Best Tennis Balls

What are the Top Tennis Ball Brands?

Someone might ask, is there a specific type of ball that you should take with you to the court or you can use any round object? The most common answer to that question has always been that it all depends on your preference.

But really, it has to satisfy certain criteria if it is going to be useful. The only exception is when you want a ball that you will merely use for practice and not serious games. 

Talking of criteria, you ought to consider certain factors such as the durability, the bounce, weight, size, branding and such. Even better, you might want to check if they are approved by regulatory bodies like ITF and the USTA.

There are several balls in the market that have met these regulations. That ideally makes it an arduous task to find the right type for you. It is in that regard that we took it upon ourselves and did an in-depth research to identify the best brands in the market.

The review was done based on the factors that we have mentioned above. Below is a list of the top 7 brands we identified. We hope that you will find it helpful.

1. Wilson US Open

The top pick and the best in overall performance is the Wilson US Open ball. Like most of the tennis balls, it features a yellow color and is thus pretty much visible at all times. The package will consist of 3 total balls.

As far as durability is concerned, Wilson never disappoints. The balls have been designed in both the regular as well as extra duty models, such that they can be used even on courts with rough surfaces.

Besides, the ball also has a great bounce that is also consistent. That is necessary for an effective game. 

You will be pleased to know that they have been tested and approved by both the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Besides training, you can still use them for official games.

Just so you know, Wilson is the brand that is officially used by the U.S Open. All these are indicators that the ball will be worth the value of your money. Regardless of your experience level, you can give it a shot.

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2. Penn Championship

Next, we have the Penn Championship tennis ball. This is the go-to option for those who are looking for cheap balls that can still do the trick. They are pretty much affordable, costing less than 20 US dollars.

To start us off, we would like to note that the ball has been approved by the regulatory bodies. That means they meet all the criteria pertaining to weight, size and durability and can thus be used for official games.

In fact, this is the brand that is used for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) games.

Just like the first pick, this ball comes in two versions. We have the heavy duty one that is meant for outdoor courts built with rough surfaces. We also have the soft versions that can be used for other court surfaces like grass or clay.

Also, they have been made from a durable material and they feature a great bounce. 

On the downside, however, Penn Championship can only be used for a single game. They also don’t retain pressure so well.

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3. Pro Penn Marathon

Having been approved by the United States Tennis Association and the International Tennis federation, this is another brand that you might consider for those serious games and leagues.

The balls have been designed using the Encore Technological innovation which ensures that they have what it takes to persevere matches that go on for hours on end. The play duration can be improved by up to 22%.

Even after taking them out of the can, you don’t have to worry over their performance. They will still be in a position to bounce evenly for many days. Plus, they have been designed using a quality material to enhance their longevity.

As for the variety, this company manufactures both the regular as well as the heavy duty version. The former can be used for soft court surfaces while the latter is best for rough outdoor court surfaces.

The other feature that is worth mentioning is the fact that the balls come in an exceptionally bright color for perfect visibility.

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4. Dunlop Grand prix

Although not as popular among players as the other brands that we have already considered in this review, Dunlop Grand Prix is another high performance tennis ball that we came across.

That can be show by the fact that the brand has been approved by the International Tennis Federation and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) just like the other models.

Getting into the features, this ball has the best composition. The outer rubber used is a blend of 14 strong materials that give it longevity and extreme durability. Plus, it has a touch of woven felt that has been used for the finishing.

It will be able to stand the test of time.

Furthermore, Dunlop Grand Prix also comes in 2 separate versions. We have the heavy duty version meant for rough outdoor courts. We also have the regular model that can be used for regular courts like grass and clay courts.

As for visibility, it features a bright yellow color that cannot escape anybody’s eyes. You might want to try them for your leagues and matches.

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5. Wilson Championship

Wilson managed to sneak its way yet again to the top 5 tennis balls. But as we stated, the reviews are based on individual features and as such, this particular version has all it takes to rank here.

For starters, they come in two separate models to suit your preference. If you are used to playing on grass or clay courts, we have the soft version that has been designed specifically for that purpose.

We also have the high duty version for players accustomed to rough surface courts. Whichever you prefer, you will find an option.

Moving on, the manufacturing process has met all the regulatory requirements and has thus been approved for use in major matches and leagues.

The durability of Wilson products can never come into question. These championship balls have been designed using a special technology called Duraweave to see to it that they serve you for some days.

However, they might lose the pressure a bit faster than other models.

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6. Penn Tour 

Just like Wilson, Penn has created a name for itself. Their reputation usually precedes them in all their products. It is for that reason that they tend to be very popular among tennis players, and why they have managed to feature in our top 7 list thrice.

As far as quality is concerned, this ball meets all the requirements needed. As such, it is widely used by most of the professional tennis players and in many official tournaments across the United States. 

Are you wondering what is outstanding when it comes to these Penn Tour balls? Well, here is your answer. 

The balls have been designed using a quality felt such that they are able to withstand considerable wear and tear. That contributes significantly to their durability. Further, the outer part has also been made from quality rubber for longevity.

Just like the other Penn versions, this Penn Tour incorporates the Smart Optik technological construction which is intended to improve the ball’s visibility.

You will also love to know that the ball costs less than 20 US dollars and is approved by both IFA and USTA.

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7. Wilson Prime 

Just when you thought there were no more Wilson brands to come, we introduce the Wilson Prime tennis ball. This one has been carefully crafted to see to it that it does not pose any environmental risks or dangers.

The performance is on another level. The ball has been designed from a combination of the STR and Engage core technological advancements. These ensure that the balls are strong enough to withstand intense activities.

For that reason, the balls are best suited for all types of courts whether they are rough, soft, grass or clay. They can be used for several games before you replace them, and that makes them economical.

Plus, they are able to retain the pressure for longer durations after being taken out of the can. Wilson Prime has been approved by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

However, the brand is pretty much expensive so you will have to fork out some dollars. That should not be a setback since it is worth the price. 

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How many types of tennis balls do we have? 

Just as it has been implied from the above review, there are several types of tennis balls that you are likely to come across in the market. So far, we have alluded to the regular duty balls as well as the extra duty ones.

However, the list does not end there. We have several other types each grouped according to specific thematic areas. For instance they will vary depending on the age of the player. Are you a kid or an adult?

We can also group the balls depending with the type experience level of the player. Are you a beginner or an advanced player? The other categories include pressurized balls, training balls, and high altitude balls.

High altitude balls 

Just as the name suggests, these types of balls are made for high altitude areas – that is areas situated 3 500 feet above the sea level. Why do such areas need separate balls? Or rather, what makes these balls different from the rest?

Here is the logic. High altitude balls have cores that have not been pressurized. As such, they will not bounce too fast and neither will they bounce too high up. That would affect your ability to effectively play.

Thus, always avoid the normal balls at all costs if you are going to a court that is found in a mountainous area. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

What is even better with these balls is that they have been designed such that they can be used in whichever court surface you will be using. 

Regular balls

It is much easier to understand these types of balls. As you can see from the name, they can be used on regular surfaces. In some cases, you will hear people referring to them as soft court tennis balls. 

Perhaps, the question that comes to mind is what we mean by regular surfaces. 

Regular or normal surfaces include grass courts. Likewise, if you intend to be playing from home, this is the perfect tennis ball for you. 

The balls have also been specially designed to be used in clay courts. Owing to the fact that regular balls have been constructed using a thin coating, it is almost impossible to use them on rough surfaces.

While you can ignore that, they will not last at all in harder surfaces.

Extra duty balls 

These ones are the exact opposite of the regular duty balls. The main difference lies in the way they have been constructed. They boast a thick fiber coating that is much stronger and able to take in more intense activities.

This naturally means that the balls can be used on rough court surfaces. Although they won’t be able to withstand the intensity for many weeks, they are still in a position to retain the pressure for several games.

All-court balls

These ones are just on the borderline. They are not bad for soft courts. They are also not bad for rough courts. As such, the scale can tilt either way. Who should buy this type of tennis balls? 

They are best recommended for players who keep shifting within the different types of courts – grass, clay, and rough/ hard. You don’t have to buy a separate ball for your grass court and a separate one for the hard court.

The effect, thus, is that they become extremely economical.

Non-pressurized balls

These types of balls come with no pressure – the cans in which they are packed are not pressurized. Under normal circumstances, these wouldn’t be the best balls to take to the court. They will not have an even and consistent bounce.

Also, their speed will not be reliable. So why then take the risk?

Well, it can be worth the risk in some cases. This is especially so if you don’t play as much. That means that you are not serious with tennis and you only play for fun. 

Although they are not pressurized, they last for longer periods since they don’t become flat. So, you will not have to replace them time and again.

Training balls 

Based on your level of experience, you might want to go for either training balls or advanced balls. The difference is fundamental. While the former have been designed so that they don’t bounce as high, the latter have a great bounce.

Also, training balls have less speed as compared to advanced player balls. The reason behind it is that training balls are meant either for beginners or small kids. They are not accustomed to the game, and they may not be in a position to react as fast. 

You always start from somewhere then go all the way up. The material used in the two types is also very different, as are the colors.

Factors to consider when buying a tennis ball; a buyer’s guide 

Now that you know the best models that are available in the market and you also know the type of ball to go for, the only other thing remaining is the buying guide. What are some of the features that you should consider when buying a tennis ball? 

You cannot simply buy any brand just because it is on our top 7 list. You have to consider the individual features, such as the type of court you will be playing in. In this section we will take you through some of those factors.

Consider going through it before taking the next step.

The durability 

Regardless of the type of ball you are buying, you always have to make sure that it is of a great quality. That means that it is in a position to withstand intense activities and experience minimum wear and tear.

You should not go for a ball that can only be used for a single game as that means you will end up spending so much money in the long run. It should be able to last for a few weeks before you can replace it.

If you are buying the balls online, it might be a bit difficult to tell whether they are of quality. You should therefore consider going through the customer reviews in the site where you are making the purchase.

The price

Depending on the brand name and the quality, tennis balls will always have varying prices. So you want to go for that which has a reasonable price while also considering your budget.

To make sure that you are not overspending, set the price range within which you want to operate. You can then consider the models falling within that range and consider their individual features. 

Settle for that which has the best performance for the lowest price.

Approval

If you want to buy a ball that you can use for professional matches and leagues, then it is very important that they be approved. 

By that, we mean that they should have been tested and endorsed by various regulatory bodies such as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Balls that have met the required regulations will be in the right size and weight. They will also have the right bounce (even and consistent bounce). Finally, they will have the right rebound and durability.

Invest your money wisely.

Conclusion

The tennis balls you use, just like the racquet, will affect your ability to be your best while in the court. That is why you should not settle for just any round ball that has some felt.

What that means is that you will have to do a lot of research and comprehensive review to find out the best brand in the market. One of the ways you could use is going through the buying guides that are available online.

Also, you could engage the numerous customer reviews available in whichever platform you will be making your purchase.

But why go through all the trouble?

After carrying out an extensive review, we can confidently recommend the Wilson US Open brand.

The balls have been manufactured in the regular and extra duty models such that you can settle for the one that works with your type of court. They also feature great durability that will survive for days.

As for the performance, they can bounce evenly and consistently so you don’t have to worry about that. 

Perhaps, the most important thing is that they have been tested and approved by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Get yourself Wilson US Open for an exciting game.