When do you open balls?

[squall]

I've got a question when do you open your can of balls? People tend to open it just before they start to play, but I heard that you should open it at least 8 hours before playing - 2 hours before to dribble them a few times and then let them "rest". With those operations the balls should last longer and be more stable. I heard that when you open the can just before you start playing, the balls die very fast.
What's your opinion on that? Is it just "placebo"?

 

[smboogie]

Right before I play to warm up with them and knock the 'silk' off so they aren't so slippery.

 

[Papa Mango]

I put mine in a decanter overnight to 'open 'em up'....
/ducks out

 

[socallefty]

I've got a question when do you open your can of balls? People tend to open it just before they start to play, but I heard that you should open it at least 8 hours before playing - 2 hours before to dribble them a few times and then let them "rest". With those operations the balls should last longer and be more stable. I heard that when you open the can just before you start playing, the balls die very fast.
What's your opinion on that? Is it just "placebo"?

Who told you this? If you open balls many hours before a match, it is just going to lose some pressure and be less lively (slower, less bounce) when you play with it. Almost all players open a new can just before the warmup.

I warmup in social matches with old balls that have been previously used once or twice. I open the new can just before we warmup serves and use them for the serve warmup.

 

[stapletonj]

Haven't seen this in person and never thought to ask. Since the pros are changing balls every 9 games or whatever, do they open up all the cans before the match, or, as the change is about to occur? Do they go through the warmup with fresh balls, then pop a new set as the match starts?

 

[socallefty]

They warmup with new balls and so, the first change of balls is done after 7 games. After that, every new set of balls is played for 9 games before they are changed out. I don’t know when the tournament organizers open the balls, but would be surprised if they do it well before they need to be used.

 

[StringGuruMRT]

I put mine in a decanter overnight to 'open 'em up'....
/ducks out

You beat me to it!

 

[Papa Mango]

Haven't seen this in person and never thought to ask. Since the pros are changing balls every 9 games or whatever, do they open up all the cans before the match, or, as the change is about to occur? Do they go through the warmup with fresh balls, then pop a new set as the match starts?

What @socallefty lefty said,
If you have ever been courtside or seen a pro match in person, the can is popped right before the change to the new balls.

 

[morten]

Well, i know at Wimbledon they open the cans about one hour before play. And i do that too and it makes a big difference, in a good way. They feel much better right from the start that way.

 

[kickserve2020]

Well, i know at Wimbledon they open the cans about one hour before play. And i do that too and it makes a big difference, in a good way. They feel much better right from the start that way.

Wimbledon used to open balls like a couple of weeks before the tourney. I believe it was the Slazenger balls. I think they changed the modus operandi when Tim Henman complained about it.

 

[snoflewis]

mine get placed in a vacuum sealed bag, soaked in a container full of water, and sous vide for 6 hours until the internal temperature is 135 degrees Fahrenheit. then they get served straight over the fence and into the adjacent homeless community during my warmup serves. most of the match is then played with 2 balls...assuming i don't hit another one over the fence.

 

[RyanRF]

We usually warmup with the balls from last time and then open a new can right before starting the set.

Now that I think about it this makes no sense. Why get dialed in to something with 80% bounce and then switch over to the real deal right before it counts?

 

[morten]

Never play with completely fresh newly opened balls

 

[kickserve2020]

We usually warmup with the balls from last time and then open a new can right before starting the set.

Now that I think about it this makes no sense. Why get dialed in to something with 80% bounce and then switch over to the real deal right before it counts?

I do this too, but it's more about having extra balls for warmup so we don't have to go chasing the same 3 balls over and over again. So I usually open 6-9 previously used balls for warmup, then open a new can of 3 for the match.

 

[ichaseballs]

take the can and lay it on the ground with the top facing north.
place racquet facing south with the butt meeting the bottom of the can of balls.
now straddle the north/south line, with your arms facing west/east.
partially open the can breaking the seal, but do not remove the top yet.
this is the time you can take to pray to your corresponding god(s).
do some stretches and some cardio to warm up.
now the balls are ready to be opened!

 

[Brad N.]

Wimbledon used to open balls like a couple of weeks before the tourney. I believe it was the Slazenger balls. I think they changed the modus operandi when Tim Henman complained about it.

This is new to me. I've played with those Slazenger balls and fresh off the can they are harder than to Wilson US Open balls.

 

[WilsonPlayer101]

Right before we start to hit.

 

[WilsonPlayer101]

I've got a question when do you open your can of balls? People tend to open it just before they start to play, but I heard that you should open it at least 8 hours before playing - 2 hours before to dribble them a few times and then let them "rest". With those operations the balls should last longer and be more stable. I heard that when you open the can just before you start playing, the balls die very fast.
What's your opinion on that? Is it just "placebo"?

If the Pro Tour doesn't do that how good can doing that be?

 

[morten]

Right before we start to hit.

And thats too late

 

[morten]

But it is better than opening after play, done that a few times too many. I was totally off and thought it could be the balls, and it was.

 

[PaddyDutch]

I know this one!

Back in the day (let’s say 70’s and earlier) material of balls was different, considering the era I’m guessing more/different solvents. Balls needed to be opened well in advance. Not sure of the exact guidance, but I’ve heard local players mention they should be opened the evening before a match.

With the current balls it is no longer needed, but some players have heard about this and still think this is needed. It’s similar to breaking in a new car, that used to be a whole process with special oil and extra oil changes. That is no longer needed, but some people will argue it’s better to do it the old way nonetheless.

I’m sure some people may prefer soft balls, but the fact that balls are opened on the spot at pro tournaments is, to me, a clear sign of the best practice.

NOTE: huffing the fumes of a freshly opened can must’ve been awesome back then.

 

[morten]

at pro events they open one hour before, and it is a great thing to do

 

[TagUrIt]

Me personally, I open up a can just before I play. In professional tennis I’ve seen and heard them opening cans just before the game where new balls are used. So I can’t say that I agree with all the talk about hours before a match.

 

[morten]

Opening some time before use and you will avoid the 15 min bouncy rocks in the beginning

 

[antony]

for warmup

 

[TagUrIt]

Opening some time before use and you will avoid the 15 min bouncy rocks in the beginning

Just curious what balls do you use that perform that way? I use Penn Tour Extra Duty and they’re great right out of the can.

 

[atatu]

There was a D1 coach in Texas who used to recruit a lot of South American clay courts players, and for home matches he would open all the cans of balls the night before a match so they would play just a touch slower on the hard courts.

 

[tennis tom]

I've got a question when do you open your can of balls? People tend to open it just before they start to play, but I heard that you should open it at least 8 hours before playing - 2 hours before to dribble them a few times and then let them "rest". With those operations the balls should last longer and be more stable. I heard that when you open the can just before you start playing, the balls die very fast.
What's your opinion on that? Is it just "placebo"?

APRIL FOOLS !!! ??? !!!

 

[struggle]

I buy them by the case and just open them all as soon as the fedEx driver leaves.

Then they are all in PRIME condition when we go to use them for a match, whenever that may be.

 

[morten]

Just curious what balls do you use that perform that way? I use Penn Tour Extra Duty and they’re great right out of the can.

Dunlop Fort. But it goes for all balls i have tried

 

[cha cha]

I once came home only to find out that my girlfriend had discovered the joy of opening pressurised balls and had opened all 9 of the cans I had there.
Talk about testing the strength of a relationship.

 

[tennis tom]

Tennis balls are like matzo balls, some like hard sinkers, others like soft floaters, a matter of personal preference.

 

[Capt. Willie]

At the cash register to make sure they are fresh and bounce well....don't wanna pay for expired balls.

 

[Mustard]

They warmup with new balls and so, the first change of balls is done after 7 games. After that, every new set of balls is played for 9 games before they are changed out.

That's correct, but there is one exception. If there's due to be new balls brought in just before a tiebreak (i.e. at 6-6 in a set), then they wait another 2 games, i.e. until after the first game of the next set, before bringing in new balls. In the past, there were often tournaments where they changed balls after the first 9 games, and then every 11 games thereafter. I think the rulebook allows either the first 7 and every 9 thereafter or the first 9 and every 11 thereafter.

 

[socallefty]

That's correct, but there is one exception. If there's due to be new balls brought in just before a tiebreak (i.e. at 6-6 in a set), then they wait another 2 games, i.e. until after the first game of the next set, before bringing in new balls. In the past, there were often tournaments where they changed balls after the first 9 games, and then every 11 games thereafter. I think the rulebook allows either the first 7 and every 9 thereafter or the first 9 and every 11 thereafter.

I’ve never heard of the ball change being delayed by TBs - do you have a source for this as I could not find anything by doing a Google search. In fact I seem to recall a new ball change happening before a TB in the AO recently. I was more conscious of when balls were being changed due to the complaints from players about Dunlop balls fluffing up. I thought TBs were considered as one game with respect to counting games for the ball change rule.

 

[Mustard]

I’ve never heard of the ball change being delayed by TBs - do you have a source for this as I could not find anything by doing a Google search. In fact I seem to recall a new ball change happening before a TB in the AO recently. I was more conscious of when balls were being changed due to the complaints from players about Dunlop balls fluffing up. I thought TBs were considered as one game with respect to counting games for the ball change rule.

For example, it happened in the famous 1996 YEC final between Sampras and Becker. No ball change at 6-6 in the third set at 3-6, 7-6, 6-6 (i.e. 34 games), with the ball change taking place at 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 1-0 instead.

Tiebreaks are counted as 1 game, but the idea is that new balls should not influence a tiebreak itself, so don't change at 6-6.

Rules about Tennis Balls

From the link above:

Ball changes, if any, can be made either:

1. After an agreed odd number of games. If this is the case the first ball change in the match is to take place 2 games earlier than the rest of the match to allow for the warm-up. A ball change shall not take place at the beginning of a tie-break game. In this case, the ball change is delayed until the beginning of the second game of the next set.
2. At the beginning of a set.

 

[cks]

I’ve never heard of the ball change being delayed by TBs - do you have a source for this as I could not find anything by doing a Google search.

The rule from @Mustard can be found in the ITF Rules. See Friend at Court 2022.

3. THE BALL
Balls, which are approved for play under the Rules of Tennis, must comply ...

The event organisers must announce in advance of the event:
a. The number of balls for play (2, 3, 4 or 6).
b. The ball change policy, if any. Ball changes, if any, can be made either:
i. After an agreed odd number of games, in which case, the first ball change in the match shall take place two games earlier than for the rest of the match, to make allowance for the warm-up. A tie-break game counts as one game for the ball change. A ball change shall not take place at the beginning of a tie-break game. In this case, the ball change shall be delayed until the beginning of the second game of the next set;
or
ii. At the beginning of a set

 

[Bambooman]

I once came home only to find out that my girlfriend had discovered the joy of opening pressurised balls and had opened all 9 of the cans I had there.
Talk about testing the strength of a relationship.

You're lucky they were just tennis balls.

 

[AceyMan]

the Tennis Channel Plus (web 'subscription') usually has the earlier round play in full, with no cuts to commercials, so they have camera & mic going on during the changeovers.

For the most part I've noticed the court superintendent opens the balls on the change over prior to ball rotation, so there can be a one or two game wait before they go into play.

I've also noticed after they do the usual "shake check" on each ball, they have a little trick: once they drop them back into the opened can, they fold the plastic cap like a taco shell and then stick it in the lid rim, where it unfolds and stays in place.

That way it blocks the balls from rolling out, but it's easy to see that the cans are opened already; I thought that was pretty clever.

/Acey

 

[travlerajm]

Wimbledon used to open balls like a couple of weeks before the tourney. I believe it was the Slazenger balls. I think they changed the modus operandi when Tim Henman complained about it.

Timmy didn’t have enough power to hold serve with the relaxed balls.