Tennis ball 2025

[Westerwick]

Just opened a can of the Costco Penns on Saturday (two days ago) ... one ball was completely flat, one ball had a really erratic bounce and the third one was playable. So the two "good ones" sent into the ball machine hopper. You get what you pay for. Yes. They are cheap. Essentially seconds just packaged as "championship" balls.

Sounds familiar. I also saw one really funky ball that had a huge blob of rubber at one of the seams where it should have been a seam and some felt.

Several times now I've gone to our club Monday morning drop in where they pass out cans of this junk, and pulled out the Babolat or Diadem balls with half a dozen sets from the weekend to use since they bounce better and have better felt. I don't even ask for the used Penns at the end of the day for the ball machine. I do suggest that they could donate them to the Humane Society Thrift Store where they sell them for a quarter each as dog toys.

 

[Dunlop300g]

Sounds familiar. I also saw one really funky ball that had a huge blob of rubber at one of the seams where it should have been a seam and some felt.

Several times now I've gone to our club Monday morning drop in where they pass out cans of this junk, and pulled out the Babolat or Diadem balls with half a dozen sets from the weekend to use since they bounce better and have better felt. I don't even ask for the used Penns at the end of the day for the ball machine. I do suggest that the could donate them to the Humane Society Thrift Store where they sell them for a quarter each as dog toys.I'

What's your take on the Diadem balls? I feel like they are super hard and play like rocks? But hey I could be wrong. Just my first impression.

 

[Dunlop300g]

OK. Honestly still kicking myself for not scooping up some TW Dunlop Grand Prix balls when the shipping was free around the top of this year. Won't pass this one up again! For sure!

 

[mad dog1]

What's your take on the Diadem balls? I feel like they are super hard and play like rocks? But hey I could be wrong. Just my first impression.

I’ve read many folks saying the Diadem ball is just like the US Open ball. IME, Diadem balls are harder than US Open balls and don’t bounce as well.

 

[mad dog1]

Thanks for the shout! I’ll consider testing them out after I get through my case of Yonex tours. Do they feel any different from the Grand Prix?

The Grand Prix ball is going to bounce different than that TF ball. The GP ball will be a little livelier.

 

[Dunlop300g]

I’ve read many folks saying the Diadem ball is just like the US Open ball. IME, Diadem balls are harder than US Open balls and don’t bounce as well.

Yep. That's been my experience as well. I do like the US Open balls very much.

 

[Westerwick]

What's your take on the Diadem balls? I feel like they are super hard and play like rocks? But hey I could be wrong. Just my first impression.

My experience is exclusively with the Diadem high altitude balls, where they seem to work well for us at 7000 ft. High altitude balls are essentially the same as low altitude balls with lower internal air pressure (there is a provision to use a slightly larger diameter ball at high altitude, but nobody does this and I've never seen any of those). One of the tricks we sometimes use when it is cold out (another characteristic of high altitude that we have to deal with a lot) is to use low altitude balls and rely on PV=nRT to bring the pressure down to usable. Another problem at high altitude is that you usually have to deal with a range of altitudes (I play in band between 5000 and 10000 ft) and sometimes wild temperature swings, so we often just use pressureless balls that play a little firmer but don't seem to care much about altitude or temperature.

Sorry that I can't really help you with your lowlander problems . . .

 

[Dunlop300g]

Wow! I can't even imagine playing at those altitudes; here in Northern California; I played a match one time at probably around 3000 ft in the summer and felt like the balls were flying out like crazy; so that's above 90 degrees F at 3000 ft. in the summer; and it was only in what we call the "foothills" of the Sierra Nevada; can't even image anything close to 10000 feet. You're cardio must be off the charts to play up there.

My experience is exclusively with the Diadem high altitude balls, where they seem to work well for us at 7000 ft. High altitude balls are essentially the same as low altitude balls with lower internal air pressure (there is a provision to use a slightly larger diameter ball at high altitude, but nobody does this and I've never seen any of those). One of the tricks we sometimes use when it is cold out (another characteristic of high altitude that we have to deal with a lot) is to use low altitude balls and rely on PV=nRT to bring the pressure down to usable. Another problem at high altitude is that you usually have to deal with a range of altitudes (I play in band between 5000 and 10000 ft) and sometimes wild temperature swings, so we often just use pressureless balls that play a little firmer but don't seem to care much about altitude or temperature.

Sorry that I can't really help you with your lowlander problems . . .

.

 

[TheBoom]

I'm definitely in the minority, but I like the Dunlop balls. I like that they play a bit slower, it fits my game well and I can hit through them well enough. That said, I do want to try out the Babolat balls, didn't know they were an option until recently!

 

[dmtree]

Just opened a can of the Costco Penns on Saturday (two days ago) ... one ball was completely flat, one ball had a really erratic bounce and the third one was playable. So the two "good ones" sent into the ball machine hopper. You get what you pay for. Yes. They are cheap. Essentially seconds just packaged as "championship" balls.

Not a single dud in the last 3 or 4 boxes of Costco Penns (High Altitude), the most consistent high altitude balls for my money, even if they only last 2 hours. Penn Tours on the other hand are wildly inconsistent while costing double.

 

[AleYeah]

Thanks for starting this thread, @pub. I was about to start a similar one and noticed you'd done it already.

Since I picked up the game again after a long absence back in 2020, I've mainly played with Penn XD as they're cheaply/easily obtained, but there really are a lot of options out there. Great input here so far. I hit especially forehands with a ton of topspin, have a decent kick serve, and also approach the net a lot. Sounds like I could really be doing myself a favor by shopping around for some of the livelier balls.

 

[Robert F]

Thinking this through more, don't we want balls that don't fluff.
If a ball starts losing pressure it will lose bounce and speed. So to compensate, don't we want a ball that balds/loses fluff so it then travels faster through the air compensating for the lack of pressure?

 

[ebo03]

I’m returning two cases of Penn Tour regular duty balls. The rubber is harder than before and they have less pressure. The bounce is very poor and they sound/feel more like hitting a pressureless ball.

Previously, I always liked Penn Tour over Wilson US Open. The felt was much more durable and stayed bright longer. US Opens are nearly naked after 2 hours of play. I could get 4 hours of out of Penn Tour and they were in decent shape. Bye bye Penn, never again!

I’m trying Dunlop ATP and Yonex Tour next. I always remember Dunlop Grand Prix extra duty balls fluffing up in just a few minutes on hard courts. We’ll see if their newer ATP ball is any better.

 

[Cobaine]

For me Dunlop Grand Prix Extra Duty are currently the best balls on the market for the price. Great bounce, don’t fluff up. Will last usually two hitting sessions.

My hitting partners bring ProPenn, Costco Penn, Penn Tour, and Wilson US Open. They are all worse than the Grand Prix in either bounce, fluff, or durability (or all three).

 

[SupahMan5000]

Tecnifibre Champion is my go to for training sessions where we’re going to be hitting as many balls as possible

If I feel a little luxurious or we’re playing sets I’ll open two cans of USO.

We use USO for our high performance groups and it is definitely a luxury. The balls last quite a while when in a big cart and feel great

 

[Robert F]

For me Dunlop Grand Prix Extra Duty are currently the best balls on the market for the price. Great bounce, don’t fluff up. Will last usually two hitting sessions.

My hitting partners bring ProPenn, Costco Penn, Penn Tour, and Wilson US Open. They are all worse than the Grand Prix in either bounce, fluff, or durability (or all three).

Do you make the guy who opens up a Costco Penn pay you all a pittance for bringing out such shoddy balls when everyone else is bringing out quality level balls?
I wish most rec leagues would ban Costco Penns from play.

 

[the_faceless_player]

The case of Yonex Tour balls I ordered like 4 months ago finally came off backorder and shipped so I'll see how they measure up against my usual go to X1 and Dunlop balls.

 

[ebo03]

The case of Yonex Tour balls I ordered like 4 months ago finally came off backorder and shipped so I'll see how they measure up against my usual go to X1 and Dunlop balls.

I hit Yonex Tour today for the first time. 2 hours on hard courts and they held up pretty well. High quality felt that stays down and doesn’t fluff up.

 

[stapletonj]

What's your take on the Diadem balls? I feel like they are super hard and play like rocks? But hey I could be wrong. Just my first impression.

Yes, they are harder than Penns, but they last like Pro Penns, and are significantly less expensive, especially case prices.

Babolats are good balls, but I just can't get past the value of the Diadems. They are not like rocks.

Played WalMart Penns for a while, but in the last year they got so bad they didn't even last 3 sets of doubles

 

[Arzivu]

Diadems may be a little hard but they are a quality ball. Miles better than a championship ball, like the dunlop, which lose their bounce after 1 hour of hitting.

 

[Dunlop300g]

Yes, they are harder than Penns, but they last like Pro Penns, and are significantly less expensive, especially case prices.

Babolats are good balls, but I just can't get past the value of the Diadems. They are not like rocks.

Played WalMart Penns for a while, but in the last year they got so bad they didn't even last 3 sets of doubles

Yes. I'm glad you mentioned their durability. I've put a couple of the Diadem balls in my ball machine basket over the past year and I've also found this to be true. On the ball "hardness" I guess if you play with them all the time you'd get used to it; it was just a noticeable difference switching them out for Penn at that point in time.

 

[Westerwick]

I use a lot of Diadems in both the ball machine and serving bucket. In our mountainous area the pressureless balls work really well at any altitude and temperature. They are harder but last like forever, on a par with Trinitis. They seem to have the same construction, wearability and failure modes as Trinitis, so wouldn't be surprised if they come from the same factory. The pressurized balls (HA version) play about the same as other good quality balls, and lose pressure at about the same rate. I routinely take a can of Diadems used for several sets and show that they play better than new Penns or Dunlop HA balls. They hold their bounce (unlike the Penns, that are often flat when new) and don't turn into giant fuzzballs like the Dunlops. I find them comparable to the Babolat Gold HA balls.

 

[Westerwick]

Wow! I can't even imagine playing at those altitudes; here in Northern California; I played a match one time at probably around 3000 ft in the summer and felt like the balls were flying out like crazy; so that's above 90 degrees F at 3000 ft. in the summer; and it was only in what we call the "foothills" of the Sierra Nevada; can't even image anything close to 10000 feet. You're cardio must be off the charts to play up there.

.

If you think tennis is tough, the soccer referee assigners keep special lists of refs they send can to the top of the mountain high schools. I only do games up to 8750 ft at Telluride now, but used to do Summit HS in Frisco at 9100 and the worst is Lake County in Leadville at 10,200 ft. We are sensitive to that and watch closely--I had one of my assistant refs have a heart attack after a college game at a 7000 ft field.

 

[Dunlop300g]

If you think tennis is tough, the soccer referee assigners keep special lists of refs they send can to the top of the mountain high schools. I only do games up to 8750 ft at Telluride now, but used to do Summit HS in Frisco at 9100 and the worst is Lake County in Leadville at 10,200 ft. We are sensitive to that and watch closely--I had one of my assistant refs have a heart attack after a college game at a 7000 ft field.

That's totally insane! Having done a fair amount of mountaineering I can't even image playing soccer at those altitudes!

 

[HBK4life]

I have noticed the regular Dunlaps have fallen in quality in the past year. They used to be pretty good. Now they feel like feltless rocks.

 

[WNB93]

I have noticed the regular Dunlaps have fallen in quality in the past year. They used to be pretty good. Now they feel like feltless rocks.

What are regular "Dunlaps"? FORTs?

 

[HBK4life]

What are regular "Dunlaps"? FORTs?

The blue can.

 

[WNB93]

The blue can.

I suppose the ATPs then as AO is also blue.

They all went down in quality though.
AO are great balls but after 45 mins of pro hitting they're flat. Change the sound, no bounce etc...

Used to be good for a while.

 

[Tranqville]

Played a match with Tecnifibre X-One today. Enjoyable experience, as the ball suits my attacking game. The ball fluffed a bit towards the end of the first set, but retained speed.

I expected X-One to be similar to Babolat Gold All-court, as I believe they come from the same factory, but they are totally different.

Here are the balls after a two set plus long deciding tiebrake match:

 

[tjanev]

I’ve read many folks saying the Diadem ball is just like the US Open ball. IME, Diadem balls are harder than US Open balls and don’t bounce as well.

their felt lasts longer as well. Diadem was a good 'unknown" brand ball and entered into the market at a good price. now they're priced the same as the big brands. I like them, i have purchased them for a couple years now. once during pandemic and once last year. there was a difference in the felt. ball got a bit slower. the older ball did bounce close to us open balls ( i think us open balls are too bouncy and light ) their felt lasted longer, and it wasn't as heavy as the dunlop balls. kind of a best of all worlds.

 

[socallefty]

Played a match with Tecnifibre X-One today. Enjoyable experience, as the ball suits my attacking game. The ball fluffed a bit towards the end of the first set, but retained speed.

I expected X-One to be similar to Babolat Gold All-court, as I believe they come from the same factory, but they are totally different.

Here are the balls after a two set plus long deciding tiebrake match:

Looks like we have similar tastes in racquets and balls.

 

[Soundbyte]

Diadem XD wins. You can usually grab them for $90ish a case with coupon codes. They last much longer than US Opens. They play the most consistent to myself and hitting partners. Tec X1 feel too hard. ProPenn Marathons or Dunlop ATP (not the crappy ATP championship) would probably be my 2nd choice. If I'm changing balls every set, then US Opens still suffice.

Costco Penns are not an option anymore. Too crappy

 

[tennisfit45]

Of the Championship Level ball Dunlop Championship better than Wilson and
both miles ahead of Penn Championship.
Either one if fine for playing with once. But not a ball to keep for training or in the hopper.

Wilson US Opens play probably the best for 1-2 sets, but then are bald and just don't feel the same. Almost as if they harden up and start to feel like the concret rocks that come out of a Penn Championship Can. So if you only use balls for an hour this is a great ball.

Dunlop ATP have almost he opposite problem of US Opens. They play a little softer and not as crisp but fluff up so easily it changes the way they play after set. I've never had so many people complain about a ball. "Did you get this from your dog?" numerous people have commented after a set.

To me the 2 quality balls that are also of good value are the ProPenn Marathon and the Dunlop Grand Prix. Both are very consistent in there play, have good feel, not too soft or too hard. Reasonably priced. Can get 2 good sessions out of ProPenn Marathons and still probably through into the hopper for training afterwards. Dunlop Grand Prixs are good for 2 training session or 1 play session and 1 training session. But will definitely be a little balder into the 2nd session.

Your comment about Dunlop ATP is spot on. I had exactly the same problem/feeling when playing with a good junior. On red clay it lasted 45 minutes before becoming a ball of fluff.

I just heard from one of my suppliers that the Dunlop Fort All Court ball has been considerably improved and most importantly for me (as I've had tennis elbow issues in the past) they told me it's a very arm-friendly ball. To give you an idea of my level I'm the equivalent of a USTA of 5.0 and play 3x per week (47 yrs old).

Update: I started writing this post a few days ago and meanwhile played with the Dunlop Fort AC balls on medium-paced indoor hard courts. Maybe it was a bad batch but wasn't terribly impressed. Straight out of the can they seemed to not really bounce that well. I've seen that the new balls don't actually come in a can anymore but a plastic tube so maybe the balls I played with had been in the can for a very long time. Will try buying the new packaging and compare.

 

[Nostradamus]

is Penn Marathon ball stil one of the best balls out there ??

 

[Robert F]

is Penn Marathon ball stil one of the best balls out there ??

I think so. Good from the start, don't drop a lot in performance and are great to keep for practice sessions.
US Opens great for set but then a different ball and not great to hold on for practice sessions.

I keep flip flopping between Penn Marathon and Dunlop Grand Prix as my favorite ball.
Sometimes Marthon's will have some overlap of glue seam/rubber, but as you play that straightens out.

If you are cost consious, the Grand Prix might take the edge.

 

[socallefty]

I think so. Good from the start, don't drop a lot in performance and are great to keep for practice sessions.
US Opens great for set but then a different ball and not great to hold on for practice sessions.

I keep flip flopping between Penn Marathon and Dunlop Grand Prix as my favorite ball.
Sometimes Marthon's will have some overlap of glue seam/rubber, but as you play that straightens out.

If you are cost consious, the Grand Prix might take the edge.

My favorite premium ball for hard courts these days is the Tecnifibre X1. ProPenn Marathon XD is 2nd with slightly less-lasting bounce, but still enough for two sets. I don’t like Wilson USO (loses fluff in a hurry) and Dunlop AO (fluffs up like a dog chewed it). Penn Tour XD seems to have less fluff or thinner felt than ProPenn.

My opponents brought Dunlop GrandPrix a couple of days ago and I wasn’t impressed as it seemed slow and not conducive to hitting hard. I even suspected that they might have opened it much earlier than the match to slow down the balls on purpose as I didn’t see them pop the metal top - they play a finesse game compared to my team and so I wouldn’t be surprised.

 

[Nostradamus]

My favorite premium ball for hard courts these days is the Tecnifibre X1. ProPenn Marathon XD is 2nd with slightly less-lasting bounce, but still enough for two sets. I don’t like Wilson USO (loses fluff in a hurry) and Dunlop AO (fluffs up like a dog chewed it). Penn Tiur XD seems to have less fluff or thinner felt than ProPenn.

My opponents brought Dunlop GrandPrix a couple of days ago and I wasn’t impressed as it seemed slow and not conducive to hitting hard. I even suspected that they might have opened it much earlier than the match to slow down the balls on purpose as I didn’t see them pop the metal top - they play a finesse game compared to my team and so I wouldn’t be surprised.

Dunlop Grandprix garbage, it fluffs up fast and loses bounce fast, double whammy. You thought techinifiber lasted longer than Penn Marathon ball ? that's surprising. Marathon ball has this coating inside to keep the air in the ball much longer. its bit harder to control than US open ball for sure because it tend to be Hard right out of the can but it lasts so much longer, i think its worth it for amateur league play.

 

[socallefty]

You thought techinifiber lasted longer than Penn Marathon ball ? that's surprising.

Why is it surprising?

I was a long-term ProPenn XD user till @J011yroger recommended X1 and I checked them out - became a convert really fast, especially as they come four balls per can and last much longer. Now I still use ProPenn for limited-time (90 mins) doubles, but I use X1 for singles and Bestof3 set doubles. When I use them in the ball hopper for practice after using them in matches, the X1 is usable for more sessions than ProPenn also.

 

[Nostradamus]

Why is it surprising?

I was a long-term ProPenn XD user till @J011yroger recommended X1 and I checked them out - became a convert really fast, especially as they come four balls per can and last much longer. Now I still use ProPenn for limited-time (90 mins) doubles, but I use X1 for singles and Bestof3 set doubles. When I use them in the ball hopper for practice after using them in matches, the X1 is usable for more sessions than ProPenn also.

do you think X1 has better controlled ball compared to marathon ball ? we used marathon ball in a league match and it was rock had out of the can and was tough to control for a while

wait a minute,,, 1 can costs $21.95 ??? LOL,, i can't afford that,, that's like 30 minutes court time. will stick with penn Marathon

https://www.amazon.com/Tecnifibre-X-One-Tennis-Balls-Approved/dp/B003TVUT08

 

[socallefty]

do you think X1 has better controlled ball compared to marathon ball ? we used marathon ball in a league match and it was rock had out of the can and was tough to control for a while

I have never felt a ball is too hard and so I’m the wrong person to ask about that. I have never understood what that comment means unless they are referring to a ball with good pressure vs one with less pressure. Or do they mean the feel of thick-felt premium XD balls vs thin-felt Championship or RD balls?

You won’t notice much difference playing with X1 or ProPenn XD in set 1 as they are somewhat similar to play with. As the match gets longer, the X1 fluffs up a bit more and retains its bounce better - so, you could say it makes it easier to hit heavy topspin with it even when old. I would play a 3rd set in singles on hard courts with X1 especially as they come four balls per can - will likely open a new can for the third set with ProPenn or any other ball.

 

[Nostradamus]

I have never felt a ball is too hard and so I’m the wrong person to ask about that. I have never understood what that comment means unless they are referring to a ball with good pressure vs one with less pressure. Or do they mean the feel of thick-felt premium XD balls vs thin-felt Championship or RD balls?

You won’t notice much difference playing with X1 or ProPenn XD in set 1 as they are somewhat similar to play with. As the match gets longer, the X1 fluffs up a bit more and retains its bounce better - so, you could say it makes it easier to hit heavy topspin with it even when old. I would play a 3rd set in singles on hard courts with X1 especially as they come four balls per can - will likely open a new can for the third set with ProPenn or any other ball.

X1 price is insane as above

 

[socallefty]

X1 price is insane as above

$135 per case while ProPenn is $110 where I live. I bet you spend $25 on many things that give you much more fleeting satisfaction than a case of balls which will please you for many months. If you are a high-spin server or hitter, you won’t regret paying $25 for the extra edge it gives you in every competitive long match for months. Plus you will be popular with your playing buddies as they will all love the balls you bring - except the old finesse guys with glass elbows.

 

[Robert F]

Dunlop Grandprix garbage, it fluffs up fast and loses bounce fast, double whammy. You thought techinifiber lasted longer than Penn Marathon ball ? that's surprising. Marathon ball has this coating inside to keep the air in the ball much longer. its bit harder to control than US open ball for sure because it tend to be Hard right out of the can but it lasts so much longer, i think its worth it for amateur league play.

Are you sure it was the Grandprix and not the Dunlop ATP or Australian?
I found the Grandprix don't fluff at all whereas the ATP or OZ ball look like dog chew toys after 10 minutes of play.

 

[Nostradamus]

Are you sure it was the Grandprix and not the Dunlop ATP or Australian?
I found the Grandprix don't fluff at all whereas the ATP or OZ ball look like dog chew toys after 10 minutes of play.

i think it was atp tour ball

 

[socallefty]

I found the Grandprix don't fluff at all whereas the ATP or OZ ball look like dog chew toys after 10 minutes of play.

That was my experience too with the GP ball - it played more like a thin-felt Championship ball with less fluff. It is very unlike the other two Dunlop premium balls ATP and AO.

 

[Nostradamus]

which Dunlop tennis balls are the ones being used at the ATP tour tournaments and masters series tournaments ?? it is so confusing. ATP championship ball or ATP tour ball ? they are very similar packaging and confusing the heck out of me

 

[Robert F]

For the Pro's at the AO they use the Dunlop AO ball.
For most ot the other tournaments with Dunlop balls it is the Dulop ATP.
Oddly, I think in Charleston WTA event last week they were using Grand Prix. Haven't seen that in a while.

The Dunlop Championship is a lower tier ball. Basically the "Championship" label means it is their cheap ball for recreational use. Penn Championships, Wilson Championships etc are their lower tier ball.
In my opinion of those 3 brads the Dunlop Championship is of the best value and quality and closest in performance ot a premium ball.

 

[tennisfit45]

Of the Championship Level ball Dunlop Championship better than Wilson and both miles ahead of Penn Championship.
Either one if fine for playing with once. But not a ball to keep for training or in the hopper.

Wilson US Opens play probably the best for 1-2 sets, but then are bald and just don't feel the same. Almost as if they harden up and start to feel like the concret rocks that come out of a Penn Championship Can. So if you only use balls for an hour this is a great ball.

Dunlop ATP have almost he opposite problem of US Opens. They play a little softer and not as crisp but fluff up so easily it changes the way they play after set. I've never had so many people complain about a ball. "Did you get this from your dog?" numerous people have commented after a set.

To me the 2 quality balls that are also of good value are the ProPenn Marathon and the Dunlop Grand Prix. Both are very consistent in there play, have good feel, not too soft or too hard. Reasonably priced. Can get 2 good sessions out of ProPenn Marathons and still probably through into the hopper for training afterwards. Dunlop Grand Prixs are good for 2 training session or 1 play session and 1 training session. But will definitely be a little balder into the 2nd session.

On red clay they hold up really well. No big fluff. Was your experience with the Dunlop ATP ball on indoor or outdoor hard court?

 

[tennisfit45]

For the Pro's at the AO they use the Dunlop AO ball.
For most ot the other tournaments with Dunlop balls it is the Dulop ATP.
Oddly, I think in Charleston WTA event last week they were using Grand Prix. Haven't seen that in a while.

The Dunlop Championship is a lower tier ball. Basically the "Championship" label means it is their cheap ball for recreational use. Penn Championships, Wilson Championships etc are their lower tier ball.
In my opinion of those 3 brads the Dunlop Championship is of the best value and quality and closest in performance ot a premium ball.

For Clay what are your thoughts on Dunlop Fort Clay which are being used in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome? Do they fluff up big time quickly?

The Dunlop ATP surprisingly held up well on red clay and was playing with two good players (one top junior in our country) on consecutive days. I've played 2 hours in total and they seem to still be in good shape.

 

[socallefty]

For Clay what are your thoughts on Dunlop Fort Clay which are being used in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome? Do they fluff up big time quickly?

The Dunlop ATP surprisingly held up well on red clay and was playing with two good players (one top junior in our country) on consecutive days. I've played 2 hours in total and they seem to still be in good shape.

Some balls fluff up easily on hard courts. I think it is not as big a problem on natural surfaces which are softer. I’ve never seen a ball fluff up like a dog’s chew toy on clay courts as sometimes happens on hard courts with certain Dunlop balls.