The Skinny on Tennis Balls

Cardinal sin No. 1 in tennis: Starting a match with old balls. You see it all the time: Players dig through their racquet bag and pull out whatever ratty yellow orbs they can find. It’s the surest way to ruin the enjoyment of a good hit.

You should pop open a new can each time you play to make sure that you’re getting the truest and most consistent bounce.

When buying balls, there is one consideration you need to make: the type of felt. If you’re playing on hard courts, you should buy balls for that surface. You’ll see the designation on the can. It’ll also say “Extra Duty” in reference to the felt, which is designed to hold up on hard courts.

If you’re playing on clay, look for cans that say “Regular Duty” felt—they’re designed to not fluff up on the dirt, so that the ball won’t become too caked up with clay as the match goes on.