How Often Should I replace my balls
- Thread starter SlapChop
- Start date
mikeler
Moderator
dozu
Banned
I think I've used regular and grass balls.
WinNCash
Rookie
I used to have one of those when I played racquetball (it was racquetball sized, naturally.) It worked pretty well. But we just used to keep them in that thing and then play and put them back in after. Racquetballs will literally split in two after a while and even brand new ones have been known to do this by the end of a session of play. It is really awesome in a tournament to have a ball split and end up on the floor when you are about to win the point.
r2473
G.O.A.T.
I doubt either myself or the U players hit hard enough or with enough spin to notice the difference. Probably just you and Nadal.
mikeler
Moderator
Is this Barry U? In all seriousness, what is your 2nd favorite ball besides the US Open balls?
Was using these per advice on these forums... had one completely "fuzzball" during the first set of play. Never happened before with the Penn ATP we were using previously and since. Anyone else ever had this happen with the Dunlop balls?
tennis_balla
Hall of Fame
You guys need to try the Babolat balls, either the Gold or VS
mikeler
Moderator
r2473
G.O.A.T.
I have a somewhat limited selection compared to most of you because I need high altitude balls. In my experience:
"Basic" Penn & Wilson: They are OK. Not very durable. Also, not consistent from one ball to the next. They seem to go "deader" faster. Feel "mushy".
Penn ATP: I like these, but they are hard to find here in high altitude. Have only used them a few times.
Basic Dunlop: Something seems strange with these. Haven't used them in a while, but I do remember them bouncing higher. This could be just because they don't make a "true" high altitude ball.
Better Dunlop: These really aren't around.
Generally speaking, I like the Penn ATP and Wilson US Open the best. Our tennis team uses the US Open, so I just buy them at the counter. I get used to playing with them, so I usually buy them by the case for summer play.
The US Open is definitely a "harder" ball, so I do find other balls easier to spin. I haven't noticed these "fluffing up" anywhere near as bad as the cheap Penn or cheap Wilson balls (and those are basically my other choices).
This is what I was wondering. I guess if I just use a half case I won't mind as much but I was going to use a full case and I don't want tot spend $70 every month on new balls. $35 wouldn't be too bad. When I first got practice balls and a hopper I used a whole case but this last time I just bought a half case to try a new brand. I haven't really been missing the other balls too much.
I always open a fresh can for match play but practicing I don't want to just spend a bunch of money needlessly.
mikeler
Moderator
I've only used the US Open balls at a local club during a few hard court tournaments and once at a neighbors hard court. These are very gritty hard courts so I suspect that could be part of the problem with them making the US Open balls fuzz up quickly. I enjoy hitting with them in the warm up but they play completely different in the 2nd set than the warmup.
The Penn ATP balls are pretty good for hard courts. Seems like they play pretty consistently over the course of a few sets and offer a medium bounce. If I have to play with basic Wilson or Penn, I like the Wilsons since they have a little more life in them but life is too short to play with cheap balls.
r2473
G.O.A.T.
I might buy the Penn ATP and compare them to the US Open balls. I found a place that will sell the Penn ATP high altitude ball on the internet.
The thing I have to be careful of is not getting "flat" balls. There is a sports store in town that must not sell them fast enough because every can I bought from them has been flat. I also think that the high altitude balls aren't used as much as regular balls, so they could have been sitting in the warehouse for a while (and have gone bad).
I like to buy them from the tennis team because I know they will be good.
The thing I have to be careful of is not getting "flat" balls. There is a sports store in town that must not sell them fast enough because every can I bought from them has been flat. I also think that the high altitude balls aren't used as much as regular balls, so they could have been sitting in the warehouse for a while (and have gone bad).
I like to buy them from the tennis team because I know they will be good.
mikeler
Moderator
I've never had a problem buying balls online. The only bad batches I get are the ones from a large sports chain. What elevation do you play at?
r2473
G.O.A.T.
Salt Lake is 4,200 feet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_City
That's where I got the bad balls too. Sports Authority.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_City
That's where I got the bad balls too. Sports Authority.
mikeler
Moderator
rdis10093
Hall of Fame
heck yeah, first person to respond to one of my post. Not a nube anymore. Losts of love slapchop
Mikeler,
The balls in question, that I mentioned, came directly from Prince. Maybe the problem has been solved and maybe it only involved certain balls or batches - don't know. I mean its a nice ball but after about ten minutes of decent hitting the ball is coming at you like a screw/knuckle ball. You think something is wrong with you eyes but when you shake the ball, its just like a rattle.
Prince makes good stuff and I was connected with them for awhile - its a good company. It was just the guy on the glue applicator had a heavy finger - (probably done automatically).
The balls in question, that I mentioned, came directly from Prince. Maybe the problem has been solved and maybe it only involved certain balls or batches - don't know. I mean its a nice ball but after about ten minutes of decent hitting the ball is coming at you like a screw/knuckle ball. You think something is wrong with you eyes but when you shake the ball, its just like a rattle.
Prince makes good stuff and I was connected with them for awhile - its a good company. It was just the guy on the glue applicator had a heavy finger - (probably done automatically).
