Pressureless vs. Regular Tennis Balls: Which Is Better?

[new_tennis_player]

I saw pressureless tennis balls at my local big box store. About $8 for a dozen. So they're comparably priced relative to regular tennis balls.

What's the difference? Will the pressureless balls simply play the same over time as compared to regular ones? Or, is the tradeoff that regular tennis balls give superior play initially?

The prices are identical regardless.

[autumn_leaf]

first off. the quality of the ball will vary depending on the brand and type. cheap balls are cheap balls whether pressurized or pressureless.

here's the usual traits:

pressurized:
. softer
. loses bounce overtime
. fuzz usually stays on the ball after it flattens out

pressureless:
. usually more expensive
. usually heavier than pressurized balls
. outer shell is harder/stiffer
. keeps or increases in bounce over time due to loss of felt/fuzz
. fuzz might be lossed in chunks when hitting causing the ball to bounce in awkward directions.
. does not lose bounce overtime like pressurized balls due when the can is opened, so it's a better option if you don't play regularly.
. better for ball machines.

i currently use the tretorn micro x balls and like them a lot. they are filled with micro beads which is different from other pressureless balls which tend to be empty. so far the felt has stayed fairly uniformed on these and kept their bounce.

used to use slazengers and the fuzz on those tore off or was kinda bumpy after a while.

[tbuggle]

pressureless for ball machines and MAYBE for your hopper (i'd prefer to cycle in used pressurized balls as they become unfit for match play for the hopper).

for general hitting/match play i'd stick with regular (pressurized) balls.

if you play once a month or less, pressureless may pay off, but i'd prefer not to play with them at all.