Tiriac wants fluorescent tennis balls...

[norbac]

Next for Madrid? Fluorescent balls, says Tiriac

Madrid tournament owner Ion Tiriac tells DPA that despite the controversy over his selection of blue clay for the event, he is already working on another innovation: Phosphorescent green or orange balls. "We will improve the ball well," he said. "We think it fluorescent green or fluorescent orange, which grabs more light and works best in contrast with the blue clay."

Tiriac added that he has yet to consult the ATP about the new balls. He did admit that the new surface is too slippery and needs to be fixed, but added that, "two weeks ago in Monte Carlo [on red clay] three players broke their legs. Today, after five days of the tournament, I am more convinced than ever that the blue clay is a great step forward."

The Romanian does not believe there is danger that ATP will force the tournament to return to red clay next year.

http://tennis.com/articles/templates...7579&zoneid=25

[jones101]

Nadal is gonna go APE!

But as long as its just this tournament, I dont really mind, though the visibility is great already on this blue clay, so I dont think its necessary now.

Im glad he agrees the court is slippy and that he sounds comitted to addressing this next year.

[Cup8489]

fluorescent green isn't a bad idea, it's not a huge change from the current ones.

[jones101]

Nadal Stans will be flooding this thread in 5, 4, 3, 2 ......

[Boricua]

Originally Posted by norbac

Next for Madrid? Fluorescent balls, says Tiriac

Madrid tournament owner Ion Tiriac tells DPA that despite the controversy over his selection of blue clay for the event, he is already working on another innovation: Phosphorescent green or orange balls. "We will improve the ball well," he said. "We think it fluorescent green or fluorescent orange, which grabs more light and works best in contrast with the blue clay."

Tiriac added that he has yet to consult the ATP about the new balls. He did admit that the new surface is too slippery and needs to be fixed, but added that, "two weeks ago in Monte Carlo [on red clay] three players broke their legs. Today, after five days of the tournament, I am more convinced than ever that the blue clay is a great step forward."

The Romanian does not believe there is danger that ATP will force the tournament to return to red clay next year.

http://tennis.com/articles/templates...7579&zoneid=25

What about the outfits of the players, only neon colors allowed?

[Hood_Man]

I think they should use fireballs that change colour depending on what kind of shot a player hits.

Say... yellow fire for a flat shot, red fire for top spin, and blue/green for a slice.

Also stick golden rings over the net that the players have to hit their shots through to get extra points.

OH! And at the end of a tournament, the winner gets to take on Bowser.

[kishnabe]

Originally Posted by Hood_Man

I think they should use fireballs that change colour depending on what kind of shot a player hits.

Say... yellow fire for a flat shot, red fire for top spin, and blue/green for a slice.

Also stick golden rings over the net that the players have to hit their shots through to get extra points.

OH! And at the end of a tournament, the winner gets to take on Bowser.

This isn't Sonic the Hedgehog or Mario Tennis.

[HellBunni]

Originally Posted by Cup8489

fluorescent green isn't a bad idea, it's not a huge change from the current ones.

except the environment would take a hit
and now you can't just throw out the old tennis balls

[Hood_Man]

Originally Posted by kishnabe

This isn't Sonic the Hedgehog or Mario Tennis.

D'oh, I forgot the power shots!

[r2473]

Cool. Just like hockey a few years ago.

Makes sense. Bowling alley's do it. Skating rinks too. Why not tennis?

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

That's not a bad idea...orange on blue will be very visible. The color was also a good idea, Madrid courts have always suck, they just seem even more slick this year

[bluetrain4]

I still think that the color blue isn't THAT big of a deal IF they can get the court to play as other clay courts do, which I'm sure is possible. Granted, if so many players are against it, why upset them?

And, it's really on their shoulders to do something about it, either by speaking up (which they have), or not showing up.

[wrxinsc]

Originally Posted by Hood_Man

Bowser.

Bowser. . .

[sports4eva115]

I definitely dont support this on the pro tour (yet I guess) but I do wonder at if fluorecent tennis balls. Never found any in any store, but the idea intruiges me. I played fire tennis before and it was quite fun, except I dun want to scorch up the courts and my strings lol
nevertheless, fluorescent balls are fine, just not on the pro tour, especially on clay

[Towser83]

we need balls covered in flashing LEDs

[Cesc Fabregas]

It's a crap idea that has nothing to do with tennis and everything to do with marketing.

[DjokovicForTheWin]

Have to say, the blue does make viewing a lot easier, especially on crappy streams.

[Netzroller]

Haha, actually the same idea has crossed my mind before. I think a glowing ball would be awesome

But you could go even further and make TRON style tennis, just have flourescent racktes and lines and outfits as well and maybe a black court

[forthegame]

Not sure if visibility is any better on the current courts. Not noticed any difference personally...

[Towser83]

let's use the metal balls from phantasm... that would up viewing figures