeks and they can be used for a single game only.
If you are seeking quality, bounce, and spin over anything and buying a new one frequently is not a problem for you, then you should go for this type.
Classification Based On Your Kids Age
Now comes another interesting part. Thanks to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for introducing the different levels of kids-friendly balls respective to the court size and based on the child’s age level. These are especially for slower play which is very helpful for the learners.
Let’s get some knowledge about them.
Stage 3 Balls (Red)
Stage 3 balls are designed for the kids aged in the range of 5-8 years and are allowed to play on the 36-foot court. Compared to a standard ball, these tend to bounce much lower, which should be the case because the bounce should be within reach of the kids. These are also much slower to hit, larger in size, and softer in comparison to the standard yellow ones.
Stage 3 balls can be categorized into two types. i) Standard construction ii) Cut/molded foam.
Standard Construction
The size of the standard construction ones ranges from 7 to 8 cm (2.76 to 3.15 inches), and the weight varies between 1.270 to 1.728 ounces (36.0 to 49.0 grams).
The rebound height varies between 90 to 105 cm (35 to 41 inches).
Cut/Molded Foam
On the other hand, the size of the foam balls ranges from 8 to 9 cm (3.15 to 3.54 inches), and the weight varies between 0.882-1.517 ounces (25.0 to 43.0 grams). The rebound height ranges from 85 to 105 cm (33 to 41 inches).
Stage 2 Balls (Orange)
These are specially designed for kids ranging from 8-10 years of age and are allowed to play in a 60-foot court format. These do not bounce as high as a standard ball. They are softer, slower, and easier to hit.
The size ranges from 6.00 to 6.86 cm (2.36 to 2.70 inches), and the weight varies between 1.270 to 1.728 ounces (36.0 to 46.9 grams). The rebound height varies between 105 to 120 cm (41 to 47 inches).
Stage 1 Balls (Green)
Stage 1 balls are designed for kids ranging from 9 to 12 years of age. These are typically played on a 78-foot court format. The bounce is lower than the standard yellow balls. These are the slower, softer, and easier hit option. But they have the same size as standard yellow ones.
The size ranges from 6.30 to 6.86 cm (2.48 to 2.70 inches), and the weight ranges from 1.658 to 1.817 ounces (47.0 to 51.5 grams). The rebound height varies between 120 to 135 cm (47 to 53 inches).
High Altitude Tennis Balls
If you want to play on high-altitude courts, then you should use the balls that are specially made for playing on high-altitude courts. The ITF considers 4000 feet or more a high altitude. If you play with the pressurized ball at a high altitude, it will travel a lot faster and bounce much higher which is obviously a problem for all levels of players. To solve this problem different brands are manufacturing tennis balls that are entirely suitable on high altitude courts.
Conclusion
Our extensive guide on the best tennis balls covers everything you need to know to make a wise purchase, from practice balls for kids to extra duty pressurized balls for high altitude courts.
With our comprehensive reviews and considerations, you’ll be sure to find the perfect ball for your needs.
Hold on!
We also have a comprehensive buying guide, and top picks of the recommended tennis racquets for beginners to advanced players. You may find that article as helpful as this one if you are planning to buy a tennis racquet in the near future.
John Lochert
What started out as a way to capture our passion for sports of all types has turned into a resource providing you with high-quality information and tips to help you get more enjoyment out of your sport of choice. We also wanted to provide in-depth reviews on sporting gear to give you the information you need to make more informed decisions.