Richard Gasquet: "We have a problem since COVID, all the balls are slower there is no longer any doubt about it."

[J011yroger]

I wouldn't let my dog chew on this year's Pro Penn Marathons.

J

 

[naturalexponent]

As a rec player I nowadays almost exclusively practice with pressureless balls like Tretorn Micro X or Wilson Triniti. I don't miss pressurized balls that have to be thrown in the trash after a single day of use.

Same here re triniti

 

[J011yroger]

I too am noticing the Dunlop e tees duty and pen extra duty balls are heavier and lacking pressure in most of the cans opened.

I’ve switched to tecnifibre champion hard court balls. They’re ok. The felt doesn’t stay on as long but they maintain pressure and aren’t as heavy.

The court ones are a bit better but the felt does not last long at all. The X1 is the best ball on earth but holds a lot of water on wet clay where the Wilson RG is king.

J

 

[Holmes]

Not the first time a one-handed BH player struggled mightily after the balls slowed down

I think you meant Fed but my first thought was sureshs

 

[travlerajm]

Players publicly criticizing new balls -

Nadal
Medvedev
FAA
Tsitsipas
Gasquet

Not a good look for atp when the best players in the world whine about balls.

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

As a rec player, tennis ball quality has gone down tremendously.

I purchased a case of Wilson Extra Duty and every ball was flat. I suspect it was poor handling somewhere in the shipping process. A couple weeks later I bought a case of Dunlop balls and it was the same issue.

How's that great reset working for ya'll? Just seems to me the wrong people are being put in the wrong places. And that goes for every fabric of our global society post covid.

Around August 2020 bought a case of dunlop AOs they were so good... last year had friend buy same case both from TW and they all sucked

 

[Cerdany]

Same here re triniti

Tbf the Triniti are intrinsically crappy.

 

[ihitlikeagirl]

We want cheaper products, so everything will eventually be produced in China, with terrible quality as a result.

And even things not produced in China have greatly declined in quality bc they both can't compete and think why should they bother. Everything is disposable and crap. It is the China/Amazon influence but every company virtually is doing it. Whether it is in product or service, service support, they all do it. What is the customer going to do? Switch to another sh*tty product? More bad service?

At first I thought what a kooky thread but it actually matches my own experience with everything I buy in the last few years. It was happening before the pandemic but really solidified during that time...They blame lack of material goods, labor, etc but it's all just a way for these companies to give less, charge more. It doesn't surprise me at all that it's extending to the quality of the balls. I also think that people who are super technical about things, like Gasquet would notice this and be upset about it. Other players play with other emphasis and this guy plays with all the technicalities in mind. So I agree with him for speaking up about it. The only thing is that all players are similarly affected by it. It's hard, I suppose, when you are a precision player like he seems to be to get mentally unstuck from a noticeable difference like the balls.

 

[Ufiors]

Actually Dunlop changed factories during covid from Thailand to Phillipines.
I noticed the 'new' balls fuzz up very quicky and felt quickly shreds off the rubber.
Definitely some quality control issues.
I had some pre-COVID cans from Thailand of the "same ball", the Dunlop ATP blue metal can, and they feel much different, better quality and no fuzz up/felt issues.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/dunlop-ao-ball-changed-from-philippines-to-thailand.708332/

I read here that the factories shifted from Philippines to Thailand and not from Thailand to Philippines.

In the store in my city i found now both Dunlop AO from the two countries.

Which ones are the new ones?

 

[naturalexponent]

Tbf the Triniti are intrinsically crappy.

I don’t disagree

 

[ChrisJR3264]

The court ones are a bit better but the felt does not last long at all. The X1 is the best ball on earth but holds a lot of water on wet clay where the Wilson RG is king.

J

That was my complaints with the Tf balls. At this rate they’re like 3.89 per can vs 3.79 Penn. better to get higher quality.

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

Tbf the Triniti are intrinsically crappy.

THEN WHATS THE SOLUTION?

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

And even things not produced in China have greatly declined in quality bc they both can't compete and think why should they bother. Everything is disposable and crap. It is the China/Amazon influence but every company virtually is doing it. Whether it is in product or service, service support, they all do it. What is the customer going to do? Switch to another sh*tty product? More bad service?

At first I thought what a kooky thread but it actually matches my own experience with everything I buy in the last few years. It was happening before the pandemic but really solidified during that time...They blame lack of material goods, labor, etc but it's all just a way for these companies to give less, charge more. It doesn't surprise me at all that it's extending to the quality of the balls. I also think that people who are super technical about things, like Gasquet would notice this and be upset about it. Other players play with other emphasis and this guy plays with all the technicalities in mind. So I agree with him for speaking up about it. The only thing is that all players are similarly affected by it. It's hard, I suppose, when you are a precision player like he seems to be to get mentally unstuck from a noticeable difference like the balls.

Pisses me off most players don't complain about it I think they're just too oblivious to realize decline in their play/struggles caused by bad balls not technique

 

[DariaGT]

THEN WHATS THE SOLUTION?

Clubs could unite and ask Robin Soderling to make affordable non pressure balls
since most balls these days end updeflated after a few games.

Personally would like to see a modern take on the tennis ball with a woven flat fiber/bamboo
mesh ball that is coated with a dimpled finished silicone skin outer casing @ 60 grams

In Taiwan came across 'Soft Tennis' where a 30 gram natural rubber ball that is inflatable
is used to hit the ball faster but slower bounce that could be incorporated into tennis
in the same way doubling the weight. Soft Tennis players use the same ball for months
with no loss of quality regardless of the brand!

Tennis balls limit non pro players everywhere as the poor quality not makes it more expensive
but interferes with up and coming tennis players need for consistent practice balls.

 

[DariaGT]

Balls are the China open criticized by Meds and Alcaraz

We've been like this all year, but these balls are not easy to play on hard courts. Right from the warm-up I saw that it was difficult for me to have some control, then the match started and I saw that it was as difficult for him as it was for me."

Medvedev then added: "Playing with these balls is like being on clay, they are very slow.

This match would have been impossible for me to win with normal balls, but I am happy that I adapted and managed to raise my level in decisive moments." The goal set by Medvedev

Then he revealed a personal goal: "I know that my 20 titles were won in different cities.

I would like to continue adding more, but also defend some of my successes. I would also like to end my career having won all the major tournaments played on hard courts." The Russian tennis player's controversy towards the balls certainly didn't start today.



Daniil had expressed himself like this in recent months, also reporting injuries: "I had a terrible feeling with the balls at the Australian Open. I injured my wrist before playing with Korda. I thought it was my problem, but I spoke to other tennis players and there were several elbow, wrist and shoulder injuries. I think the balls are responsible."

On the problem of the balls, about which some tennis players have complained, Carlos stated: "I honestly felt it from the first training session I did here in Beijing, it's something difficult but we tennis players have to get used to it.


After all, we change the ball and the situation in every tournament and you have to get used to it. Every player asks these questions but in the end it's our job, every tournament we will face something different."