The bounce of a tennis ball varies greatly depending on the playing surface. Professional players switch between hardcourt, clay, grass and artificial turf throughout the year, and they adapt to each one by playing different shots and judging the bounce of the ball differently. Balls bounce fast and low on hard courts. Extra duty balls are designed for hardcourt surfaces, because their denser felt withstands heavier abrasion than other tennis balls.
Hardcourts
Of the four grand slam tennis tournaments, two are played on hardcourt: the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows and the Australian Open at the Rod Laver Arena. Hardcourts are typically made of cement or plastic. The surface is faster than clay, but slower than grass, where the ball slides. However, hardcourts are considered fast surfaces. Although they slightly favor players with powerful serves, they offer a relatively even playing field for all styles. If a lot of sand is used to paint the court, the ball bounces slower.
Balls
There are three different types of balls offered by manufacturers, regardless of the surface: professional, championship and regular. Professional tennis balls are the highest quality. The International Tennis Federation states that a large, slow-speed ball is designed for hardcourt surfaces. Extra duty balls have thick felt, which is perfect for hardcourt surfaces. On clay, they become too fluffy and collect particles of clay, but on hardcourts, they withstand the coarse surface. However, they become balder the longer you use them, so change the balls every three hours for consistent use.
Best Balls
There are three major manufacturers of tennis balls: Wilson, Dunlop and Penn. The Wilson Professional comes in Regular Duty and Extra Duty. These are the official balls of the U.S. Open tournament, used by the biggest stars in world tennis on traditional hardcourt surfaces as millions from around the globe watch. Wilson also offers a High Altitude ball for surfaces of more than 3,500-feet elevation. The Penn Professional is apparently the top choice of tennis ball for ATP, while the Dunlop Abzorber is said to reduce the impact on your shoulder by 15 percent and reduce your chances of developing tennis elbow. Prince Professional and Gamma Professional also come in extra duty varieties for hardcourt.
Tips
According to the laws of tennis, if a ball is dropped from 100 inches, it should bounce back up by 25 to 53 inches. On an average size person, this is tested by dropping the ball from your forehead and checking that it bounces back past your belly button. Compressing the ball in your hand also helps judge its firmness. When you are not using tennis balls, keep them in the can they were packaged in. Although this does not prevent them from losing pressure, it minimizes the damage.
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