A tennis ball,designed for the sport of tennis. Tennis balls are fluorescent yellow in organized competitions, but in recreational play can be virtually any color. Tennis balls covered in a fibrous felt which modifies their aerodynamic properties, and each has a white curvilinear oval covering it.
What is a good tennis ball color?
Although tennis balls can be any color, they should be yellow if used in professional tournaments.
Characteristics of a Tennis Ball
Diameter: ITF regulations state that a tennis ball must be between 6.54 and 6.86cm in diameter. The size of the ball influences both responsiveness and control.
Weight: ITF regulations state that a tennis ball must weigh between 56 and 59.4 grams. The importance of the ball mainly influences the feel of the racket.
Deformation: we measure the effort required to deform the ball by 2.54cm. The level of deformation mainly influences the responsiveness of the ball.
Rebound: the ball dropped from a height of 2.54m and we measure the height of the first bounce. ITF regulations state that a tennis ball must bounce between 135cm and 147cm high. The size of the ball influences both responsiveness and control.
Manufacture of the Pressure Ball
Pressure tennis balls made from two rubber parts that are joined together. The air is injected into the ball to create a level of pressure that affects the air behavior of the ball and how much it rises.
Given that the plastic coating is not airtight, the balls placed in a sealed package to ensure they retain the correct amount of air before use.
Composition of the Pressure Ball
Core: rubber, around 4mm thick.
Pressure: pressurized to around 0.8 bar.
Seal: silicon.
Felt: made of wool, cotton, and synthetic fibers. The felt cover represents 20% of the ball’s weight (around 3mm thick).
Types of Tennis Balls
Two types of felt used to cover tennis balls and they heavily influence the aerodynamic behavior of the ball:
– “Needle” mainly non-woven synthetic (acrylic) felt.
– “Woven” “warp and weft weave ” rich in cotton, wool, and polyamide.
