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Blog > Equipment > Tennis ball comparison: Which tennis ball suits your game?
Every tennis ball has its own special features: Bounce, pressure, surface, durability - and all of these affect how you perceive the ball and how your game works. A tennis ball comparison will help you to find the right ball for your type of player - regardless of whether you are just starting out, playing ambitiously or already competing in tournaments.
The tennis ball is more than just a piece of felt and rubber - it's a central part of your game. Here are the most important factors that influence how well the ball suits you:
Pressure & compression: A pressure ball fresh out of the can has higher internal pressure, bounces higher, is faster and livelier. Over time, air escapes, the ball becomes "softer" and loses bounce and speed.
Reduced pressure / unpressurized balls: These tennis balls are more stable in bounce height over time as they have less or no excess pressure. Very useful for training or leisure, especially if you don't want to constantly replace new balls.
Surface and felt: The felt influences, among other things, flight behavior, susceptibility to wind and how much the ball "grips" on the surface. Tennis balls that are played on clay courts pick up felt and dust more quickly due to abrasion, which can slow down the game.
Bounce & control: For many types of players, control and predictability are more important than speed. A tennis ball that bounces evenly and not too unpredictably helps with more stable groundstrokes, volleys and tactical play.
Durability & costs: High-quality tournament balls cost more, but usually retain their properties for longer. For training and frequent play, value for money and durable felt are often decisive.
If you are just starting out with tennis or play occasionally, balls that allow you to play safely and not overstrain yourself are ideal. Why?
Speed and tempo are reduced, you have more time to execute the stroke correctly.
The ball usually bounces more evenly, which helps with technique development.
During training, a softer or moderately pressure-reduced tennis ball puts less strain on your body - especially your wrists and shoulders.
Recommended models:
Training tennis balls from Tennis-Point: These are particularly suitable for regular training and club play. They combine price, durability and a solid feel.
Balls Unlimited Code Planet: A sustainable all-round tennis ball that delivers good quality and can be a more environmentally friendly choice. Ideal if you play frequently and use balls for more than just a short time.
What you should look out for as a beginner:
Age of the ball: A new tennis ball is more lively.
Damping of the serve: How hard does the tennis ball hit your racket? If you have the feeling that you are constantly having to "follow through", the ball may be too fast.
Surface: A fast ball can be more difficult to control on hard courts than on clay or grass.
The right equipment is particularly important for young players, because:
They are in physical development - appropriate ball pressure and ball size protect joints and enable clean technique.
They have smaller bodies and shorter hitting distances, so reduced playing fields and slower balls (play & stay) are ideal. This makes it easier to experience success early on, which provides motivation.
The Play & Stay Program of the ITF is designed to do just that:
Stage 3 / Red: Age group 6-8 years, small pitch, red balls, approx. 75% pressure-reduced.
Stage 2 / Orange: For approx. 8-10 year olds, midcourt, orange balls, ~ 50 % slower than the standard yellow ball.
Stage 1 / Green: For children who already have more experience and play on more space, but not yet with a full speed yellow ball. About 25 % reduced pressure.
Play & Stay balls from Tennis-Point: These are available in red / orange / green and are certified according to international standards.
For children's tennis balls, look for softer felt, significantly reduced pressure and suitable court sizes.
If you train regularly and have already developed good technique, you need a ball that:
performs consistently on different surfaces,
Both speed and spin are allowed without the ball becoming too fast,
retains its bounce and felt quality for as long as possible, even during intensive training sessions.
Important criteria:
Pressure stability, so that the ball still reacts as expected even after several sets.
Uniform felt so that the flight behavior does not vary too much.
Good brand quality, as even small differences are often noticeable here.
Tennis-Point Premium balls: High-quality pressure balls that are ideal for ambitious play and frequent training. They offer a good balance between bounce, control and durability.
Different standards apply for tournaments and competitive sport:
Precision: The tennis ball must correspond exactly to the official ITF specifications - bounce height, size, weight.
Consistency: Every ball in every match and across all rallies should behave similarly - especially in important moments such as serve, return and breaks.
Visibility & standards: The ball must be clearly visible on the surface and comply with official tennis ball standards (e.g. for Grand Slams, ATP/WTA).
Fast speed: Tournament balls are often quieter in the felt and faster on rebound - especially on hard courts.
Wilson US Open Ball A classic among tournament balls. Official ball of the US Open, ideal for hard courts, with high precision and performance in competition.
Recommended tennis balls: Training balls from Tennis-Point
Control over speed, more pleasant feedback, easy entry
Recommended tennis balls: Balls Unlimited Code Planet
All-rounder, good quality, often durable felt, solid price-performance ratio
Recommended tennis balls: Play & Stay balls
Reduced pressure (stages), small playing fields, promotion of technique, fun to play
Recommended tennis balls: Tennis-Point Premium Balls
Versatile on different surfaces, good bounce & control, for more intensive training sessions
Recommended tennis balls: Wilson US Open & other ITF-approved tournament balls
Requirements for control, speed, uniformity and performance
What counts in the end: Your feel for the game, your type of player and how often and where you play. Tennis-Point offers a wide range from training balls to tournament balls, including Play & Stay balls for children, premium all-rounder models and top-class competition balls. Take a look at our selection, test it out and find the tennis ball that will take your tennis to the next level.
You don't like the product you ordered or the fit and size are incorrect? No problem. You have a legal right to cancel your contract before delivery and up to 7 working days after delivery. Furthermore we promise you our Tennis-Point has extended this to a total of 30 days after delivery! If you want to return goods please e-mail us or write us. We will advise you what to do and refund you, including the original postage charges, within 30 days. You do not have to give any reason for cancellation. However, a brief explanation will help us to improve our service in the future. If you cancel, you must return the goods at your own expense. In this case, you are also responsible for the risk of loss or damage, therefore we recommed a postal insurance to cover the value.
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