How long do unopened cans of balls last?

coach

Semi-Pro
Indefinitely? Should I be concerned about buying a case if it's going to take me a year or so to go through them?
 

Jerry Seinfeld

Professional
Agree with Eug. I just ran across a couple of cans in the basement from 1996. When opened they popped, but they were dead. So I can say from direct experience that they don't 8 years. :wink:
 

Eug

Rookie
Jerry, you have disgraced the sport of tennis. How dare you not use new balls for 8 years. Each ball has a life and you just took it away! I'm pro-life (tennis ball life) :p
 

Jerry Seinfeld

Professional
Now I am ashamed. My excuse is that they got packed when we moved. They were in a bag that was inside a box with old sports equipment that we really never use. I did kill perfectly good balls...well they were Penns so I will revise to say perfect useable balls. Had they been Dunlop Grand Prixs, I am sure I would still be mourning.

:lol:
 

SW Stringer

Semi-Pro
The can I opened a couple of weeks ago still had plenty, and I would assume all of the pressure originally packed in it. It was packed away just like Jerry Seinfeld's example, when I moved from Minneapolis is 1975. So, 29 years later the Wilson plastic container was still pressurized - I didn't play with them though so I can't tell you if the balls had any life left in them. They still bounced and smelled like brand new balls.
 

Eug

Rookie
Wow....29 years...its an antique.....how dare you open it! Both of you (Jerry & SW) are reasons why kids these days are so out of control.
 

K!ck5w3rvE

Hall of Fame
I just bought a can of Slazenger's.....I'm going to shut them away for 50 years and then sell them on **** for $$$$$$$$$ lol.
 
Wow equinox, how many couple year old threads are you gonna revive today?

Ditto.
Earlier I saw your comments to a four year old thread on string dampeners. What's going on? Are you stuck in a time warp? Or did you see the Jerry Seinfeld comments and think this is a re-run?
 

DownTheLine

Hall of Fame
I think it's anywhere from about 3-4 years. I was helping my high school coach open cans of balls so we can use them and he was saying something like we need to use these old ones from 2006 and on the box there was an expiration date of like 2010 somewhere or late 2009.
 

gustie2011

New User
I'm wondering the same thing ... I'd buy a case, but I'm not sure I could go through that many in a short period of time.
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
So gustie RE-revives the almost SEVEN-year-old thread! ;) Just to note personal experience, I'm still using the balls we brought out on our move nearly three years ago(about three cases). As long as the cans don't experience extremes in temperature, the pressure should be OK and the core of the balls shouldn't deteriorate in that amount of time. I've got a couple of cans from the '96 Olympics and the pressure of the can seems to be holding...don't think I'll be opening them any time soon! :)
 
So gustie RE-revives the almost SEVEN-year-old thread! ;) Just to note personal experience, I'm still using the balls we brought out on our move nearly three years ago(about three cases). As long as the cans don't experience extremes in temperature, the pressure should be OK and the core of the balls shouldn't deteriorate in that amount of time. I've got a couple of cans from the '96 Olympics and the pressure of the can seems to be holding...don't think I'll be opening them any time soon! :)

wait ten more years and then sell them on ****:D.
 

gustie2011

New User
I think one of the tw rules should be dont revise a seven y/o thread just make a new one.

The idea with reviving the old thread being that, if I were to open a new thread, I would get a reply similar to, "Instead of making a new thread, search through the forum and you'll likely find something related.." :p
 

PeterPanda

Semi-Pro
The idea with reviving the old thread being that, if I were to open a new thread, I would get a reply similar to, "Instead of making a new thread, search through the forum and you'll likely find something related.." :p

Yeah that too search before you post.:)
 

Shangri La

Hall of Fame
I really think manufacture date should be printed on the can, so buyer can take it into consideration. In fact, manufacture date should be required by law for any product with a limited shelf life.
 
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struggle

Legend
Buy a case from TW. Better balls than at walmart (buy the good ones, Penn Marathons, Pro Penns, Prince, whatever)
and you can turn your friends on to better balls and sell them a few cans, they will move quickly.

Proble/worry solved.
 

swizzy

Hall of Fame
i have 7 cases that i have been using.. the oldest are 5 years old and one or two cans have been beat since i have been using these.. i coach tennis and these were found under some other boxes in our equipment room. by the age i told the equipment manager that i doubt they'd be good still. i took them as opposed to throwing them out. been using them for the last 5 years.. they are absolutely fine. penn and wilson balls.
 

BobStClar

New User
They dont last indefinitely. 2 year shelf life for tennis balls. Cans have micro leaks.
Hi

Having about 12 cans bought abou 12 months ago, not played bc of covid. TEcnifibre X-One and Wilson RG clay court (50/50). HAs anyone experince how minimum 1yo or more balls behave? We have an offer to buy large amount of TF Xone, quite good price. Believe in micro leaks could happened, so asking here.
 

struggle

Legend
Hi

Having about 12 cans bought abou 12 months ago, not played bc of covid. TEcnifibre X-One and Wilson RG clay court (50/50). HAs anyone experince how minimum 1yo or more balls behave? We have an offer to buy large amount of TF Xone, quite good price. Believe in micro leaks could happened, so asking here.

IME, one year is ok (worked for me in the past). Occasional bad can won't change that, it happens. As afar as purchasing for the future, I only buy a case at a time, maybe two. Unless they were super cheap and i used alot of balls FAST, i don't see the need.
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
I have just one case left from 13 years ago when we moved to Austin. I don't play any more, so it's one can every couple of months to hit for the pup to chase.
Honestly, I'd say 90% of the players out there would use these and think they were fine!!
 

BobStClar

New User
Thank you lot.

This year happened to my tennis mate that he opened new can of ball (traditional brand) and they were totally dead. So I am careful.
My experience is that TF X1 getting older slowly than Wilson RG CC, btw. Thanks.
 

struggle

Legend
Thank you lot.

This year happened to my tennis mate that he opened new can of ball (traditional brand) and they were totally dead. So I am careful.
My experience is that TF X1 getting older slowly than Wilson RG CC, btw. Thanks.

When i'm in doubt on this, i just always bring 2 cans.
 

coachrick

Hall of Fame
Thank you lot.

This year happened to my tennis mate that he opened new can of ball (traditional brand) and they were totally dead. So I am careful.
My experience is that TF X1 getting older slowly than Wilson RG CC, btw. Thanks.
Was the can still pressurized? That's the only reason for the balls to be dead(unless they went through a phenomenal freeze/thaw cycle with extreme temps).
I've got balls from the '96 Olympics and can tell the can has lost some pressure; but there is SOME.
 

BobStClar

New User
Was the can still pressurized? That's the only reason for the balls to be dead(unless they went through a phenomenal freeze/thaw cycle with extreme temps).
I've got balls from the '96 Olympics and can tell the can has lost some pressure; but there is SOME.

Yep, pressurized. Wasn't probably so old :) As I m remember well, my mate got 2 cans as a gift :)) What happened to second one, no idea.
I was curious about general durability. Preferably from producers. Doesn't matter. Thanks
 
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