Extra Duty Tennis Balls

[PhilStar!]

I bought some Wilson Championship Extra Duty balls.

These balls are slightly thicker than regular duty balls. I'm just wondering if its just me but do extra duty balls move through the air slower than the regular ones?

[LeeD]

Smack them hard enough, they go as fast.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by PhilStar!

I bought some Wilson Championship Extra Duty balls.

These balls are slightly thicker than regular duty balls. I'm just wondering if its just me but do extra duty balls move through the air slower than the regular ones?

They do go slower since they have extra fuzz on them and hence more air friction.

[PhilStar!]

@ mikeler

that makes sense then.


Is it worthwhile to hit with these balls? Does anyone here prefer extra duty or regular felt?

I play with heavy topspin and these extra duty balls just doesn't move as quick as I would like so I'm planning on returning back to the regular balls. I remember Brad Gilbert somewhere recommended extra duty because it offers more control and therefore, doesn't fly out of the court like the regular ones.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by PhilStar!

@ mikeler

that makes sense then.


Is it worthwhile to hit with these balls? Does anyone here prefer extra duty or regular felt?

I play with heavy topspin and these extra duty balls just doesn't move as quick as I would like so I'm planning on returning back to the regular balls. I remember Brad Gilbert somewhere recommended extra duty because it offers more control and therefore, doesn't fly out of the court like the regular ones.

I play with whatever balls are recommended for the surface.

[LeeD]

They make XDuty balls with more knap and thicker skin to last longer than regular balls.
Most hard hitters can feel inconsistencies in regular balls after as little as 10 games. Tourneys change balls after 9.
If you needed dat many balls to practice 3 hours a day, it'd take a rich guy to keep the level of play consistent.
Xduty balls just take a heavier racket, more mass, more SW, to hit thru for speed and power.
Regular balls, being lighter and less knappy, can be hit hard by anyone, but don't last.
I like DunlopHDChampHardCourts the best, as they last the longest. My game doesn't suit them, but I'd rather play with balls that can last 3 sets rather than lighter balls which give way after a handful of games.

[Nostradamus]

it is heavier so it is harder to hit faster. and it is harder on your arms too. Dunlop heavy duty is the worst.

[kcmiser]

I always thought that "extra duty" was just thicker fuzz, and was the standard for hard courts, while "regular duty" was generally a clay court ball. I recently noticed that either the Wilson or Penn balls at my local Wal-Mart were marked this way on the packages (Heavy= hard court; regular= clay). I only made note of it because I thought it was funny: they had a couple dozen cans of "clay court" balls, and I'm pretty sure there isn't a single clay court in our city.

I'd guess that one's about as same as the other for the average hack buying balls at Wal-Mart.

[filphil]

I sorta of thought that XD was designed for outdoor court usage because of all the crud that could be found.

[Vlad_C]

If you play in tournaments or a league, practice with the same balls they use there. For example in my case, all tournaments around here use only Wilson US Open balls. So I don't really have much choice, I buy the same for practice.