Best Tennis Balls for All Types of Players

Last Updated on March 3, 2020 by Jake

There is a lot to consider when getting a tennis ball. Your level as a player is important, so is the type of court you will be playing on. Whether you are a pro or an amateur, the responsiveness of the tennis ball can change how well you play, master and enjoy the game.

 

Before we jump into the best tennis balls of 2020, let us examine the factors to consider when getting the best tennis balls.

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Best Tennis Balls – Factors To Consider

 

Choosing the best tennis balls isn’t as hard as some would lead you to believe. As far as you consider these factors, you should be able to choose the right ball every time.

 

Beginners’ Level

 

Depending on your level, you may want to get a stage 3 ball, a stage 2 ball or a stage 1 ball. This depends on whether you are a beginner, intermediate or an excellent player. This color-coding is to guide both hobbyists and beginners.

 

Stage 3 (Red balls) – These are the slowest balls and are designed for first-timers and beginners. They are also ideal for the young ones.

 

Stage 2 (Orange balls) – These offer moderate speed and are best for improving players.

 

Stage 1 (Green balls) – If you are confident in your abilities as a player then the green balls are the balls for you.

 

In addition to these colors, most balls are yellow. This is to allow for high visibility. Even in poor lighting, yellow balls are easy to track.

 

Playing Court Type

 

The court you play on may be a hard court, indoor court or a clay court. The court may even be at a high altitude, well there are balls specifically designed for each of these conditions.

 

Hard courts – For hard courts, it is best to go with extra duty tennis balls. The extra felt on the balls ensure they withstand rough play on hard surfaces. These balls are made tougher and stronger than regular duty balls.

 

Clay/indoor courts – For clay courts, extra duty balls are not ideal. Regular duty balls are best. They don’t pick up dirt and clay which would not only slow down the ball but also influence its movement.

 

High altitude courts – At high altitudes (4000 feet or more above sea level), regular balls won’t cut it. It is important to get a high altitude tennis ball. Regular balls will travel faster and bounce higher at high altitude which would ruin anybody’s game. High altitude balls address these concerns.

 

Pressurized Or Not

 

A ball may be pressurized or not. This influences the way it bounces. The pressurized air in the pressurized balls allows them to bounce, move and spin faster. Non-pressurized balls, however, rely on rubber shells to provide the needed bounce and spin.

 

While pressurized balls provide more bounce, spin, and speed, they need to be replaced frequently as the bounce deteriorates over time. Non-pressurized balls don’t lose their bounce with time.

 

Pressurized balls are favored by pros and are used in competitive tournament games.

 

Practice Balls

 

If you’re practicing with your tennis ball machine, you might want to look for something that’s durable but maybe a little more affordable.  There are a lot of tennis balls that are quite well suited for practice.

 

Price

Another important factor to consider is the price. This, however, is determined by the brand name and type of ball. Professional level balls, such as Wilson and Penn, cost much more than championship and recreational level balls.

 

If you plan on playing for fun, then there is no need for a professional level ball. Also regardless of the price ensure you buy from trusted manufacturers.

 

Best Tennis Balls Reviews

Penn Championship Tennis Balls

 

 

Editor Rating: 4.9/5

Level: Championship

 

The first balls on review are the Penn championship balls. Penn Championship balls are among the best balls in the world. Penn produces many types of balls including heavy-duty balls, regular duty balls, and high altitude balls. The company boasts of producing America’s #1 selling ball which is a claim that is hard to argue with.

 

Penn Championship balls are known for their controlled fiber release which ensures that both spin and speed are consistent during serves and volleys. Also, the balls are made from natural rubber which reduces shock and provides consistent feel. The balls’ deep elastic seams also ensure that cracking is minimal. Additionally, the interlocked wool fiber construction ensures lasting durability.

 

The Penn Championship balls are also the official ball of the USTA Leagues. As such, you are guaranteed a high-level performance and consistency.

 

– Regular Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls

 

These are designed for soft clay courts. Using these balls on hard courts is not advisable. However, for soft courts, these are arguably the best balls on the market.

 

Penn Championship Tennis Balls – Extra Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls

 

If you plan to play on hard courts, then the extra duty balls are best suited for the job. Avoid getting regular duty balls for hard court matches.

 

Penn Championship High Altitude Tennis Balls – Extra Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls

 

These balls are best for tennis matches at altitudes of 4000 feet or more. They are designed to provide the right bounce, spin and speed for matches at that altitude.

 

Penn Pink Championship Tennis Balls

 

These allow you to donate to breast cancer research. Because for every can, Penn donates $.15 to breast cancer research. They are available in regular duty, extra-duty high altitude and extra-duty felt. Apart from their pink coloration (and philanthropic mission), they are no different from the balls already mentioned.

 

Wilson US Open Tennis Ball

 

 

Editor Rating: 4.9/5

Level: Performance/Pro

 

Wilson is one of the most trusted names in the world of tennis. This company produces the very best professional-level balls and the Wilson US Open tennis balls are no exception. These balls have been the official ball of the US Open since 1978.

 

These professional-grade balls are perfect for anyone who wishes to play at a professional level. They are also great for tournaments. Of course, as the official US Open balls (as well as the Australian Open Grand Slam), they are USTA and ITF approved.

 

The balls’ durable felt is created exclusively by Tex Tech Industries and is one of the best in the world. This allows for lasting durability and premium performance.

 

As one of the highest quality balls, Wilson US Open balls are expectantly more expensive than standard tennis balls. However, if you want a pro-level ball, then you have to pay extra.

 

There are three variants to the Wilson US Open balls. These include Regular Duty, Extra Duty, and High Altitude.

 

Wilson US Open Heavy Duty Tennis Ball

 

If you play on a hard court, then heavy-duty balls are a must. Theses are designed to perform at an optimal level for long periods on hard surfaces.

 

Wilson US Open Regular Duty Tennis Ball

 

These are designed for indoor, clay and grass courts. As they are made with regular duty felt, they are not ideal for hard court, and won’t last when used on them. As official US open balls, they are among the very best.  Each can contain 3 balls.

 

Wilson US Open High Altitude Tennis Ball

These are designed for elevations of 3500 feet above sea level or more. Using regular balls at high altitudes produces higher bounce than expected. High altitude balls ensure you play the game as it’s meant to and is a must for any serious player who trains/plays at a high altitude.

 

Penn ATP Tennis Balls

 

 

Editor Rating: 4.8/5

Level: Performance/Pro

 

Penn ATP balls are on the same level as the Wilson US Open balls. As such, they may not be the most affordable but they offer excellent performance and consistency. As with performance balls, they are extremely accurate and are excellent for fiery precision serves. They offer more bounce and snap.

 

The Penn ATP tennis ball is the official ball of the ATP Tennis Masters Series. As such, it is the number one ball of choice for major tournaments and professionals all over the world. With this ball, you are assured of long plays and consistency.

 

The balls are made from technical grade rubber core for a precise bounce and a smart Optik felt fabric (which is 19% more visible than standard tennis ball felt). The ball is USTA and ITF approved. Of course, the ball is pressurized.

 

The price for these Penn balls is very competitive, which can be surprising. Due to the price, the Penn ATP balls are versatile and can be used for practice, recreational games, and tournaments.

 

There are three variants available which are the regular duty, extra duty, and high altitude. As you may already know, this dictates the type of court you can use the balls on. Regular duty balls are best for soft courts such as grass, clay, and indoor courts.

 

Extra duty balls are best for hard courts but also performs admirably on grass and indoor courts. High altitude balls are best for courts situated in places that are 4000 feet or more above sea level.

 

Penn ATP World Tour Regular Duty Tennis Balls

 

Penn ATP World Tour Extra Duty Tennis Balls

 

Penn ATP World Tour Extra Duty High Altitude Tennis Balls

 

Wilson Championship Tennis Balls

 

 

Editor Rating: 4.8/5

Level: Championship

 

Not everyone needs performance balls. For most recreational and tournament games, championship balls are excellent. If you want a less affordable ball to play with which also performs consistently at a high level, then look no further.

 

The Wilson Championship balls are among the best recreational and championship level balls you can find. As a high-quality ball, Wilson Championship balls are pressurized, and they maintain their firmness for a long duration.

 

These balls come in two variations – extra duty and regular duty.

 

Wilson Championship Regular Duty Tennis Balls

 

These are best for grass, clay and indoor courts. While they can be used on hard courts, they go flat faster. However, they are much more affordable than extra duty balls.

 

Wilson Championship Extra Duty Tennis Balls

 

If you play on a hard court, then getting the extra duty balls will provide better performance overall. Extra duty balls also work well on grass and indoor courts. They are more expensive than regular duty balls.

 

Penn Control Plus Tennis Balls

 

 

Editor Rating: 4.7/5

Level: Recreational/Beginner

 

If you want a beginner or a ball to teach children with, then the Penn Control Plus balls are the best on the market. If you want an affordable yet excellent ball to play a friendly game, then grab a can or pouch of these tennis balls. Besides, if you wish to master the basics, then this is the ball to use.

 

These lower compression pressureless balls are slower and offer a controlled bounce, as such players can strike the ball and fire return shots back more easily.  The reduced speed also makes it ideal for playing on a 78′ court. With these balls, you can master proper ball control and they last longer making them excellent for longer rallies and practice.

 

As a beginner’s ball, they follow the color-coding and weight/dimensions specified by the ITF. As such the red Penn Control Plus balls are best suited for absolute beginners. Orange balls are best for intermediate learners, and green balls are best for confident players.

 

Check Price and Reviews On Amazon

 

Best Tennis Balls – Wrap Up

Regardless of your need, there is a perfect ball for you. While skillful hobbyists and pros alike may choose a performance or a championship ball, beginners and recreational players may enjoy beginner balls better.

 

Depending on the court type you play on, you may want regular duty balls, extra duty balls, or even high altitude balls. Getting the right ball can make all the difference.

 

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Last update on 2022-06-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API