The Tennis Ball's Evolution

Have you ever wondered how a modern tennis ball came to be?  The sport of tennis can be traced back to the French game “Jeu de

” from the 12th Century, where players used their palms to hit a ball over a net or against a wall.  But what about the ball?

The original tennis balls were made of wood.  Over time, the ball evolved from materials made of cork with tightly wound fabric and hand-sewn wool cloth[1] to leather with sawdust added inside to provide extra bounce, and eventually to balls stuffed with wool and a twine core[2].  The most significant improvement in tennis balls came in 1844 with the invention of vulcanized rubber by Charles Goodyear.  With Goodyear’s invention, a German group developed a lightly vulcanized process that created air-filled rubber balls, which were either grey or red.   

The next significant advancement was made in 1882 by Welsh inventor Walter Winfield, who promoted tennis balls featuring covers made of durable white cloth.

In the 1920’s tennis balls were pressurized for greater bounce and faster speed.  However, this advancement did nothing to prolong their life, as they were sold in bags or cardboard boxes.

In 1926, the Pennsylvania Rubber Company, later known as PENN, invented an airtight, cylindrical metal tube that held three balls with a key to open on top.  At the same time, the Wilson-Western Sporting Goods Company, now known as Wilson Sporting Goods, offered its version of this new “tennis ball can.”

In 1941, during World War II, wartime rubber priorities stopped the production of new tennis balls being made from rubber.  This led to the creation of the “Victory ball,” made of reclaimed and synthetic rubber.  Up until then, tennis balls were created with a “white” seam and were primarily white.  Victory balls had black seams and were more expensive to produce.

Wimbledon was the 1st tennis tournament to be televised in 1937.  In the early days of broadcasting in black and white, it was difficult to keep track of the ball due to the contrast with early televisions (TVs).  As time passed and color TVs gained popularity, it was still tough to keep track of the white tennis ball on the screen.  In 1967, Sir David Attenborough of England introduced and suggested replacing the traditional “white” tennis ball with a “fluorescent yellow” ball for improved visibility on screen.  This suggestion led to the standardization of “optic yellow” in 1972 by the International Tennis Federation.  Ironically, Wimbledon continued to use white balls until 1986. 

Types of Balls: What’s the Difference?

Although most tennis balls evolved from the original wooden balls from France, there are several different types of tennis balls in use today.

Pressurized Balls – most commonly used for competitive and recreational play.  Pressurized balls have air sealed inside, giving it a consistent, lively bounce.  They are packed in pressurized cans to maintain internal pressure.  Their only drawback is that they lose their bounce after a few hours of play.

Pressureless Balls – These balls don’t rely on internal air pressure; instead, they are made of thicker rubber for a longer-lasting bounce.  They are good for practice use, ball machines, and recreational players.  They get bouncier over time as the outer felt wears down.

Regular Duty Balls – these are designed for indoor court or clay courts.  They have a thinner felt that doesn’t pick up as much dirt.  They are not well-suited for hard courts, as they wear out quickly.

Extra Duty Balls – these are designed with thicker, more durable felt where abrasive surfaces are more likely to wear the balls down faster.  They tend to feel a little heavier on clay or indoor courts.

High Altitude Balls – these balls have lower pressure for elevations above 4,000 feet.  Regular balls will bound too high due to the thinner air.  They are not recommended for sea-level locations and will bounce flat.

Beginner and Junior Tennis Balls

To help new players learn proper tennis technique and control, lower-compression balls are designed to bounce slower and lower, making the game more accessible and fun.

Red Dot Balls – these are designed for players aged 4-8 years.  They are 75% slower than regular balls, are larger, softer, and have a lower bounce.  They are best suited for 36-foot courts, such as those used in the 10-Under programs of the USTA.

Orange Dot Balls – designed for players aged 8-10 years.  They are 50% slower than regular balls and are slightly smaller and firmer than red dot-balls.  They are best suited for players developing full strokes and court movement.

Greed Dot Balls – these are designed for junior players aged 9 – 12 years and beginning adults.  They are 25% slower than standard balls, are the same size as standard balls, but with lower compression.  These are best suited for juniors transitioning to standard play and for adults new to the game.

Today, there are more than 200 different brands of tennis balls.  Penn balls and Wilson balls are still the most widely recognized and used tennis balls in the industry.  Additionally, you may have seen other popular brands, such as Dunlop, Gamma, Head, Prince, Slazenger, Tecnifibre, Babolat, and Tretorn.

There is continued innovation in tennis balls, from the eco-friendly felt of the new Wilson Triniti to the ReCycleBalls & ReTour Programs in the US, to the introduction of pro-grade pressureless balls.  As tennis continues to grow globally and become more environmentally conscious, tennis ball manufacturers will focus on developing sustainable, long-lasting products that utilize data-integrated technology.

[1]https://www.tennisplayer.net/public/notes_on_tour/rocky_lang/the_history_of_tennis_balls/?public=true

[2]https://www.merchantoftennis.com/blogs/tennis-balls/the-evolution-of-the-tennis-ball?srsltid=AfmBOorQ_HdNwtYXtDoQIU6F0YEH2d5Npx9zDIv31WpTsrdoziR8Nru0