Regular-duty tennis balls are ideal for gameplay on soft clay and indoor courts. The thinner felt of regular-duty tennis balls makes them absorb less clay on impact, but it also means they won’t last as long if you play with them on hard courts.
Moreover, do you use different tennis balls on clay?
The various types of tennis court surfaces – clay, hard or grass — requires the player to use a different ball for each. It is important that the player know which type of surface they will play in order to use the proper ball. The first ball is made of regular-duty felt and it is designed primarily for clay courts.
In respect to this, what is the difference between regular-duty and extra duty tennis balls?
Hi Margaret, the difference is extra duty is a much thicker felt and is designed for hardcourt play. Regular duty can also be played on Hardcourts but is versatile enough to be played on clay courts. Extra duty will last a tad longer than the regular balls will on a hardcourt.
Are Wilson or Penn balls better?
Ratkovich, of Penn, said Penn ATP World Tour and Pro Penn Marathon balls had a higher grade of felt and a stronger rubber core for players with more power and spin. They cost more but last longer. … Wilson’s extra-duty tennis balls, introduced in 1960, are the ball of choice for most hardcourt play.
What tennis balls are used at French Open?
Wilson balls will be used for the second year at the French Open 2021. Prior to the use of Wilson balls, the tournament was conducted using balls made by Babolat. It was a trusted product, and as it was designed ideal for conditions on a clay court, players did not complain.
What is the difference between clay court tennis balls and hard court tennis balls?
As you might guess, tennis balls travel slower on clay courts than they do on hard courts or on grass. The clay absorbs the impact of the ball more readily. … Their felt covering is thicker and they have more fuzz on them, allowing them to be used longer on hard courts.
How long do extra duty tennis balls last?
So how long do tennis balls really last? Tennis balls will go bad after about 2 weeks or 3-4 playing sessions. Unopened tennis balls are kept in a pressurized tube to help them retain bounciness and firmness, but even those will expire after two years (due to very tiny leaks).
What does clay do to a tennis ball?
Clay is the slowest surface of the three, meaning it slows down the speed of the tennis ball and generates a higher bounce. It’s most effective for baseline players and those who use a lot of spin on the ball. Clay courts hinder big-hitters who rely on speed to beat their opponents.
What does extra duty tennis ball mean?
Developed for hard, abrasive court surfaces, Extra Duty tennis balls have a thicker felt woven a bit looser around the core to withstand shearing. That means that the felt on these balls are less likely to fluff up as they are played.
What is the difference between clay and hard courts?
Hard surface courts have lower energy absorption than clay courts, making the tennis ball bounce higher and move faster. Hard courts are an all-around court, which makes them ideal for most types of tennis players.
What do the numbers on the tennis balls mean?
A common myth among players is that the printed numbers on the tennis balls indicate their bounciness. However, there is neither a special code nor a meaning related to these numbers. … When you say “Penn 4!” to the people playing on the next court, they will be able to return the right tennis ball that you own.