Penn Championship balls are not bad when…..

[Injured Again]

Okay, so before I get to the punch line, I normally use USO extra duty balls, but about a year ago there was a period when all tennis balls were in short supply. I managed to get about ten cans of the Penn Championship balls just in case I ran out of the USO balls.

I did try a couple of cans recently and the Penns were terrible, being dead out of the can and really slow on top of that. They were basically unplayable in our winter’s cold indoor environment. But yesterday, I had a good hit with the Penn balls. They were just a little slower on the bounce than the USO balls, and two cans lasted an entire 90 minute session of continuous hitting without losing much of their playability.

The secret is easy but just requires a bit of time. I have a corny keg pressurizer and put newly opened balls under 25 PSI for four weeks. I tried them at three weeks but even though they bounced as high as a USO extra duty ball, they carried forward on the bounce about 25% less distance. After four weeks, they bounce slightly higher then the USO from a drop test but their bounce on court isn’t any higher - it seems the extra pressure has helped the balls to carry their forward speed more after hitting the court.

They still feel funny when I hit them. Squeezing them they are hard as rocks, but hitting them they are cushioned and soft in a weird way, kind of like that first hit after a broken string. The ball still goes where it’s supposed to but the impact feel is just off. As a practice ball, it’s at least usable and I don’t have to just chuck these new cans into the garbage.

Next experiment will be to over pressurize some green dot balls to see if I can use them after my knee replacement surgery to ease me back into the game.

 

[socallefty]

I notice a loss in pressure/liveliness even for cans of premium balls after 1-month storage in an indoor closet. The cans we open from a new case are livelier than when we get to the last few cans a month later.

 

[dak95_00]

I notice a loss in pressure/liveliness even for cans of premium balls after 1-month storage in an indoor closet. The cans we open from a new case are livelier than when we get to the last few cans a month later.

This is a head scratcher. Are you buying your cases directly from the manufacturer or a retailer such as Tennis Warehouse?

The only variable I’ve ever noticed to make a difference was storage temperature other than premium balls being better than value balls.

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

It would be nice if the cans listed the date of manufacture, given that any people claim that Costco balls sit around in the warehouse and get flat.
Am skeptical of that theory.
Sealed cans of tennis balls should not lose pressure when stored indoors for a month. Correct?

AI Bard

You are likely correct. It is highly unlikely that unopened cans of tennis balls would go flat within a month, assuming they were properly sealed and stored in normal conditions.

Here's why:

• Airtightness: Tennis ball cans are designed to be airtight, preventing air from leaking in or out. This allows them to maintain the internal pressure for extended periods, typically several years.
• Pressure Maintenance: The initial pressure inside a new can is significantly higher than the atmospheric pressure, which helps to resist any natural diffusion of air through the can's walls.
• Material Properties: The materials used in tennis ball cans, typically metal or plastic, are chosen for their low gas permeability. This further minimizes the risk of pressure loss.

While minor pressure fluctuations might occur over time due to temperature changes, it shouldn't be enough to make the balls completely flat within a month.

Here are some possible explanations for the person's claim:

• Damaged cans: If the cans were punctured or damaged in any way, it could allow air to leak out and cause the balls to lose pressure.
• Improper storage: Exposing the cans to extreme temperatures or high humidity could accelerate the degradation of the seal and lead to pressure loss.
• Manufacturing defect: While unlikely, it's possible that the cans were defective and had poor seals from the factory.

If the person is concerned about the quality of their tennis balls, they should check the cans for any signs of damage.

While tennis ball cans are designed to be durable and maintain air pressure, extreme temperatures and humidity can impact their integrity over time. Here's a breakdown of how these factors affect the air pressure in tennis balls:

Temperature:

• High temperatures (above 100°F): Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can soften the rubber material in the can's seal, potentially allowing air to leak out over several months.
• Low temperatures (below 32°F): Extremely cold temperatures can cause the rubber to become brittle and crack, leading to leaks and pressure loss.

Humidity:

• High humidity (above 80%): While less detrimental than high temperatures, prolonged exposure to high humidity can eventually cause the metal or plastic of the can to corrode, compromising the seal and allowing air to leak out.

Combined effects:

• The combined effect of high temperature and high humidity can significantly accelerate the degradation of the seal and lead to faster pressure loss.

While these are general guidelines, the actual time it takes for a tennis ball to go flat depends on several factors:

• Can material: Metal cans tend to be more resistant to degradation than plastic cans.
• Seal quality: Cans with high-quality seals will be less susceptible to leakage.
• Storage conditions: Storing cans in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight will help to extend their lifespan.

Here are some specific examples:

• High temperatures: A can exposed to consistent temperatures above 100°F for several months might start showing signs of pressure loss.
• Low temperatures: A can stored in freezing temperatures for an extended period could develop cracks and become unusable.
• High humidity: While longer exposure is needed, a can stored in high humidity for over a year might begin to lose some pressure.

It's important to note that even within these ranges, individual cans may vary in their resistance to pressure loss due to manufacturing variations and other factors. Therefore, it's always best to store tennis balls in ideal conditions and check them for pressure before use, regardless of the time elapsed since purchase.

There are a few reasons why tennis ball cans don't typically have a date of manufacture (MFG) printed on them:


1. Long shelf life: Unopened tennis balls stored in proper conditions can have a shelf life of several years. Manufacturers likely feel that printing an MFG date would be unnecessary and potentially misleading, as the balls might remain playable for much longer than the printed date.


2. Focus on quality indicators: Instead of an MFG date, tennis ball manufacturers often focus on other quality indicators, such as pressure testing or performance standards. These indicators are more relevant to the actual performance of the balls, which is what consumers are ultimately concerned about.


3. Marketing considerations: Printing an MFG date might be seen as discouraging consumers from purchasing older balls, even if they are still perfectly playable. This could negatively impact sales, especially for brands with higher price points.


4. Consumer expectations: In the tennis industry, consumers may not be as accustomed to seeing MFG dates on product packaging. This could be because the focus is on performance rather than freshness, as with food products.


5. Regulatory ambiguity: There are no specific regulations in most countries requiring manufacturers to print an MFG date on tennis balls. This gives manufacturers more flexibility in their packaging decisions.


6. Cost considerations: Printing an MFG date would add a small but non-negligible cost to the production process. Manufacturers might choose to avoid this cost if they believe it won't significantly impact sales.


It's important to note that while MFG dates are not common, some tennis ball brands may choose to include them on their packaging. This is typically done to provide more information to consumers and potentially build trust in their brand.


Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to include an MFG date on tennis ball cans remains with the individual manufacturers. While it may offer some benefits to consumers, there are also valid reasons why manufacturers might choose to omit it.

 

[tennis3]

This is a head scratcher. Are you buying your cases directly from the manufacturer or a retailer such as Tennis Warehouse?

This is always one of the funniest topics on TW. Most people out here seriously talk about "Costco Penn's". As if Costco manufactures the tennis balls themselves, or the tennis ball manufacturer makes extra bad tennis balls specifically for Costco on purpose. There are only "a few" tennis ball manufactures in the world, but I don't know how many. All other company's just pay these manufactures to make their balls. But they don't actually own the factory themselves. I know Wilson has a factory. I'm pretty sure Head (Penn) has a factory. But I don't know who else does.

You have no way of knowing when a can of tennis balls was manufactured, how long they have been in warehouse storage (either at the manufacturer or the retailer) or how they have been stored. All you can really do is feel the can before buying. If the can feels "flat", the balls will be flat. Don't buy those balls. Doesn't matter if they are $2 / can Penn's or $20 / can boutique balls. Flat balls are flat balls.

Higher end balls basically just use better felt. A tighter weave. It is also believed that there is higher quality control with the higher end balls, but I don't know if that is true.

I have a corny keg pressurizer and put newly opened balls under 25 PSI for four weeks.

I do the same thing with any flat balls. I don't generally buy flat balls or keep them around the house very long. I just run down to Wal-Mart and buy a few cans at a time. Balls are always "fresh". But I do use the Korny Keg to repressurize balls my playing partners have bought and are flat. And it works. The toughest balls I ever repressurized were a case of "Costco Penns". These things needed 50 PSI and 3 or 4 weeks to get back to "near normal". But most balls aren't this hard.

 

[socallefty]

This is a head scratcher. Are you buying your cases directly from the manufacturer or a retailer such as Tennis Warehouse?

The only variable I’ve ever noticed to make a difference was storage temperature other than premium balls being better than value balls.

I buy them either from TW or from a local pro shop. My wife and I go through a case in 4-5 weeks as we both play daily. The balls don’t get flat, but the cans at the end of the month have slightly less bounce than cans opened first - I’ve also compared side-by-side the bounce of balls of these month-old cans with balls from new cans from the next case. They are still playable without issues but less enjoyable and this doesn’t happen with all cases - maybe more in hotter months as we don’t keep the ac on always.

Before my wife started playing, I would buy a case and then split it with a friend so that I could go through about 12 cans in a month and then buy the next case. I’m just saying that balls that have been stored for years might have some pressure go out as I assume the vacuum in these cans is not 100% perfect.

 

[tennis3]

My wife and I go through a case in 4-5 weeks as we both play daily. The balls don’t get flat, but the cans at the end of the month have slightly less bounce than cans opened first - I’ve also compared side-by-side the bounce of balls of these month-old cans with balls from new cans from the next case.

The day you buy the balls is meaningless. The balls you bought could have been manufactured a few weeks ago or a few years ago. They were stored "somewhere" in the intervening time.

Unless you're saying that your ball storage area is really, really bad. So a month in with you is significant. But I don't think that's what you're saying.

 

[HBK4life]

I remember crazy times when balls purchased bounced. No matter the brand. Or store you got them from. No some had more fuzz. But by goodness they bounced. It was crazy. Now every so often. Maybe one time a year you’d get a can that was a dud. But hey it’s not like they have jumped in price and quality has gone down right? Right???

 

[Injured Again]

I notice a loss in pressure/liveliness even for cans of premium balls after 1-month storage in an indoor closet. The cans we open from a new case are livelier than when we get to the last few cans a month later.

I’ve never noticed this to be the case with USO balls that I buy directly from Wilson. Typically I’ll get a couple of cases at a time so it’s a few months until I get to the end of the second case, and because I normally open two cans for practices, it’s common to use the last can from an old shipment and the first can from a new shipment. There has been no bounce difference that I’ve ever noticed.

I store the balls on a shelf in the garage and in the winter, I’ll bring them into the house the night before their use. I air condition the garage but don’t heat it.

 

[stapletonj]

......somebody else buys them and you don't have to use them.

.....when the tournament is using them, but you are playing a 10 point super-tiebreaker in lieu of a 3rd set anyway.