SLAZENGER BALLS RULE, BUT WHY ARE THEY SO HARD TO FIND

[tennisphotog]

I lived in Europe for many years where the standard ball is Slazenger. It is a superior ball in both weight, fluff, and longevity. Plus they come 4 to a can which is much better. Does Dunlop/Wilson/Penn have some monopoly that keeps Slazenger from competing? While I am at it, I also like the "better" balls that Wilson and Penn make like the "ATP" and "MASTERS" balls, but why do good tennis players show up with the crappy cheapo Wilsons and Penns for matches. These balls have no fluff, no weight, and are made for recreational hackers who don't know the difference.
I say it is time to educate the tennis community on the merits of paying the extra 50-cents for good tennis balls.

[Big D]

that's b/c dunlop and slaz are the same company. ever try dunlops. they're better than the penns and wilsons

[Deuce]

But the Dunlops are made in the Philippines. That means cheap labor.

Penns (at least the 'Penn Championship' balls) are made in the U.S.A.

That's reason enough for me to prefer the Penns over all others. They are simply less ethically bankrupt - everything being relative, of course.

[AAAA]

Do Slazenger-Dunlop have a widespread distribution chain in the U.S.A? I doubt it.

[inspector_clouseau]

slazenger made some good golf balls also, well this was like 8-9 years ago. anyways, i think slazenger is owned by dunlop? the best tennis balls i have used are dunlop "fort", made in japan, and only available in cans of two (like every other ball in asia). here's an interesting ad for the fort ball (reminds me of "lost in translation" haha):

[RacquetDoctor]

Ethically Bankrupt? Just because they put a plant in the Philippines? Grow up...your public school education is showing.

[tennisphotog]

Yeah, realize Dunlop and Slazenger are same company, but Slazenger balls are superior to anything Dunlop puts out.

[Kirko]

You are quite right Slazengers are superior !

[perfmode]

Originally Posted by Deuce

"Ethically Bankrupt? Just because they put a plant in the Philippines? Grow up..."

No, not just because they "put a plant in the Philippines - but because so doing inherently means that they pay the workers far less than the true value of the work. In other words, financial profit is made on the backs of the workers, who are desperate for jobs. To exploit this desperation in such a manner thus entitles one to the term 'ethically bankrupt'.

You're intelligent enough to understand this basic principle, are you not?

touché

[Deuce]

"Ethically Bankrupt? Just because they put a plant in the Philippines? Grow up..."

No, not just because they "put a plant in the Philippines" - but because so doing inherently means that they pay the workers far less than the true value of the work. In other words, financial profit is made on the backs of the workers, who are desperate for jobs. To exploit this desperation in such a manner thus entitles one to the term 'ethically bankrupt'.

You're intelligent enough to understand this basic principle, are you not?

[tennisphotog]

Since I started this topic on this section and "RANTS and RAVES", it is quite clear that the Slazenger ball is clearly a better quality ball. They are available in the USA for about $3.75 a can but only a few places carry them. Do a web-search and you will find them. Try them, and you will experience a much better hitting experience on the court. Promise.

[RacquetDoctor]

Deuce, this was supposed to be a column about a quality tennis ball, not a political rant about ethically behaving companies. Pay the workers less than what they are worth? Oh, please. Maybe less than what you would consider working for, but not them. I would bet they would rather work for them than do nothing...The company is providing much needed jobs in an unhealthy Philippino economy...They are not exploiting a situation. I will leave this in the 'I respectfully disagree' category. If you would like to continue the conversation privately, email me...I would be more than happy to continue it...You and I have very different views of capitalism...I would love to hear your spin on the outsourcing of tecnical jobs to India...

[LMW]

Slazenger tennis balls are also manufactured in the Philippines.

[Kirko]

Penn is abt. the worst ball around . Wilson 2nd tier balls blow them away. A very nice bal is Wilson's white grass court ball very much like a Slaz. the seam is perfect no "dribble" like Penn.

[Will]

You can get Slazenger and wilson in Australia but its really hard to get Penn balls so it kinda evens out

[drop shot]

The only problem is that when you play tournaments or USTA team competition where the balls are furnished, and you are used to a superior ball, the tournament will usually give out a can of cheap Wilsons or Penns and then your game may suffer a bit.

[jayserinos99]

i'm so used to penn balls (thanks costco) so i haven't used the slazengers or dunlops very much. what's the main difference? do they really last longer than wilsons or penns?

[gmlasam]

Originally Posted by jayserinos99

i'm so used to penn balls (thanks costco) so i haven't used the slazengers or dunlops very much. what's the main difference? do they really last longer than wilsons or penns?

Dunlop championship balls last longer in pressure retention and felt durabilty compared to Wilson and Penn.


BTW...does costco sell the Penn balls by 24 can cases? If so, for how much?

[corncob3466]

lol, i got two cans of slazenger balls at disney world. it was at epcot actually. they were like $8 a can. they played well, though. but no balls are worth $8 a can.

[jayserinos99]

gmlasam, i forgot how much the case cost, but they are the 24 can cases.