How much do you pay for a can of balls?

[pabletion]

I whine about how much I have to pay for a can of tennis balls over here (Guatemala), and everytime I hit the good ol' USA I stock up on Wilson Championship Extra Duty at Target, which are under $3 bucks all of the time. Over here, the same balls can cost up to $9.75 and this price is given by the exclusive Wilson distributor at their sporting goods store!

I got a hold of the exclusive Wilson distributor in Guatemala, who happens to be a friend's brother, and the best price he offered me is roughly $4.95 (figure their profit margins!). Not as bad as $9.75, but its no $3.55 for Penn Championship Extra Duty (six-pack of cans). So when I buy local, I go for Penn, even though my favorite tennis ball considering cost-quality is the Wilson Championship Extra Duty ball.

A contact of mine who works for a tennis brand in France said something about balls being cheaper in the US than anywhere else because
1. Huge conpetition between ball brands.
2. Theyre made in the US (no huge shipping costs)

Makes sense.... So,

How much do you pay for your regular, cheap but not cheapest (coach) can of balls? Where do you live?

 

[Felix le chat]

I only hit with Dunlop Championship...I buy 4 or 5 cans ( 4 per can ) at the time, cost: $ 3.12 + tax...here in SoCal.

When I'm in Europe ( France ), they sell the can of 4 at the obscene price of 8 euros ( = $ 9.00 ).

 

[Devil_dog]

Penn Extra Duty for $1.99 at a, uh, local academic sporting goods store.

 

[4-string]

Try $14.50 per can (local store) of Head ATP. [emoji15]

So I tend to buy from the UK, even with shipping it is less than half price.

 

[Sambuccashake]

A can of Wilson US Open balls costs about $5.2 in Sweden.

 

[pabletion]

Try $14.50 per can (local store) of Head ATP. [emoji15]

So I tend to buy from the UK, even with shipping it is less than half price.

$14.50????? Where the hell is that???

 

[mmk]

...A contact of mine who works for a tennis brand in France said something about balls being cheaper in the US than anywhere else because
1. Huge conpetition between ball brands.
2. Theyre made in the US (no huge shipping costs)...

I highly doubt any tennis balls are still made in the US. Wilson's are made in China:

An article about Slazenger tennis balls: https://www.theguardian.com/environ.../26/wimbledon-tennis-balls-miles-centre-court

Shipping really doesn't factor in, Australia is closer to China than the US is, but a can of 3 balls cost around 9-11 AUD (around 7 to 8.5 USD). Import duty, retailer collusion, captive audiences, supply/demand, etc are the real cost drivers.

 

[Ciaron]

Equivalent of $5 to $6 in South Africa

 

[Booger]

Australia is closer to China than the US is, but a can of 3 balls cost around 9-11 AUD (around 7 to 8.5 USD).

Try $14.50 per can (local store) of Head ATP. [emoji15]

Unreal. I easily go through ~100 cans/year. Do you guys use tennis balls for multiple matches or just suck it up and pay robbery prices?

 

[MrRandom247]

I hand out cans of Whoop-Ass for FREE!

 

[MrRandom247]

Seriously, now..
Wilson Hardcourt
$12 for 4 at Tennis Retailer.
$10 for 4 at a Big Box type store.
$5 for 3 at a special secret place..

 

[Robert F]

Does anyone know if they ever tried to create a ball that can be used over and over? Better than pressureless balls?

 

[4-string]

Unreal. I easily go through ~100 cans/year. Do you guys use tennis balls for multiple matches or just suck it up and pay robbery prices?

I love my ZT-1. [emoji4]

 

[mmk]

Unreal. I easily go through ~100 cans/year. Do you guys use tennis balls for multiple matches or just suck it up and pay robbery prices?

I only paid that during my trips to Australia, at home in the States of course it is $3 to $3.50 when buying a single can.

 

[robbo1970]

6 cans of x4 Dunlop Forts for £18.

 

[pabletion]

Unreal. I easily go through ~100 cans/year. Do you guys use tennis balls for multiple matches or just suck it up and pay robbery prices?

Yes. Multiple matches

I try and stretch every can for two or three matches, when Im rich & famous I'll open a fresh can every 6 games, meanwhile I suck it up.

I go through around a box a year, that is, I open or try to open a fresh can twice a month.

 

[Chotobaka]

Many of us in the US have no clue about how good we have it when buying racquets and balls. I will bring as many cans of balls possible when traveling to most overseas locations, and then pay through the nose like everyone else when those have been used. I pay around $1.50 per can for Penn Championship when purchased in either 12 or 24 can cases and $2.89 for Pro Penn Marathon in 24 can cases.

 

[Ronaldo]

Pay $22 for 12-3 ball cans of Penn, $2/can for Wilson.

 

[LeeD]

San Francisco, about $2.60 for a can of Dunlop HD Hardcourts, maybe 275 for Penn HD Hardcourts. I never buy more than 3 cans at a time because I might die soon and not get to use all 3 cans.

 

[elga]

$2.99 for ProPenn 3-ball can and $3.99 for a 4-ball can at my local shop.

 

[MiPeGr]

I tend to prefer the Wilson Championships. I tend to stock up when the local sporting goods store has them on sale @ $2.29 per can.

I tried asking the manager about getting a whole case at that price, but they put all their stock out singly & don't keep the boxes. I'm welcome to grab 24 cans @ that price, I just don't get a perfectly-sized container to hold them all in.

I'd like to know where @Chotobaka gets his Penn Marathons for $2.89 (~$67/case). The pro shop in town does cases for $89, or I could mail-order, with the attendant shipping costs. I'd think about US Opens or Penn Marathons instead of my Wilson Championships if I could get them at a price like that...

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Seriously, now..
Wilson Hardcourt
$12 for 4 at Tennis Retailer.
$10 for 4 at a Big Box type store.
$5 for 3 at a special secret place..

2 bucks for a 3 ball can at Target, just load up on about 6-8 cans every few months.

Which actually reminds me, I have a 10 dollar off coupon, so free tennis balls here I come!

 

[Big_Dangerous]

San Francisco, about $2.60 for a can of Dunlop HD Hardcourts, maybe 275 for Penn HD Hardcourts. I never buy more than 3 cans at a time because I might die soon and not get to use all 3 cans.

Haha, that's the saddest and funniest thing I've read!

Well played!

 

[Chotobaka]

I tend to prefer the Wilson Championships. I tend to stock up when the local sporting goods store has them on sale @ $2.29 per can.

I tried asking the manager about getting a whole case at that price, but they put all their stock out singly & don't keep the boxes. I'm welcome to grab 24 cans @ that price, I just don't get a perfectly-sized container to hold them all in.

I'd like to know where @Chotobaka gets his Penn Marathons for $2.89 (~$67/case). The pro shop in town does cases for $89, or I could mail-order, with the attendant shipping costs. I'd think about US Opens or Penn Marathons instead of my Wilson Championships if I could get them at a price like that...

I have a connection who sells them to me close to his cost -- although I get good deals on everything I buy, I send him a lot of retail and wholesale referral business.

 

[Imago]

San Francisco, about $2.60 for a can of Dunlop HD Hardcourts, maybe 275 for Penn HD Hardcourts. I never buy more than 3 cans at a time because I might die soon and not get to use all 3 cans.

Tennis is the only God blessed game in paradise. I will put my balls and racket in the coffin.

Buyng from Sportsdirect at $5 a can of Dunlop Fort.

 

[r2473]

I pay $2.49 for the basic Wilson or Penn ball at Target. Was $1.99 last year.

The only times I've bought balls by the case (from Costco or Wal-Mart), the balls have bounced like rocks every time and I had to return them.

 

[MarcusInKensington]

Tecnifibre X-One. £17.50 ($22.69) per dozen.

Expensive for yellow fluffy spherical objects, but last 10x longer than any other ball I have ever used. They simply don't lose pressure.

 

[rchjr2091]

What's ironic is I'm the only person I have seen at the local courts in months...but hey they have it in the dog section... probably sold 3 cans.

 

[LeeD]

My local Target is a little slow...
Last week, bought two cans of Penn Extra Duty Felt Hardcourts for 1.99 each. Opened a can on a Friday, no player's, used them on Monday for a 40 minute hit, then on Wed brought them out for 4.0 dubs and nobody complained about the balls, and two of the guys are super picky, always new ball player's.

 

[NuBas]

That's hilarious, probably a quarter of those cans are dead balls. LOL pet section, I think you should look into tennis coaching in Alabama

 

[Demented]

The local big box atheltic store is now selling their own branded balls here. 1.69 a can.

 

[Muppet]

2 bucks for a 3 ball can at Target, just load up on about 6-8 cans every few months.

Which actually reminds me, I have a 10 dollar off coupon, so free tennis balls here I come!

Would you cover Serena up, please? As an ambassador of our sport I think she deserves a little more respect than this. Just a request.

 

[Minion]

Equivalent of $5 to $6 in South Africa

Right now it is R110 for a 3 can Dunlop Fort - that's almost $8 - we are getting screwed.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I'm a new-can-every-time-I-play guy...

pay about 3/can for whatever premium ball of the day is (marathon, atp, usopen, grandprix, etc,...). always buy cans by the case.

I suspect the guys that use balls for multiple days are slicers, dicers, and dinkers. while it is cheaper, I think the real reason is that it helps control harder shots, hard hitters can't hit as hard, and it more effectively keeps their dinky shots low.

my $0.02

 

[pabletion]

I'm a new-can-every-time-I-play guy...

pay about 3/can for whatever premium ball of the day is (marathon, atp, usopen, grandprix, etc,...). always buy cans by the case.

I suspect the guys that use balls for multiple days are slicers, dicers, and dinkers. while it is cheaper, I think the real reason is that it helps control harder shots, hard hitters can't hit as hard, and it more effectively keeps their dinky shots low.

my $0.02

Multiple day user here, and NO, absolutely not a slicer, dicer, dinker. Although, like I said, I probably "stretch" the cans of balls to two or three matches, at most (three matches, when I forget to bring a new can). I absolutely prefer new balls, but hey, budget doesnt allow for new balls every six games (not yet, at least!).

I save the used balls to have around and practice, etc. If you can spring for a new can each time you play, thats great, wish I could also, but its more a matter of expenses than level of play (cause, you know, I can kick your ass all day long, NY!).

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Multiple day user here, and NO, absolutely not a slicer, dicer, dinker. Although, like I said, I probably "stretch" the cans of balls to two or three matches, at most (three matches, when I forget to bring a new can). I absolutely prefer new balls, but hey, budget doesnt allow for new balls every six games (not yet, at least!).

I save the used balls to have around and practice, etc. If you can spring for a new can each time you play, thats great, wish I could also, but its more a matter of expenses than level of play (cause, you know, I can kick your ass all day long, NY!).

lol, challenge accepted!

 

[MathGeek]

I'm supposed to buy new ones?

Been doing fine picking up old balls around the court for years. Not as shiny yellow, but they do OK.

 

[Lukhas]

A contact of mine who works for a tennis brand in France said something about balls being cheaper in the US than anywhere else because
1. Huge conpetition between ball brands.
2. Theyre made in the US (no huge shipping costs)

Well I'm French, so I can help you on that one. I use Artengo TB930s which are extra duty. 5.95€ for a tube, 16.50€ for three. At least there are four balls per can... Unfortunately, I'm also quite picky with balls, so I'm considering trying Tretorn Micro X Comfort. Already tried the regular version and they indeed were quite hard.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Would you cover Serena up, please? As an ambassador of our sport I think she deserves a little more respect than this. Just a request.

Pictures will still exist on the internet, just like porn.

 

[Mongolmike]

I buy them by the case from good old TW. Dunlop Grand Prixs I think. Always have a can in my bag, don't mind popping one to play with new balls. I think the case is like $70 for 24 so, less than $3 can.

After a good match I throw the balls in my practice hopper. When practicing and a ball is losing too much fuzz or is noticeably flatter, I leave them on the court for someone else to scoop up for their use, for their dog, kids to play with... don't care. They always disappear. (It's probably MathGeek scooping them up ?? )

 

[bonchien]

FYI, you can get Wilson US Open Extra Duty tennis balls at Target stores in the USA for $2.75 per can after using the Target Wish List app coupon and getting 5% back with the Target Red Card (credit card). Without the Redcard, they're $2.90 per can, which is as low as I've seen them. See this thread: https://slickdeals.net/f/9285879-wi...-at-target-b-m-ac?v=1&p=91178923#post91178923

 

[coachrick]

I'd not flinch at $2.75/can for personal play; but I used to go through a (half)case a week just for two round robins. No matter what ball we used on the hard courts, they were cooked after two hours. When available, I would use four-ball cans(partially in case one went over the fence and couldn't be retrieved, partially to get decent balls back for the teaching hopper). Paying an extra 75 cents for three balls wouldn't make economic sense when I could get a fourth ball for that amount. Drove some people nuts to have a fourth ball on the court. I liked it for personal play because I could hit four aces without picking up a ball The good old days!

Costco(in the States) has Penn balls for just under $2/can every day. Academy Sports has Penn, Wilson and Dunlop very close to $2/can at all times, less during a special.

Back in the '70s, the Bancroft rep(who also handled shipments to Mexico and south) said he had to double or triple orders for retailers as it was common practice for various middlemen to take their 'commission' in the form of merchandise. Even in the '70s, a can of balls at a resort ran about $10US. Then, you had to tip the "ball boys" who would frequently show up to shag balls for the guests. Darned expensive sport, I reckon!

 

[pabletion]

I'd not flinch at $2.75/can for personal play; but I used to go through a (half)case a week just for two round robins. No matter what ball we used on the hard courts, they were cooked after two hours. When available, I would use four-ball cans(partially in case one went over the fence and couldn't be retrieved, partially to get decent balls back for the teaching hopper). Paying an extra 75 cents for three balls wouldn't make economic sense when I could get a fourth ball for that amount. Drove some people nuts to have a fourth ball on the court. I liked it for personal play because I could hit four aces without picking up a ball The good old days!

Costco(in the States) has Penn balls for just under $2/can every day. Academy Sports has Penn, Wilson and Dunlop very close to $2/can at all times, less during a special.

Back in the '70s, the Bancroft rep(who also handled shipments to Mexico and south) said he had to double or triple orders for retailers as it was common practice for various middlemen to take their 'commission' in the form of merchandise. Even in the '70s, a can of balls at a resort ran about $10US. Then, you had to tip the "ball boys" who would frequently show up to shag balls for the guests. Darned expensive sport, I reckon!

Costco under $2???? Penn CHAMPIONSHIP????? Goodbye Target, hello Costco, when I hit the States!!!

 

[coachrick]

Costco under $2???? Penn CHAMPIONSHIP????? Goodbye Target, hello Costco, when I hit the States!!!

Yep...last I noticed was a 15-can box for $29.xx

 

[Chotobaka]

Yep...last I noticed was a 15-can box for $29.xx

My local Costco has been carrying the 20 can "Players Pack" for the last couple of years now. $39.00 for the 20 cans. Walmart has had 12 can cases on sale from time to time at $22.00 (order online and pick up at the store). I have used balls from both to fill my cart and have no complaints whatsoever. No flat tubes or dead balls. Quality is exactly the same as from other sources, the count per "case" is the only difference. I can get regular HD Dunnies for $1.89 per can in 24 can cases, but I feel the Penn Championship balls hold up better. Can't beat Costco for year round value on these.

 

[chsu74]

My local Costco has been carrying the 20 can "Players Pack" for the last couple of years now. $39.00 for the 20 cans. Walmart has had 12 can cases on sale from time to time at $22.00 (order online and pick up at the store). I have used balls from both to fill my cart and have no complaints whatsoever. No flat tubes or dead balls. Quality is exactly the same as from other sources, the count per "case" is the only difference. I can get regular HD Dunnies for $1.89 per can in 24 can cases, but I feel the Penn Championship balls hold up better. Can't beat Costco for year round value on these.

I used Costco Penn balls for a while. They are from a substandard manufacturing line.

Amazon Prime orders now. Excellent service and competitive price all around.

 

[JoshAram]

3.00 for high altitude propenn marathons. 3.00 for Wilson us opens high altitude from local tennis store


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chotobaka]

I used Costco Penn balls for a while. They are from a substandard manufacturing line.

Amazon Prime orders now. Excellent service and competitive price all around.

Nonsense. All current production Penn balls are made in a single facility in China, and have been made there for some time now. All Penn Championship balls are made on the same line, in the same factory to the same specs.

 

[chsu74]

Nonsense. All current production Penn balls are made in a single facility in China, and have been made there for some time now. All Penn Championship balls are made on the same line, in the same factory to the same specs.

You are saying Penn has only one production line in that factory to make various branded tennis balls with different weights and specs with their volume? Sounds like nonsense to me as well.

 

[Chotobaka]

You are saying Penn has only one production line in that factory to make various branded tennis balls with different weights and specs with their volume? Sounds like nonsense to me as well.

To think Head/Penn has created a separate line for the specific purpose of producing "substandard" Championship balls for Costco (and other big box distributors) to sell for a slightly lower price is just idiotic from a business perspective. The simple reason that distributors like Costco and Walmart have lower prices is that they are the 900 pound Gorillas who have the ability to grind out good deals from their suppliers, not because they purchase substandard products. In the case of Costco's practices, it is actually quite the opposite. Likewise, it makes no sense for Head/Penn to have identically branded substandard products in a very competitive marketplace.

Just for yuks I posed the question to a Head/Penn rep and they stated that all balls for each specific product line are exactly the same, irrespective of distribution channel.

Years ago, when they were initially consolidating ball production to China there were plenty of inconsistencies in QC across the board, which may have contributed to idea that failure of balls purchased at Costco were unique to that company. I have know people who experienced flat tubes purchased at Costco at that time. At the same time, I experienced defective product purchased through other distributors such as pro shops and big box sporting goods stores. It was a brand wide issue, with the exception of the then US made Pro Penn balls.

Currently, there is no difference in the quality and incidence of defects among Penn Championship balls at Costco vs anywhere else -- unless you have a conspiracy theory.