Best Tennis Balls
- Thread starter Shaun
- Start date
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
What are your favourites?
SteveI
Legend
All the others are great...
Will not play with Wilson Championship balls.. the worst..:-(
SteveI
Legend
Worthless....for tennis to be sure. Great for my dog
mikeler
Moderator
Penn Marathon.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
The balls that replaced the Prince balls locally.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
^ Quite a few ppl have indicated that the Marathon ball is not as good as the Prince Tour. Hoping that more sources will carry the Tour in the very near future. (But do not want to buy a full case until I determine if the new/resurrected Tour balls are as good as the pre-2012 Tour balls).
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Prince ball must be unavailable locally so far.
illuminotti
New User
Dunlop Grand Prix, Dunlop Fort or Gamma Pro Tours. Dunlop Forts are a little pricey. The Gamma Pro Tours are AMAZING.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
^ No Dunlop Fort balls in this part of the planet. How do the AMAZING Gamma Pro Tour balls compare to the Dunlop Grand Prix? Details pls.
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mikeler
Moderator
I never had a local shop sell the regulary duty Prince. The Marathon is the brightest ball out there. Great for nights and dim winter days.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Was not a local shop. Local pvt club bought many cases and sold the ball.
asifallasleep
Hall of Fame
Dunlop Championship Hard Court balls by far. Wilson and Penn are not even close to these balls IMO.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
You still play singles?
I know it sounds farfetched for an old fart, with a gimpy ankle, to play singles, but it seems I've been doing just that a couple times a month this summer.
Last week played my bud, a strong 3.5 but unreal runner, 3 sets. 4-6-5 with him winning the 3rd.
Wed. I mentioned I played next year's NorCalJuniorGirl's top 30 in the 16's (they got next year's rankings a couple weeks ago), while that same bud played next year's junior girl's top 4 in the 12's on the adjoining court.
It's a real challenge to play against a little girl who can hit forehands and serves as hard as I can, who can run much faster, is much more consistent on all groundies, and still win both sets, for a total of 8 sets in my favor, to none for her.
It's unfair really, while my bud lost double zips, and split with the one I played the week before. I have played many sets with WTA players, winners of the CanadianOpen, several ex WTA players aged under 33, and several A/Open women players in their prime years around 22.
That's why I like to say, experience has to count for something.
Last week played my bud, a strong 3.5 but unreal runner, 3 sets. 4-6-5 with him winning the 3rd.
Wed. I mentioned I played next year's NorCalJuniorGirl's top 30 in the 16's (they got next year's rankings a couple weeks ago), while that same bud played next year's junior girl's top 4 in the 12's on the adjoining court.
It's a real challenge to play against a little girl who can hit forehands and serves as hard as I can, who can run much faster, is much more consistent on all groundies, and still win both sets, for a total of 8 sets in my favor, to none for her.
It's unfair really, while my bud lost double zips, and split with the one I played the week before. I have played many sets with WTA players, winners of the CanadianOpen, several ex WTA players aged under 33, and several A/Open women players in their prime years around 22.
That's why I like to say, experience has to count for something.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
As far as Championship balls go. I'd go with Dunlop. However, in cold weather, when Dunlop & Wilson balls feel like rocks, I'd opt for the softer Penn balls. Regular duty might be a bit better than XD in the cold. Wilson would be my last choice among the Championship balls.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
In cold weather, pick up your balls ASAP. And keep them in your shorts if possible.
Bdarb
Hall of Fame
could not agree more. I dislike the fourth ball though. Throws my rhythm off when serving. There's always a ball floating around or I'm wondering about it.. what have you.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
^ Sigh! If only all our problems were of this nature.
I have usually done that but I can't always get the others on the court to do the same. In very cold weather, I've brought a heating pad with me to the court. Will heat the balls for a short time prior to using them. If we take an extended break (usually not very long in cold weather), I'll heat the balls a bit more.
I have usually done that but I can't always get the others on the court to do the same. In very cold weather, I've brought a heating pad with me to the court. Will heat the balls for a short time prior to using them. If we take an extended break (usually not very long in cold weather), I'll heat the balls a bit more.
Bdarb
Hall of Fame
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Usually nuke my balls before playing. Keep a gel pack in. A cooler to keep a couple balls warm for later. Lucky to have unlimited walk-on indoors now for $50/month. Play more in the winter than summer. 10-15 hrs/week.
Just how cold temps are you guys playing in? SA lives in SanMateo Ca., can't be any colder than Berkeley.
Most summer sessions, around 10AM, it starts around 56 degrees. Most winter sessions start at around 47, can get down to 43's, but no colder.
I use DunlopHDHardcourtChamp balls for those conditions.
It's fun to knock the racket out of the opponent's hands on first serves..
Most summer sessions, around 10AM, it starts around 56 degrees. Most winter sessions start at around 47, can get down to 43's, but no colder.
I use DunlopHDHardcourtChamp balls for those conditions.
It's fun to knock the racket out of the opponent's hands on first serves..
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
^ South bay area, not San Mateo. Played a lot at night. In the Winter months the temps would often drop below 50. We'd even played when temps dropped below 40 -- a few times when the mercury registered in the low 30s. Only masochists would play with Dunlop Champs at those temps. Since I hit my late 50s, however, the arthritis has decreed, "no cold weather tennis".
Well, I'm no fan of sub 45 degree tennis, but that's when you get to knock a racket out of an opponent's hand with either a flat first serve or a really strong forehand.
Guess I like the cold better than 70+ is because I grew up in the SunsetDistrict of SF, and as you know, mostly 52-59 during the 3 summer months.
Seriously, I have never been able to compete in temps over 80 degrees, and seldom when it's over 70.
Guess I like the cold better than 70+ is because I grew up in the SunsetDistrict of SF, and as you know, mostly 52-59 during the 3 summer months.
Seriously, I have never been able to compete in temps over 80 degrees, and seldom when it's over 70.
Matthew Bance
Rookie
I use head championship or Wilson . but ive heard the mantis ones are really durable
zapvor
G.O.A.T.
lol you guys take it to a whole different level
downdaline
Professional
Slazenger. Hands down my favorite.
chatt_town
Hall of Fame
Penn 3's dawg. I've got a 75 match winning streak when playing with them.lol
Seriously...I like any kind of penns.
p.s Have you all ever gotten a can that had 2 balls with a number and one with no number? just curious because it's happened to me several times.
chatt_town
Seriously...I like any kind of penns.
p.s Have you all ever gotten a can that had 2 balls with a number and one with no number?
just curious because it's happened to me several times. chatt_town
mikeler
Moderator
Penn 3's dawg. I've got a 75 match winning streak when playing with them.lol
Seriously...I like any kind of penns.
p.s Have you all ever gotten a can that had 2 balls with a number and one with no number?
chatt_town
I saw a can of Penn Marathons that had 2 Marathon balls in it and 1 Penn Championship ball.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
... Seriously...I like any kind of penns.
p.s Have you all ever gotten a can that had 2 balls with a number and one with no number?
Penn Championship balls, correct? I have noticed for a decade or so that every can of Penn Champs has one "odd" ball. I mentioned this in post #16. The practice appears to be intentional on the part of Penn. Usually, the odd ball is one that has a somewhat lower bounce than the 2 good balls in the can. Once in a while the odd ball is a cosmetic reject instead.
Bdarb
Hall of Fame
The club I just started playing at uses DUnlop balls. I'm not sure which ones but they are really growing on me. I much prefer them over wilson, though the penn ATP are still my go to. I don't think these are high end dunlop balls though, any one know what that line would be of theirs?
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
The purple or green can?
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/catpage-TBALLS.html
My guess is that they are Dunlop Championship balls -- extra duty (green & yellow can) or regular duty (blue & yellow can). The premium balls from Dunlop include Grand Prix (purple can?), Fort, & A Player. Of the Championship-grade balls, I favor Dunlop over Penn (Head) or Wilson. However, in cold weather the Dunlop balls feel like rocks. When the temps drop, I'd go with Penn Champs.
Fifth Set
Professional
Agree with this. Marathon ball is close, but too hard and heavy relative to the Prince Tour. The Prince Tour was perrrrfect.
Looks like some form of the Prince Tour is back - I started a dedicated thread to what was (hopefully is again) my favorite ball ever in my 40 years playing the game.
Bdarb
Hall of Fame
theyre in a yellow can with green top I believe. I like them more than wilson for sure and the cheap penn's.
Mrlucky986
New User
Cant beat slazenger wimbledon ultra vis for grass play and good on hard court only penn balls ive used were too hard for my liking
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Bought a 15 pk from Costco this summer and the Penns are excellent. Covers wear fast but hold the bounce better than Wilson US Opens.
D
Deleted member 369227
Guest
I tested all kinds of Wilson balls available on my market: Davis Cup, Australian Open, US Open, Tour Clay Red... and while I like how they play and feel, their durability is absolute crap. Some of the balls typically die after 1 hour of hitting or so.
I had better luck with Babolat and Head balls, but my absolute favourites are Tecnifibre X-One balls. They are pretty expensive (probably metal cans have something to do with it), but play great, their felt and pressure are durable so they easily outlast any other ball by the factor or three. I won't even consider any other balls.
I had better luck with Babolat and Head balls, but my absolute favourites are Tecnifibre X-One balls. They are pretty expensive (probably metal cans have something to do with it), but play great, their felt and pressure are durable so they easily outlast any other ball by the factor or three. I won't even consider any other balls.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
^ It appears that the Tecnifibre X-One balls are available in Europe but no so much in the US. Online prices that I've seen for these balls put it 4x the price (at $12-$20/can) of other premium balls. OUCH!
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
The Tecnifibre, Yonex and pressurized Tretorn balls are all coming out of the same factory in Thailand (Technifibre-Bridgestone joint venture). It looks like they have set strict exclusive distribution areas, so anything "out-of-market" can only be obtained via grey market sources (rather than normal authorized distributors) and will carry additional mark-ups. I did get a case of Yonex Tour balls here in the USA at a fairly decent price. As far as I can tell, they play the same as the Tecnifibre X-1's. Both of these balls have popped up at tournaments outside of their home markets during 2013.
IdrinkYourMilkshake
Rookie
How do you know they come from the same factory?
As for them not selling these balls in the U.S. it's a question I still don't understand except that there must be secret agreement with other manufacturers to not step on each others toes. Complete crap.
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
I have contacts at Yonex and this has also been verified by another well paced acquaintance who is a bit farther downstream in the industry. Exclusive distribution areas are not unusual in many industries, especially when different brands are sharing the same product designs, and are not "secret agreements". Manufacturers have the right to distribute their products as they see fit. I am not always happy with this either but it is the way things work in the real world.
I had a situation a couple of years ago when someone I know well who works in the USA office of a major tennis equipment brand was traveling to HQ in Europe. I asked if he could bring back a few products that were not available in the USA, or if he could even purchase them from a retailer there for me. He informed me that there was absolutely no way he could do it through the company -- it simply wasn't permitted -- and that if he purchased them at retail and brought them back to the USA it would be a serious taboo in his employer's eyes. I did not press the issue because that's just the way it is.
So it goes...
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Another poster has indicated that the new Prince Tour balls are manufactured in Thailand. Same factory?
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
That I do not know. I have yet to see the new ones in the wild. But given the premium quality and price point, I would not be surprised. There is more than one OEM tennis ball manufacturer in Thailand, but the Tecnifibre/Bridgestone facility would seem to be a likely choice for Prince Tour.
