Tennis balls for beginners

Learn which tennis ball is best for tennis beginners

Tennis balls for beginners

Every tennis player needs his own tennis balls. In training, these are usually provided by the coach, but as a motivated tennis beginners own tennis balls to play tennis may not be missing in addition to the regular training sessions.

If tennis beginners choose the right tennis ball for their playing strength, this increases the sense of achievement when learning tennis enormously. At the same time, the fun factor also increases, since a first ball exchange occurs much more frequently and the tennis ball does not have to be picked up again after a stroke.

We recommend that you choose tennis balls according to your personal playing strength. In the beginning, slow tennis balls that do not bounce too high are the best choice. When you feel confident, move on to the next tennis ball – until you reach the normal tennis ball.

In the following we will show you the different types of balls, their application and costs – enjoy reading.

1. Tennis ball introduction

While in the founding days of the sport of tennis, tennis was initially played with cork or leather balls, today a number of requirements are placed on the tennis ball by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), which must be met for official approval.

Due to the better contrast for the TV viewers at home, only yellow or white tennis balls are allowed. At the same time, the tennis ball must be a uniform structure and shape with a diameter of 2.57 to 2.70 inches. The weight of a normal size tennis ball must be between 2 and 2 1/16 ounces.

There are other requirements for the tennis ball, but we can reassure you, because today you can find in stores only tennis balls that meet the relevant requirements.

2. Types of tennis balls

Basically, a distinction is made between three different types of tennis balls. Each type of ball has a reason for existing and is aimed at a specific target group.

a) Foam tennis balls

Foam tennis balls are ideal for young children and tennis beginners. When playing tennis for the first time, success can already be achieved here in the form of first rallies, which significantly increases the motivation of all participants.

b) Pressureless and pressure-reduced tennis balls

Pressureless or pressure-reduced tennis balls are very popular training balls, as they last longer than gas-filled tennis balls and at the same time provide a very pleasant feel. Often known as method balls, pressure-reduced tennis balls come in different sizes and pressure types, so you can slowly work your way up to gas-filled tennis balls.

c) Normal gas-filled tennis balls

Gas-filled tennis balls are used in all tournaments because of their ideal bounce characteristics. However, they last much less long than pressureless or pressure-reduced tennis balls. Over time, the gas escapes through the thin rubber cover, so that the tennis ball no longer bounces as usual. While tennis professionals change the air-tight packed gas-filled tennis balls about every hour, the tennis ball lasts between days, weeks and months for advanced tennis players, depending on their own stroke hardness.

3. Buy the right tennis balls

Below are the different tennis balls with the corresponding target group.

a) Foam tennis balls

Tennis balls made of foam are larger and softer than normal tennis balls and therefore much easier to control, as they cannot be hit that far. The foam tennis ball is therefore particularly suitable for T-field tennis and therefore for children aged 3-5 years. The tennis balls made of foam are available for purchase in packs of 3.

Tennis beginners who already have ball feeling from another sport can start tennis with Methodical balls.

b) Methodical ball – Stage 3

Tennis Stage 3 method balls are larger and have 75% less pressure than normal tennis balls and therefore travel at a slower speed. For tennis beginners, the Stage 3 Methodical ball is therefore the ideal ball for successful rallies. The Stage 3 Methodical balls are also available in a pack of 3.

If you are a tennis beginner and already have some experience with backstroke play, e.g. squash, or if you already have controlled rallies with the Stage 3 Methodical balls, you can switch to the Methodical ball Stage 2.

c) Methodical ball – Stage 2

Tennis Stage 2 Methodical balls are the same size and 50% less pressure than normal tennis balls and therefore travel at a slower speed. A wrong hit point of the ball will not be forgiven as easily as with the larger Stage 3 Methodical balls, but the tennis balls can already be played over the whole court. The Stage 2 Methodical balls are also already available to buy in packs of 3.

If you are a tennis beginner and can already play controlled rallies with the Stage 2 Methodical balls, you can switch to the Stage 1 Methodical ball.

d) Methodical ball – Stage 1

Tennis Stage 1 method balls are the same size and 20% less pressure than normal tennis balls and therefore ideal for beginners with playing experience. From the baseline, great rallies are already achieved after a short time, because the ball control is still noticeable compared to normal tennis balls. The Stage 1 Methodical balls are available in a 4-pack.

If you are a tennis beginner and you already have controlled rallies with the Stage 1 Methodical balls, you can switch to the normal tennis ball.

e) Normal gas filled tennis balls

It should be the goal of every tennis beginner to play with the normal tennis balls. You have to get used to the higher weight and the unusual flight curve of the tennis ball in the beginning. Normal tennis balls are wearing articles, because the pressure of the ball is lost over time. Tennis pros change balls every hour, but as a tennis beginner, normal tennis balls last several weeks. Normal tennis balls for training are usually available for purchase in packs of 4.

4. Tennis ball cost

The production of gas-filled tennis balls is more costly than pressureless tennis balls, which also results in an increased price point per tennis ball. The minimum purchase quantity is normally 3-4 tennis balls in a can.

Below is an approximate cost estimate per tennis ball and purchase quantity:

– Foam tennis balls: 4.00-5.00 dollar per ball.

– Methodical tennis balls – from Stage 3 to Stage 1: 2.00-4.00 dollar per ball

– Normal gas filled tennis balls: 3.00-4.00 dollar per ball

We recommend advanced tennis players to buy tennis balls in larger quantities, so that on the one hand there are always enough good playing balls available and on the other hand larger quantities of balls, e.g. in a box of 72, can be purchased at reduced prices.

5. Summary and conclusion

To make it easier to start your successful tennis career and especially to increase the fun factor from stroke 1, we recommend starting with slower and not so high bouncing tennis balls and increasing slowly. This way you can play exciting rallies right at the beginning and have a steep learning curve.

Purchase tennis balls in larger quantities to reduce the cost per tennis ball. Overall, the costs vary from about 2.00 to 5.00 dollar per tennis ball.

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