Experimenting with tennis balls again - what's your favorite and WHY ?

So what's your favorite ?


  • Total voters
    34

ClubHoUno

Banned
I'm experimenting and looking for better and more durable tennis balls.

Just bought 4 cans of the new Slazenger Extra Life ball (It's basically a new, slightly heavier and improved Wimbledon UltraVis ball with better durability), 4 cans of the improved Babolat VS N2 ball and also 4 cans of the Tecnifibre X-One Special Editon DTF version in a can with a new design (FYI !! the X-One Red, that TW EUROPE sells is 2. grade quality and not on par with the X-One Special Edition DTF ball)

So have any of you guys tested any of these balls and if so, what do you think ?

Tried Wilson US OPEN, Wilson Australien Open and Wilson Tour Davies Cup - but simply do not like Wilson balls. Same with the Head Atp Tour ball - not a great ball in my view.
Have tried all the different Penn balls, and they all suck compared to the 3 in question - SLAZENGER EXTRA LIFE, Babolat VS N2 & Tecnifibre X-One Special Editon DTF.

I find the new Slazenger EXTRA LIFE to be a bit more heavy, but still with nice pop and very easy to see and the felt stays on for a long time.

The Babolat VS N2 is a lighter ball, but also with improved durability and very nice to play with on slower surfaces in particular.

The Tecnifibre X-One Special Editon DTF is a true class ball, but I think the 2 other balls in question here could take over as my new favorite tennis ball :p

Dunlop Roland Garross and the old Slazenger Wimbledon Ultravis is no longer my favorites.

Which one is your favorite and WHY ?
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Dunlop Roland Garros

I'm experimenting and looking for better and more durable tennis balls.

Just bought 4 cans of the new Slazenger Extra Life ball (It's basically a new, slightly heavier and improved Wimbledon UltraVis ball with better durability), 4 cans of the improved Babolat VS N2 ball and also 4 cans of the Tecnifibre X-One Special Editon DTF version in a can with a new design (FYI !! the X-One Red, that TW EUROPE sells is 2. grade quality and not on par with the X-One Special Edition DTF ball)

So have any of you guys tested any of these balls and if so, what do you think ?

Tried Wilson US OPEN, Wilson Australien Open and Wilson Tour Davies Cup - but simply do not like Wilson balls. Same with the Head Atp Tour ball - not a great ball in my view.
Have tried all the different Penn balls, and they all suck compared to the 3 in question - SLAZENGER EXTRA LIFE, Babolat VS N2 & Tecnifibre X-One Special Editon DTF.

I find the new Slazenger EXTRA LIFE to be a bit more heavy, but still with nice pop and very easy to see and the felt stays on for a long time.

The Babolat VS N2 is a lighter ball, but also with improved durability and very nice to play with on slower surfaces in particular.

The Tecnifibre X-One Special Editon DTF is a true class ball, but I think the 2 other balls in question here could take over as my new favorite tennis ball :p

Dunlop Roland Garross and the old Slazenger Wimbledon Ultravis is no longer my favorites.

Which one is your favorite and WHY ?

Could you drop a line about Dunlop Roland Garros?
2 heavy ?
 

ClubHoUno

Banned
Could you drop a line about Dunlop Roland Garros?
2 heavy ?

Dunlop Roland Garross is a VERY NICE ball, in fact used to be one of my favorite tennis balls a year ago or so - but it simply is not that durable compared to the new ones in my poll. It looses its pressure too fast in my view, but as I say - It's still a top class ball, but probably only Top 4 or 5 on my personal list.
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Dunlop Roland Garros

Dunlop Roland Garross is a VERY NICE ball, in fact used to be one of my favorite tennis balls a year ago or so - but it simply is not that durable compared to the new ones in my poll. It looses its pressure too fast in my view, but as I say - It's still a top class ball, but probably only Top 4 or 5 on my personal list.
Do u use Dunlop Roland Garros on hard surfaces as well ?
 
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ac3111

Professional
I prefer the UltraVis over the Extra life... Extra life seems a bit like fake maybe because it feels to me harder and stiffer than the UltraVis. The bad thing with UltraVis is that it loses the fur too quickly. It becomes bald and the ball ends up half the size it used to be. I am going to try the Dunlop Roland Garros soon the ones in the black can.
The Head Pro I don't like it much because it seems too big and too heavy. I think in a way it has similar feel to the ultra vis but feels bigger and heavier.
I tried Prince tour and other versions of prince. I like the prince tour because it feels smaller, is bouncy and accelerates fast but the feel is a bit harsh...
 

mikeler

Moderator
I prefer the UltraVis over the Extra life... Extra life seems a bit like fake maybe because it feels to me harder and stiffer than the UltraVis. The bad thing with UltraVis is that it loses the fur too quickly. It becomes bald and the ball ends up half the size it used to be. I am going to try the Dunlop Roland Garros soon the ones in the black can.
The Head Pro I don't like it much because it seems too big and too heavy. I think in a way it has similar feel to the ultra vis but feels bigger and heavier.
I tried Prince tour and other versions of prince. I like the prince tour because it feels smaller, is bouncy and accelerates fast but the feel is a bit harsh...


What do you mean by harsh? My experience has been the opposite. Good description above, thanks!
 

ClubHoUno

Banned
Keep the comments coming :D

Has NoONE really tried the Babolat VS and the Tecnifibre X-One Special Edition DTF ???
 

Dags

Hall of Fame
Has NoONE really tried the Babolat VS and the Tecnifibre X-One Special Edition DTF ???

Are these the Babolat VS that sell for €12.49 per can on TW Europe? Is it any wonder no one has tried them? ;-)

I currently have a case of the red X-One, and really like them. A nice weight, and don't fuzz up too much (which was my big problem with the Wimbledon UltraViz). They also hold pressure for a long time. In what way are the Special Edition balls better?
 

ac3111

Professional
What do you mean by harsh? My experience has been the opposite. Good description above, thanks!

I mean hard and stiff. This is my impression about the ball when it is new and not heavily used. We change balls when very often so can't comment about durability. And I am not a hard hitter, don't break strings so take this also into consideration...
 

ClubHoUno

Banned
Are these the Babolat VS that sell for €12.49 per can on TW Europe? Is it any wonder no one has tried them? ;-)

I currently have a case of the red X-One, and really like them. A nice weight, and don't fuzz up too much (which was my big problem with the Wimbledon UltraViz). They also hold pressure for a long time. In what way are the Special Edition balls better?

The Red X-One is a 2. grade ball compared to the X-One Special Edition DTF. Some of them have weird bounces and stuff like that - this is why the Red X-One is so cheap compared to the real X-One ball :twisted:
 

Dags

Hall of Fame
The Red X-One is a 2. grade ball compared to the X-One Special Edition DTF. Some of them have weird bounces and stuff like that - this is why the Red X-One is so cheap compared to the real X-One ball :twisted:

€7.46 for a can for seconds? I don't know where you buy the Special Edition, but I shudder to think how much they must cost.

I've never had a problem with my 'regular' X-Ones, so quality control must be insanely tough if they're being discarded. I play mainly indoors, so it's not just that I'm blaming any odd bounces on the court either. :)
 

JavierLW

Hall of Fame
I dont believe any of three brands are even sold in the states, at least not where I am.

So who knows?

I like US Open because they seem to be the liveliest. I had good with K3 as well but those are hard to get.
 

Fedace

Banned
OK i will tell you something. I bought a Box of Slazenger wimbledon balls cause i think it is the best. but EVERYTIME i bring it for the League play or match play, the Guys don't want to play with it....... I guess they dont' know the reputation of these balls or they think it is ONLY for the Grass courts.....????????
 

JavierLW

Hall of Fame
OK i will tell you something. I bought a Box of Slazenger wimbledon balls cause i think it is the best. but EVERYTIME i bring it for the League play or match play, the Guys don't want to play with it....... I guess they dont' know the reputation of these balls or they think it is ONLY for the Grass courts.....????????

Or they are just not used to them?

If you play all the time with any certain kind of ball sometimes it throws you off when you get stuck with something that you've never used, no matter how "great" it is....
 

ClubHoUno

Banned
OK i will tell you something. I bought a Box of Slazenger wimbledon balls cause i think it is the best. but EVERYTIME i bring it for the League play or match play, the Guys don't want to play with it....... I guess they dont' know the reputation of these balls or they think it is ONLY for the Grass courts.....????????

The ball in my poll is not the SLAZENGER Wimbledon UltraVis, but the SLAZENGER Extra Life, which is not the same. The SLAZENGER Wimbledon UltraVis is a lighter and less durable ball, which is perfect for grass, but kind of sucks on red clay and looses its felt too quick on indoor courts (were talking 20-25 minutes hitting with 8 balls and the felt is gone)

So Slazenger introduced the Extra Life, which is a heavier more durable ball with far thicker felt. I like heavy balls on clay and indoor courts, so for me this ball is very good, and I much prefer it over the SLAZENGER Wimbledon UltraVis, because It's heavier and has better durability and feels very solid.

I'm used to hitting with heavy pressureless Tretorn Micro X on tennis wallls and tennis machines, so maybe this is why I like the new Slazenger Extra LIFE.

Also really like the Babolat VS N2, which also is made in a special edition DTB (DEUTCHE TENNIS BUNDES), which is really expensive - €12 for a 4 can !
The Babolat VS is almost as light feeling as the SLAZENGER Wimbledon UltraVis, but has far better durability and the DTB edition feels really soft and still solid - but is very costly.

Trying to decide, which of these I will buy an 18 or 36 can box of.

Maybe I'll buy an 18 can box of one brand of balls, which I prefer for the indoor season and faster indoor courts, and then buy an 18 can box of another brand of balls, which is better suited for the slower higher bouncing outdoor Red Euro Clay courts.

Who knows - It's good fun to test different types of balls once in a while :p
 
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Fedace

Banned
Or they are just not used to them?

If you play all the time with any certain kind of ball sometimes it throws you off when you get stuck with something that you've never used, no matter how "great" it is....

What do you think about slipping in the Slazenger balls in the Wilson US open ball can when the USTA league match starts ? and make the SWOOSH sound from my behind, and pretend i am opening a new can and pretend i am taking out the Wilson balls ? and start playing with it.... Is this Illegal ???:confused:
 

GS

Professional
Pro Penn balls are great, but you can't buy em online. The new Pro Penn Marathon balls are similar, but at $79 a case, forget it. Same with the hardcourt Babolat balls at $75 a case. Penn ATP Tour balls are so-so. The Wilson US Open balls are good, but $80 a case? I'm sticking with Dunlop Grand Prix's, at $57 a case, from TW of course.
 
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