Dead Balls Just Kill Me

[Bobby Jr]

People who are scared of using new balls = chumps. Using new balls often is an important element in actually improving your strokes.

I use a new set almost every time I play - although I play on plexi-cushion most of the time which wears balls out like no tomorrow so there's little choice. After a 90 mins or maybe 2 hrs they're pretty much done.

To the OP. If you want to trump your hitting partner's desire to use old ball, as others have suggested already, just open a new can before you meet him. Then when you meet him say "I've already opened them, we may as well us them now." issue sorted

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Aurellian

Why is this?

Because dead balls dont really travel through the court, and because it doesn't really bounce, whatever spin you impart is largely nullified.

So it gives you the sense that you're not hitting the ball, and encourages you to hit harder than you really should, leading to fatigue and overuse injuries.

[pvaudio]

I do not understand NOT using new balls. When using dead ones, how is that practicing?

[Fuji]

Also wanted to point out:

I see getting new tennis balls as a price I pay to play. My arm definitely enjoys hitting fresh cans rather then old ones, and let's face it. 5 bucks a can, is a lot cheaper then months of physio due to arm problems! (That being said, I use a new can every time I play a match. The way our ruling works is "Whoever books the court, doesn't provide the balls. I rarely book courts, so I do buy a lot of cans LOL!)

-Fuji

[bhallic24]

Originally Posted by LeeD

I find lots of weaker hitters, but superior fetchers, like to use dead or old balls for singles matches.
Seldom have I ever experienced a big hitter who brought heavy slow balls, or wanted to use older balls which are soft.
Me, I must not hit hard, because I prefer the heaviest ball around here, the DunlopHDHardCourtChamp balls, which are much heavier and knappier than Penns or those Wilson flyers.

EXACTLY right. Got a guy just like that. HE always always wants to use dead balls and I play shittty but when we use bouncier balls, I kill him.

[corbind]

Originally Posted by Aurellian

I play this Thai lady and she is always switching out my new balls for her old balls..now I know why.

Did you ever say, "Hey Thai Lady, what's up with you hiding my new balls and using those you bought in 1969?" Seems to be a very underhanded. I think you guys could compromise by using dead balls one day and new ones the next. Each of you get your way half the time.

[ramos77]

I seem to be buying a lot of cans with dead/flat balls these days.

Has anyone noticed this?

How can you tell how fresh a can is? How long before they go dead in the can?

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by ramos77

I seem to be buying a lot of cans with dead/flat balls these days.

Has anyone noticed this?

How can you tell how fresh a can is? How long before they go dead in the can?

I had a can of Dunlops with a dead ball right off the bat, same with Slazenger (I've gotten entire dead cans of Slaz the last few months) and I believe it has to do with the way they are sealed. Most of the time, the can isn't making the full "FSHHHHHHHH" sound when I open them, it's a very subtle "fsh" and I have a feeling that it has something to do with it. It's probably very easily explainable but I don't know the specifics. Now I just check to make sure the can is fully sealed, with full pressure before I buy. How I check is by squeezing the tube, if it's a plastic container, because if they are "factory fresh" it will literally be hard as stone I find. If it's a bit squishy, I put that one back.

-Fuji

[ramos77]

^^ thanks Fuji, good idea!

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by ramos77

^^ thanks Fuji, good idea!

You're welcome!

-Fuji

[Metalica]

^^ I've also recently discovered this trick, how ever the balls that I'm used to using comes in metal container (slazenger grass court). I'm aware that slazenger cans can sometimes contain dead balls and so I'd like to switch to a brand with plastic container. Can anyone give me some suggestions as to which brand I should choose? I live in Australia and Wilson Australian Open seems to be quite popular here.

[ramos77]

Yeh Australian Opens are good and come in plastic containers.

You also have the choice of US Open extra duty, which are good for hard courts (they last a little longer)

Can't go wrong with Slazenger and Wilson Aus or US.

Also might be a good idea to buy from stores that move a lot of balls and always get new stock