Tennis Balls

Approved tennis balls

All tennis balls must comply with the guidelines of the International Tennis Federation (ITF). These guidelines relate to the weight, diameter, and bounce height of the ball. If balls are used for KNLTB matches, they must also comply with the KNLTB guidelines.

There are two main groups of tennis balls, namely gas-filled tennis balls and pressureless tennis balls. In addition, there is a group of tennis balls specifically made for children, called Stage balls.

The gas-filled tennis ball

The gas-filled tennis ball is the most comfortable ball. The ball impacts the racket less forcefully, reducing strain on your arm. The ball feels softer than the pressureless tennis ball. Gas-filled tennis balls are generally used for matches and tournaments. A disadvantage of gas-filled balls is that they gradually lose pressure. The gas pressure slowly escapes through the rubber of the ball. Balls are therefore delivered in a pressurized can. When you open the can, you hear a hiss. But gas also escapes during play. The internal pressure in the ball decreases. This changes the bounce height and bounce speed of the tennis ball, making them unusable after playing with them a lot or when they are not used for a long time.

The pressureless tennis ball

A pressureless tennis ball has a longer lifespan. The rubber core of the ball is made harder and thicker. As a result, the ball feels heavier and puts more strain on your arm. This ball bounces slightly faster and higher than the gas-filled tennis ball. Pressureless tennis balls are generally packaged in a cardboard box. You can tell what type of tennis balls you are dealing with by the packaging. Due to the higher bounce, the pressureless tennis ball is very suitable for playing on artificial turf. Despite the longer lifespan of this tennis ball, it does wear out. Due to the harder bounce, the felt wears out faster and the ball needs to be replaced in time.

Stage balls

Stage balls are specially designed for children. The pressure in the balls is reduced, slowing down the bounce and its height. This gives children more time to react. Learning to play tennis becomes a great pleasure for children with these Stage balls! There are three different versions of the Stage balls:Stage 3 (red): for children from 4 years oldStage 2 (orange): for children from 5 years oldStage 1 (green): for children from 8 years old.

Tip

Open a can of gas-filled tennis balls well in advance. This allows the tennis balls time to settle and bounce optimally.

Do you have any questions about tennis balls? Feel free to ask our customer service!