Tennis Balls!

kevin qmto said:
After my last case of X-One balls I went with the Slazengers on tennis warehouse and am a bit dissapointed this time. They felt dead within 20 mins, and you could squish them pretty hard with your hands right out of the can. I even had a can that wasn't pressurized at all, no pop or anything when I opened it, just 4 pristine, flat tennis balls...

Probably won't buy again, for a 4 ball metal can I expected a lot better than this, I barely get one practice out of these things.
Click to expand...
I see on tw that they have yellow cans. Those were only for 2024, in 2025 can design was already like it is now, green on white ish

Don't know why they changed can design twice in as many years, but I'm guessing that balls themselves were updated, just like Dunlops were in 2025, same company

There's a youtube review, just a week ago, of the new Wimbledon ball, French ex pro Laurent Rochette got some actual 2026 tournament balls and tested them. Said they were deader, "they don't go" in free translation

Old Wimbledon ball was soft, and slow after warmup, after it lost some pressure and its felt expanded, but didn't feel dead. Felt crunchy and slightly crisp when brand new, then just ultra soft and wooly after warmup. You could easily hold eternal rallies with it, even when new out of the can. Was great for juniors
 
An odd update on Diadems. Today I went to hit a hopper of serves. A collection of ProPenn Marthons, Dunlop Grand Prix and Diadem Balls. For the purpose of a hopper, the Diadems really held up. Still bounce well and have a solid feel. The ProPenns have hardened and lack bounce, the Grand Prix were OK but not as crisp.

So the Diadem Premiers really stand out as a Hopper/practice ball. Might be a little too slow for a go to competition ball. Overall well made.
 
I bought a lot of Robin Soderling tennis balls sometime ago. These are really good balls and are as good as I have played with. Unfortunately, they are not available State side any longer. I am running low and I am trying to find a replacement set, but there doesn't seem to be any ball that are universally accepted as really good. I am leaning towards Diadem Premier. Any other thoughts?
 
The Diadem Premiers are worth a trial. Very crisp solid feel. Might be a little slower through the court than other balls. But hold up well.
I have several cans that have been demoted to the hopper after a few hitting sessions and to be honest the Diadem Premier are the best balls in the hopper.
This could be a good ball for match and then used to fill up hoppers. Whereas the Old US Opens I'd chuck after a match or 2 hours of hitting.
 
d-quik said:
Omg were the pre-COVID ones even better than the ones that just got replaced this year? Always keeps getting worse! :(
Click to expand...
oh, definitely, the pre-covid USO balls were excellent, then they went dull and very inconsistent bounce/pressure, then some improvement but still nothing like pre-covid, then the latest wild balls!
 
TennisCarsPlanes said:
oh, definitely, the pre-covid USO balls were excellent, then they went dull and very inconsistent bounce/pressure, then some improvement but still nothing like pre-covid, then the latest wild balls!
Click to expand...
**sigh** so lame

Fresh out of the can, which iteratiin flew/bounced the fastest?

Also, which ones felt the softest or most comfortable?

Appreciate anything you can remember
 
d-quik said:
**sigh** so lame

Fresh out of the can, which iteratiin flew/bounced the fastest?

Also, which ones felt the softest or most comfortable?

Appreciate anything you can remember
Click to expand...
I'd say, but may be wrong (Pre-Covid, 2023-2025, 2026 New):
New balls Speed: 2026 New > Pre-covid > 2023-2025
New feel/comfort: Pre-Covid > 2023-2025 > 2026 New
Used (2-hour) speed: 2026 New >> Pre-covid > 2023-2025
Used (2-hour) feel/comfort: Pre-covid >> 2023-2025 > 2026 New
Durability: Pre-Covid > 2026 New ~= 2023-2025
Bounce: 2026 New > Pre-covid > 2023-2025

The pre-covid balls were great comfort new and remained good comfort, bounce and feel throughout. Good durability, I could get 4-6 hours on them (2 cans used per session). They would slow down over time but slightly. Consistent
The New 2026 are wild balls. Out of the can, they are hard, fast and bouncy, but become even faster, bouncier and wilder over time. OK durability, 4-5 hours. Consistency is fine although the wild factor may make them look inconsistent. I had some crazy bounces that I could not control.
The 2023-2025 balls, once quality improved from post covid era, were less feel (dull), but less hard/harsh feel. The felt was durable but they would slow down, fluff up some and stop bouncing after 3-4 hours

I compared the 4-hour bounce of the latest balls vs. 2023-2025 ones and the new ball (dropped from the shoulder height) consistently bounced 1-2 ball diameters higher...

I hope this helps
 
d-quik said:
**sigh** so lame

Fresh out of the can, which iteratiin flew/bounced the fastest?

Also, which ones felt the softest or most comfortable?

Appreciate anything you can remember
Click to expand...
It really is frustrating. If a manufacturer can't make something up to the correct standards, then they should halt processing until they can.
 
Update on the testing:
- I mentioned above that I have ordered multiple cans of various balls to compare:
* Newest Wilson USO HC (I have tried these, but ordered two more cans to compare to the next one)
* 2025 Wilson USO HC (still have some of these and I prefer them over the new, gold top, version)
* Volkl Pro AC
* TF Court
* Yonex Tour
* Dunlop Fort HC
* Dunlop ATP Tour XD
* Head Tour XT

I tested Head Tour XT and Dunlop Fort HC. Very similar balls, in feel, speed, and durability over 4-5 hours. Both fluff up a bit, both feel comfortable, both remain playable after 4 hours. They feel and look very similar at this point, including the lettering that remained on the ball. The Head ball retained slightly higher bounce (1/2 ball higher on the shoulder height drop test). Dunlop Fort retained the speed. While Head balls dramatically slow down over first 2-3 hours, the Dunlop ball retained higher speed and slowed down some.

Volkl Pro AC. Dead feel from the get go. It bounces ok, it is fast but feels dead (the feel that reminds me of Wilson Championship balls, and I hate that feel). Switched to USO after only about 20 minutes but will try them again today. First impressions: dead feel, fast, has a lot of felt, OK bounce.

Yonex Tour is one of mu favorite balls, while they last which was about 3 hours, playable for another hour. Thin felt, retain speed, bounce goes down after 3 hours, medium to fact, very consistent (bounce, direction, feel). Good feel.

I recall that the TF Court was similar to the Yonex tour but I had short experience with them. Will do more testing over the next two weeks.
 
TennisCarsPlanes said:
Update on the testing:
- I mentioned above that I have ordered multiple cans of various balls to compare:
* Newest Wilson USO HC (I have tried these, but ordered two more cans to compare to the next one)
* 2025 Wilson USO HC (still have some of these and I prefer them over the new, gold top, version)
* Volkl Pro AC
* TF Court
* Yonex Tour
* Dunlop Fort HC
* Dunlop ATP Tour XD
* Head Tour XT

I tested Head Tour XT and Dunlop Fort HC. Very similar balls, in feel, speed, and durability over 4-5 hours. Both fluff up a bit, both feel comfortable, both remain playable after 4 hours. They feel and look very similar at this point, including the lettering that remained on the ball. The Head ball retained slightly higher bounce (1/2 ball higher on the shoulder height drop test). Dunlop Fort retained the speed. While Head balls dramatically slow down over first 2-3 hours, the Dunlop ball retained higher speed and slowed down some.

Volkl Pro AC. Dead feel from the get go. It bounces ok, it is fast but feels dead (the feel that reminds me of Wilson Championship balls, and I hate that feel). Switched to USO after only about 20 minutes but will try them again today. First impressions: dead feel, fast, has a lot of felt, OK bounce.

Yonex Tour is one of mu favorite balls, while they last which was about 3 hours, playable for another hour. Thin felt, retain speed, bounce goes down after 3 hours, medium to fact, very consistent (bounce, direction, feel). Good feel.

I recall that the TF Court was similar to the Yonex tour but I had short experience with them. Will do more testing over the next two weeks.
Click to expand...
OK, the Volkl Pro was a waste of $$ for me. They are Made in China, and remind me of the Penn Tour balls -- dead, feel heavy and sometimes bounce sideways. I assume they are made in the same factory or a similar recipe.

Still surprised how similar Dunlop Fort (Thailand) and Head Tour (China) are.
 
TW Staff said:
Throwing this in here in case there is any interest!


Michelle, TW
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting.
Looking forward to trying the Pro Penn Marathon Plus. ProPenn Marathon one of my favorite balls. Hoping the upate is even better.
If only they made the Penn Championship better--but people want cheap balls as he mentioned earlier in the video.

Great idea to recycle, but reality is recycling is a joke and of little benefit, it would be great if Penn or Wilson came out with a ball that can be played with for months if not years. But when you are selling 14 million balls a year, you wouldn't want a ball that lasts several months.

Interesting to hear that the Head Balls are not the same as the Penn Balls.
 
Last edited:
TW Staff said:
Throwing this in here in case there is any interest!
Click to expand...
Interesting indeed, many thanks!

I would have liked to hear more follow-up on Head v Penn -- are they both coming from the same factory, but just have slightly different tweaks based upon perceived player preferences in different markets? (Or some other reason for the differences?)

The only claim that struck me as a big stretch was that 2.0/2.5 players could benefit from a premium-level ball. The players I see at that level would mainly benefit from having more than three balls, given that those players have some short rallies. They could also benefit from playing with balls that aren't totally soft / flat / dead ... or maybe such balls would be easier for them to control? (Maybe even green dot balls!) Either way, spending the extra $ for them on premium-level balls seems pointless.
 
TennisCarsPlanes said:
Update on the testing:
- I mentioned above that I have ordered multiple cans of various balls to compare:
* Newest Wilson USO HC (I have tried these, but ordered two more cans to compare to the next one)
* 2025 Wilson USO HC (still have some of these and I prefer them over the new, gold top, version)
* Volkl Pro AC
* TF Court
* Yonex Tour
* Dunlop Fort HC
* Dunlop ATP Tour XD
* Head Tour XT

I tested Head Tour XT and Dunlop Fort HC. Very similar balls, in feel, speed, and durability over 4-5 hours. Both fluff up a bit, both feel comfortable, both remain playable after 4 hours. They feel and look very similar at this point, including the lettering that remained on the ball. The Head ball retained slightly higher bounce (1/2 ball higher on the shoulder height drop test). Dunlop Fort retained the speed. While Head balls dramatically slow down over first 2-3 hours, the Dunlop ball retained higher speed and slowed down some.

Volkl Pro AC. Dead feel from the get go. It bounces ok, it is fast but feels dead (the feel that reminds me of Wilson Championship balls, and I hate that feel). Switched to USO after only about 20 minutes but will try them again today. First impressions: dead feel, fast, has a lot of felt, OK bounce.

Yonex Tour is one of mu favorite balls, while they last which was about 3 hours, playable for another hour. Thin felt, retain speed, bounce goes down after 3 hours, medium to fact, very consistent (bounce, direction, feel). Good feel.

I recall that the TF Court was similar to the Yonex tour but I had short experience with them. Will do more testing over the next two weeks.
Click to expand...
* Volkl Pro AC -- disappointment -- dead, heavy, inconsistent
* TF Court -- LOVE these balls. Feel right, fluff up right (very slightly), maintain bounce and speed, great feel, do not feel heavy
* Yonex Tour -- very similar to the TF Court. Although the felt wears out faster. They are slightly faster than the TF Court.
* Dunlop Fort HC -- I like the ball and the feel. Reminds me of the Head Tour XT with less fluffing up and maintaining the speed
 
Wonder what you guys thing about the old school screw top ball pressurizers?
I have one from Soulchen.

I've found the Wilson Champsionship XD from Walmart to be a great value ball of still high quality. Good duration and very consistent.
After play I've been putting them in the Soulchen Can to repressurize.
Still felt like a solid ball after a 2 hour session, reused for another 2 hour session. Then again for a 90 min session, looking a little worn, but still good feel and bounce. Finally on another 90 min session they looked pretty worn and were slower but not dead.

Oddly, on the last 90 min session, I opened a can of Dunlop Grand Prix XD (new balls). They seemed stiffer and difficult to see them as more lively than the beat up Wilsons.
I think the Dunlop XD in the full black/yellow can with plastic top were a great ball, but the Grand Prix in the Yellow/White can with paper top have not been a good batch for me. Many people complaining them if I bring an old set out to warm up. No complaints with the Wilsons.

Could the repressurizer really be helping? Or are the newer cases of Dunlop not so hot?
 
JonathanShefftz said:
The only claim that struck me as a big stretch was that 2.0/2.5 players could benefit from a premium-level ball. The players I see at that level would mainly benefit from having more than three balls, given that those players have some short rallies. They could also benefit from playing with balls that aren't totally soft / flat / dead ... or maybe such balls would be easier for them to control? (Maybe even green dot balls!) Either way, spending the extra $ for them on premium-level balls seems pointless.
Click to expand...

A premium ball typically the bounce and felt last longer and don't go dead as easily - so, in general yes - they could therefore benefit from a premium ball. I have not been able to get any tennis players (even beginners) to play with green dot or orange dot balls. It seems to be an ego related thing.
 
Robert F said:
Wonder what you guys thing about the old school screw top ball pressurizers?
I have one from Soulchen.

I've found the Wilson Champsionship XD from Walmart to be a great value ball of still high quality. Good duration and very consistent.
After play I've been putting them in the Soulchen Can to repressurize.
Still felt like a solid ball after a 2 hour session, reused for another 2 hour session. Then again for a 90 min session, looking a little worn, but still good feel and bounce. Finally on another 90 min session they looked pretty worn and were slower but not dead.

Oddly, on the last 90 min session, I opened a can of Dunlop Grand Prix XD (new balls). They seemed stiffer and difficult to see them as more lively than the beat up Wilsons.
I think the Dunlop XD in the full black/yellow can with plastic top were a great ball, but the Grand Prix in the Yellow/White can with paper top have not been a good batch for me. Many people complaining them if I bring an old set out to warm up. No complaints with the Wilsons.

Could the repressurizer really be helping? Or are the newer cases of Dunlop not so hot?
Click to expand...

The screw tops are taking it to tennis can pressures so at-least the drop in between sessions is arrested. You could in theory add in stuff (physical matter) inside the screw tops to "over-pressurize" past fresh packed can pressures so some air would eventually go back into the ball but the seals may not last as long.

Pepsi Keg based pressurizers can "over-pressurize" the ball and some extra air can be added in - But some balls the rubber dies faster and they can become rough on your arm. A notable example was Wilson USO vs XD... the USO rubber seemed to die faster than XD rubber assuming they were being re-pressurized and used at lower speed for many months.
 
Robert F said:
a 2 hour session, reused for another 2 hour session. Then again for a 90 min session, looking a little worn, but still good feel and bounce. Finally on another 90 min session they looked pretty worn and were slower but not dead.
Click to expand...
What kind of tennis are you playing and on what kind of courts such that three Wilson non-premium balls aren’t totally bald after seven hours?
 
thenewbig3 said:
A premium ball typically the bounce and felt last longer and don't go dead as easily - so, in general yes - they could therefore benefit from a premium ball.
Click to expand...
Perhaps, but ... I suspect any 2.0/2.5 players will take a looong time to wear out the felt on non-premium balls, by which time any pressurized ball -- premium or otherwise -- would lose its bounce.
Unless perhaps those 2.0/2.5 players were placing premium balls in one of those repressurizing containers, hmm, so might come out ahead financially on premium balls + repressurizing container.
But 2.0/2.5 players are probably far too casual for that combo.
 
JonathanShefftz said:
What kind of tennis are you playing and on what kind of courts such that three Wilson non-premium balls aren’t totally bald after seven hours?
Click to expand...
Agree it is weird. Finally beat up by the last session--logo worn, looking scrappy. Yes less felt even after 2 sessions but not bald like a US Open after 2 good sets.
Play on a outdoor hard court, one location hasn't been resurfaced in a long time, so not a lot of grit on it. Hit with 3.5-4.5 guys in these session.
 
^ Puzzling since I’ve found that all extra duty non-premium balls (whether Wilson, Dunlop, or the ubiquitous Penn from big box retailers or even bigger warehouse stores) are ready to report for Hopper Duty once getting significantly beyond the 1 hr mark, and definitely by 1.5 hrs. But perhaps they even reach a sort of stasis and don’t go totally bald until many more hours … ?
 
Me and my regular hitting partner have been hitting with US Opens new out of a hopper. Last couple weeks we notice that after a day or so hitting they break or go dead. And this is a “premium ball”? What a joke.
How long before these crooks figure out a way to make us pay for a subscription for balls? Or string? Or rackets? Or air?
 
HBK4life said:
Me and my regular hitting partner have been hitting with US Opens new out of a hopper. Last couple weeks we notice that after a day or so hitting they break or go dead. And this is a “premium ball”? What a joke.
How long before these crooks figure out a way to make us pay for a subscription for balls? Or string? Or rackets? Or air?
Click to expand...
I'd argue our current model/behavior with balls and strings is virtually a subscription. I still can't believe some competitor hasn't invented a ball that can last several months if not a year. Poly strings with them going dead than syn gut is a perfect market replacement--something that does one or two things better at a higher price that you need to replace more often.
 
Robert F said:
I'd argue our current model/behavior with balls and strings is virtually a subscription.
Click to expand...
Robert!

You can extend this line of thinking to shoes as well. Besides racquets, apparel, and in some ways, kevlar strings, anything that consumes itself materially with intended (ie. not negligent) use is technically all a subscription.

Laundry detergent, toiletries, garbage bags, writing utensils, food, beverages, engines, plane tickets, concert tickets, etc... are all subscriptions. It would include anything that is intended to be single-use, which in turn includes all consumables.

Ironically, the first thing I think of when I see the word "subscription" are magazine subscriptions, which are technically not materially subscriptions since you still own the magazine forever.

The magazine doesn't consume itself after intended use. But you have already consumed the contents of it.

So this whole line of thinking ends up being an open ended, metaphysical discussion.
 
I hit with the ProPenn Infinity ball over the weekend. Grain of salt on my feedback bc they had already been used in a prior hitting session by the guy who brought them but I hated them. Slow and to me they felt and sounded closer to a green dot ball than a regular. If Infinity is in the name bc the point never stops when you use them, then mission accomplished. My surgically repaired shoulder wanted nothing to do with feeling like I had to redline every stroke to get the ball to do anything. Maybe they are better fresh, I'll try and get a sample can to test again. I'm sure I'll hit the Marathon + soon as well as that one steadily replaces the outgoing Marathon at clubs, etc.
 
the_faceless_player said:
I hit with the ProPenn Infinity ball over the weekend. Grain of salt on my feedback bc they had already been used in a prior hitting session by the guy who brought them but I hated them. Slow and to me they felt and sounded closer to a green dot ball than a regular. If Infinity is in the name bc the point never stops when you use them, then mission accomplished. My surgically repaired shoulder wanted nothing to do with feeling like I had to redline every stroke to get the ball to do anything. Maybe they are better fresh, I'll try and get a sample can to test again. I'm sure I'll hit the Marathon + soon as well as that one steadily replaces the outgoing Marathon at clubs, etc.
Click to expand...
well that sucks, not as much as the reebok nano court but still pretty crappy :(

any juicy, gossipy details on release date so I can personally corroborate the crappiness?
 
Robert F said:
I'd argue our current model/behavior with balls and strings is virtually a subscription. I still can't believe some competitor hasn't invented a ball that can last several months if not a year. Poly strings with them going dead than syn gut is a perfect market replacement--something that does one or two things better at a higher price that you need to replace more often.
Click to expand...
Gone are the times where companies produced high quality products built to last.

My stringway ML-90 is one of the few things. It will probably outlive me.
 
This week while in Europe, I brought two sets of balls with me:
1) post covid USO XD
2) latest (gold can/top) USO XD version

I’ve been hitting every day last 6 days and here are my findings. My hitting partner is a former futures player, in his early 40 today, probably a strong 5.0 rally level. I am 55, decent 4.5 rally level (beginner match player after 20 years of no match play - different story).
Each of the sessions was two hours long, indoor medium fast HC, medium grid.

The older balls were playable for about 5 hours. We used them through first 3 sessions and they were not good during the last, 6th hour. The felt remained in good condition, the speed was a little slower than when new but the bounce just died.
Initially, the balls were fine, not overly stiff and did not feel heavy. Moderate fluffing and slight speed decrease after the first hour. Fairly consistent bounce although unnoticed there is always one ball in the can that is less predictable bounce.

The new USO balls were done after 4 hours. The bounce and firmness belt just fine and remained strong in the end but the felt was spent and they actually sped up from the initial stage. They bounce “wild” - by that I mean a lot - predictable, consistent but much higher than the older version. This time I adjusted to this expected bounce and protected my shoulder injury.
The new USO balls are hard at first, fast, very bouncy, then they settle but remain firm, bouncy and become even faster.

We will wrap up a week of tennis with last two sessions with Head Tour XT balls

Note: one of the sessions (#4) we did with one hour used on red clay TF X-one HC balls - they felt soft, super fluffy and very slow. Felt like we were playing on clay…
 
TennisCarsPlanes said:
brought two sets of balls with me:
Click to expand...
BTW how did you do this without the cans exploding on the plane from pressure loss outside the cans?

Anyways, if you ever get a chance to compare with Wilson Tour Premier Clay, Babolat Team Clay, or Dunlop Fort Clay while still in Europe that would be awesome because you can't get those west of the pond.
 
d-quik said:
BTW how did you do this without the cans exploding on the plane from pressure loss outside the cans?

Anyways, if you ever get a chance to compare with Wilson Tour Premier Clay, Babolat Team Clay, or Dunlop Fort Clay while still in Europe that would be awesome because you can't get those west of the pond.
Click to expand...
Not sure why would the cans “explode” at 8000 ft (Denver or Madrid basically)??

I do not play on clay at all so most likely won’t get a chance to experience those balls.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

TennisProPaul
  • Poll Poll
Best Balls For Hard Courts Poll ! Vote Now!
Replies
31
Views
5K
dr325i
dr325i
SystemicAnomaly
Dunlop ATP vs Penn ATP balls
Replies
15
Views
7K
antony
antony
danbrenner
who”s got the best balls
2
Replies
50
Views
14K
edleung
E
CoconutGT
3 weeks old Dunlop balls vs. brand new Penn balls
Replies
22
Views
5K
Deuce
Deuce
N
Penn ATP Extra Duty Tennis Balls
Replies
12
Views
3K
1HBHfanatic
1HBHfanatic
Back
Top