If there's something we can all agree on is that tennis can be a superb sport, whether you're taking it up as a hobby or you're an experienced player. And with many of us vowing to exercise more and eat better in the new year, taking up a new sport could be a simple and easy way to work out more. Particularly tennis, as it involves plenty of running and hitting the best tennis balls, making it ideal for developing and maintaining your cardiovascular endurance as well as your overall strength and agility.
If you do take tennis more seriously than other people, you'll need a few high-quality products to give you a competitive edge. From purchasing an excellent pair of tennis shoes to selecting one of the best tennis rackets, these are necessary additions to your tennis gear.
The best tennis balls at a glance:
• Best overall: Dunlop Fort All Court TS - View on Amazon
• Best for competitive matches: Wilson US Open Extra Duty - View on Amazon
• Best for clay courts: BABOLAT Speed Team All Court - View on Decathlon
The type and quality of the tennis ball are also important considerations. A new, good quality tennis ball can allow your serves and hits to go farther. Additionally, depending on what court you play on will determine what time of tennis ball you need.
We've decided to round up the best tennis balls, both for indoor and outdoor courts below. And if you have any questions, check out our FAQs section at the end of the buyer's guide.
SHOP: The best tennis balls for unmatched performance
Please note: All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best overall
DunlopDunlop's tennis balls reputation precedes it, being an incredibly popular choice and widely used by most people. Due to its high bounce ability and heavy-duty weight, it's ideal for clay or hard courts and is an excellent choice for beginners and intermediates. Bounce: High Weight: Heavy
Pros
- Features a HD core
- Pack of three
- Can be used on all surfaces
Cons
- Better for elite tournament play
| Quantity | 3 Balls |
| Colour | Yellow |
| Weight | 27g |
Best for competitive matches
WilsonThese Wilson US Open tennis balls are a fantastic addition to your competitive matches. As the balls are soft and relatively lightweight, it should allow your hits and serves to go further, this also means the ball will be easier to control. Bounce: High Weight: Light
Pros
- Official US open balls, ITF and USTA-certified
- Made of quality wool and durable felt
- Comes with a resealable can for storage and longer durability
Cons
- Better as a match ball
| Quantity | 3 Balls, 4 Balls, 8 Balls |
| Colour | Yellow |
| Weight | 21g |
Best for clay courts
BABOLATwww.decathlon.co.uk
Whilst this ball does discolour faster than other products, it maintains its bounce for quite a while, making it a relatively durable ball. The extra duty felt material means the balls are heavy, but this is excellent for intermediates and professionals as it gives them greater control over the ball. Bounce: High Weight: Heavy
Pros
- High rebound and compression resistance
- Lively ball that delivers more control as it's used
- Great bounce as it's made out of a more flexible rubber
Cons
- Not made to be long-lasting
| Quantity | 4 Balls |
| Colour | Yellow |
| Weight | 58g |
Best for professional level games
DunlopIt may not be the most durable ball but it's ideal for the nine games played at the professional level. It's brilliant for spinning, volleying, and all-in-all it's an easy ball to control. Bounce: High Weight: Medium
Pros
- Features a Durafelt HD cloth
- Ideal for play on all surfaces
- Mid-range ball
Cons
- Some reviews state they only received three balls rather than the advertised four
| Quantity | 4 Balls |
| Colour | Yellow |
| Weight | Unknown |
Best made of Dura-Weave
WilsonThe Wilson Champ tennis balls are like little spheres of sporting magic, ready to bring your game to new heights. And, it's not just their flashy appearance that makes them stand out. It's their performance on the court that truly shines. Designed for extra durability and longevity with Dura-Weave, these tennis balls are built to withstand the toughest serves, volleys and rallies without losing their bounce. Bounce: High. Weight: Light
Pros
- Made of Dura-Weave for longer durability
- Comes with a resealable can for tidier storage
- Ideal for all courts
Cons
- Felt is not as hardwearing on a hard court
| Quantity | 4 Balls |
| Colour | Yellow |
| Weight | 20g |
6.
Dunlop ATP
Best tennis balls used in eight official tournaments in Italy
Dunlopwww.decathlon.co.uk
The Dunlop tennis balls are perfect for ball control and playing on both hard and clay courts. This is because of its low bounce and slow movements - so you can concentrate on your ball control before launching it at your opponent. Plus if you're worried about your ball scuffing after one use, the ball has a HD Pro core and has the backing of eight official tennis tournaments in Italy where they're used. Bounce: Low. Weight: Heavy
Pros
- Slow ball that is soft and comfortable
- Low bounce for better ball control
- The HD Pro core and HD Pro cloth helps with durability
Cons
- The slow ball with low bounce may not be for everyone
| Quantity | 4 Balls |
| Colour | Yellow |
| Weight | 57.5g |
Best value
Artengowww.decathlon.co.uk
The Artengo tennis balls are more than just your average pressureless ones. With their durable quality rubber material and high-quality construction, they offer optimal performance and consistent bounce on a variety of court surfaces. But, note that these balls are ideal for learning to play tennis and for beginners, as they are slower and have better directional control. Bounce: Medium. Weight: Low
Pros
- Normal bounce height due to the quality of the rubber
- These balls are best for training and beginners as they're easier to control
- Slower ball speed for individuals learning to play tennis
Cons
- Pressureless design isn't for all players
| Quantity | 3 Balls |
| Colour | Yellow |
| Weight | 20g |
Best for consistent bounce
Tecnifibrewww.decathlon.co.uk
For under £10 the Tecnifibre tennis balls are a great option for hard and clay courts. There's quite a lot going on in these small yellow spheres, including; XDCore technology that increases the durability and the Grand Touring Formula rubber that gives the ball some oomph when bouncing. So whether you're honing your skills with a coach, competing in a friendly match, or simply hitting the ball for practice, these tennis balls are up to the task. Bounce: High. Weight: Heavy
Pros
- XDCore technology that increases the ball's lifespan
- Excellent trajectory control
- Lively and comfortable ball due to its Grand Touring Formula rubber
Cons
- Might be too bouncy for some
| Quantity | 4 Balls |
| Colour | Yellow |
| Weight | 57.8g |
How to choose the best tennis balls for you:
What type of tennis ball should I choose?
This will largely depend on what type of court you're playing on, tennis racket you're using, whether you're playing Padel or tennis, as well as what level you're at. Heavier tennis balls are much more challenging if you're new to the game or just play as a hobby. However, they're great for intermediates and professionals to use on clay or hard courts.
Lightweight tennis balls are best suited for newcomers as they will travel farther, and tennis balls with an average bounce or that have a medium pace are ideal for artificial grass.
Pressurised vs non-pressurised balls:
Pressurised tennis balls are used for every match, be it competitive or for fun. Non-pressurised balls are specifically used when playing with a ball machine or basket fed drills, they should not be used in actual tennis matches.
FAQs
What balls do pro tennis players use?
Most professional players will use Dunlop Tennis Balls. That's why we recommend them for intermediates and professional players.
What is the most used tennis ball?
The most popular brand is the Wilson US Open Tennis Ball, especially for hard courts.
What are the different types of courts?
Tennis isn't played on just one type of court, so to choose the right ball, you'll need to know what makes each court play differently.
Grass court: The standard type of court that you'll see most often at Wimbledon. The ball's bounce might be a bit less predictable than on other courts, so be prepared to play fast. Often characterised as having a low bounce and fast speed overall.
Clay court: Seen in the French Open, clay courts tend to result in slower games with longer rallies. The solid surface means the ball will bounce higher than normal. The surface results in the ball losing a bit of speed.
Hard court: The type of court usually seen in the Australian Open. The ball should bounce even higher than on a clay court. Can be expected that the ball's speed will usually be in the middle compared to grass and clay.
Isabel Martins is a former Commercial Content Writer for What's The Best, specialising in technology. She is an expert in all things tech, from essential computer components such as graphics cards, to iPads and smartphones.
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