which ball do you choose for your first serve?

[Grapto]

Just curious how pros choose two balls out of three and THEN choose one of the two for their first serve.
I usually don't care because they are from the same can but I wonder how you and the pros choose balls. Thanks for any comment.

[EricW]

Just curious how pros choose two balls out of three and THEN choose one of the two for their first serve.
I usually don't care because they are from the same can but I wonder how you and the pros choose balls. Thanks for any comment.

If ones noticably more playable (not flat) I chose that for my first serve, otherwise, I just choose which one looks newer

[Mountain Ghost]

I choose the fastest on first . . . meaning smoothest (most worn).

MG

[LuckyR]

Least fuzzy for first, most fuzzy for second, discard the middle ball.

[snoflewis]

Least fuzzy for first, most fuzzy for second, discard the middle ball.

same here...

[dave333]

me too. I at least try to make them as different as possible.

[Micky]

Just curious how pros choose two balls out of three and THEN choose one of the two for their first serve.
I usually don't care because they are from the same can but I wonder how you and the pros choose balls. Thanks for any comment.

I think the pross just try to buy time. I myself a non pro...try to buy time as well jejeje. During the hot and wet times I try to serve with the driest balls posible. Or with the least dirty ones. Superstition plays a role as well. If I make a winner with one...or an ace...I keep using the same ball...and then I loose track hahaha.

[Bagumbawalla]

Sometimes, out of laziness, one ball may be left unused/forgotten in a corner somewhere and has not gotten fuzzed up like the rest. It will travel faster for a more effective first serve. Sometimes they all wear the same, look the same, play the same-- then there is no reason to choose one over the other.

[Solat]

i do what everyone else does here, but its all in the head, i don't think in 15 years of competition tennis i have ever looked back at a point and given credit to choosing one ball over another. Like the point would have been different had it been 1mm fluffier :D

[LuckyR]

i do what everyone else does here, but its all in the head, i don't think in 15 years of competition tennis i have ever looked back at a point and given credit to choosing one ball over another. Like the point would have been different had it been 1mm fluffier :D

Oh, I don't know. If something helps only 5%, it is worth it to me, if it's free.

[WhiteSox05CA]

Andre said something like this: While serving they generally look for balls that have the least fuzz sticking out all over, thus reducing air resistance.

I guess you have to be at the pro level to even notice a difference. I don't really care which balls I hit with, and I don't want to get accostumed to a certain kind.

[drakulie]

the one with the least amount of loose felt

[cak]

I serve the dirtiest one first. The one that's sticky from going in the bushes. Or any with ants on them. Whichever one I'm not willing to stick in my shorts.

[Sagittar]

it won't matter eventually we all gonna serve with all of them , it's not like we're gonna shabge them every 9 games :D:D
but yeah least fuzzy to begin with ..

[Camilio Pascual]

I choose the least round one...or the one I have doctored.

[Bottle Rocket]

If it is cold weather and I am not playing well I pick the flattest ball for my first serve, since I probably won't get my serve serve in. I'll want the better ball for the ball that I know will be put in play and for my second serve. If if my first serve is good enough, it won't matter if the ball is slightly flat.

I guess that is a little different way of looking at it.

It's hard to say what brings more success... A faster first serve or a faster second serve?

[Solat]

If it is cold weather and I am not playing well I pick the flattest ball for my first serve, since I probably won't get my serve serve in. I'll want the better ball for the ball that I know will be put in play and for my second serve. If if my first serve is good enough, it won't matter if the ball is slightly flat.

I guess that is a little different way of looking at it.

It's hard to say what brings more success... A faster first serve or a faster second serve?

what about minimising your opponents shots, would you choose the fluffier ball first if you were a heavy spinning counter puncher and your opponent was an attacking player?