A Tennis Ball is a precisely engineered piece of sports equipment with specific requirements for competitive play.
The ball consists of a hollow rubber core filled with pressurized air, covered by two identical pieces of felt made from synthetic materials.
Technical Specifications
An official tennis ball must meet strict measurements:- Weight: 56.0 to 59.4 grams
- Diameter: 2.57 to 2.70 inches
- Color: Optic yellow (standardized since 1972)
- Bounce height: 53 to 58 inches when dropped from 100 inches
Construction
The ball is constructed in two main parts:- Core: A hollow rubber sphere filled with pressurized air
- Exterior: Synthetic felt covering, made of nylon or wool blend, tightly woven to withstand high-speed impacts
Types
Tennis balls come in several varieties:- Pressurized: Standard tournament balls with pressurized cores
- Pressure-less: Training balls with solid cores, more durable but less bouncy
- High-Altitude: Specially designed for play at elevations above 4,000 feet
Professional tournaments typically use pressurized balls, replacing them every 7-9 games to maintain consistent play characteristics.