Price of Tennis Balls

[Michael Weiner]

For all of us old-timers who've been playing tennis for 30+ years, it's amazing to realize how cheap tennis balls are priced today.

I remember paying $3 a can back in the late '70s. (That's when balls were actually packaged in metal cans.) Today, I usually pay $1.87 at Target.

Considering the rate of inflation for the past 30 years, tennis balls should be $10 to $12 a can.

Now, if we could only see a similar decline in gas prices!

 

[150mph_]

so do you actually want tennis balls to be more expensive ...?

 

[smO]

In Finland, most of the Wilson balls cost about 10e a can.

 

[IceNineTX]

In Finland, most of the Wilson balls cost about 10e a can.

We pay $1.88 per can of 4 at Academy Sports and Outdoors.

 

[scotus]

The prices have certainly come down. But I still don't see any reason why they couldn't be $1 a can.

 

[Michael Weiner]

Heck no. I'm thrilled tennis balls are so cheap.

It's just interesting to note that with most goods and services going up in price due to inflation that balls are so inexpensive!

It is also interesting when you compare the emergence of graphite rackets. The early graphite rackets, such as the Adila Canon and Tony Trabert C-6, were $150 to $200 30 years ago.

Based on the rate of inflation for the past 30 years graphite rackets should be $600 to $800 today.

Of course, this doesn't take into account price savings as a result of streamlined manufacturing process and economies of scale, particularly since graphite rackets have become the norm in racket design.

But unlike graphite rackets, the technology of manufacturing tennis balls has remained fairly constant during the past three decades. And in argument to the economies of scale issue, tennis balls should be priced much higher since less people are playing tennis today than they did during the tennis boom of the '70s.

 

[150mph_]

but also before the racquets and balls were not outsourced...

now if they are made in taiwan or indonesia obviously it'll be cheaper than made with american labor

 

[nickb]

In the UK you cant get decent balls like Dunlop Fort, Slazenger Wimbledon etc for less than £2.99 a can (best price)...my local pro shop charges £6.99 for 4 slaz wimbledon balls (1 can)...thats $13!!!! :shock:

 

[BullDogTennis]

In the UK you cant get decent balls like Dunlop Fort, Slazenger Wimbledon etc for less than £2.99 a can (best price)...my local pro shop charges £6.99 for 4 slaz wimbledon balls (1 can)...thats $13!!!! :shock:

come to America! then this wont be a problem!

 

[nickb]

come to America! then this wont be a problem!

No Thanks!

I love England too much...will have to just pay the prices