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How often should you change tennis balls?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 24, 2026

On the pro tour, tennis balls are changed after the first 7 games of a match and then consequently every 9 games. The first change of balls happens two games earlier to account for any wear on the balls during the warm up.

How long do tennis balls stay good?

If you enjoy playing tennis for fun without any significant competition, your tennis balls will have a longer life span. A pressurized tennis ball can last anywhere between 1-4 weeks of moderate play. A pressureless tennis ball can last 1-3 years of moderate play.

Do new tennis balls make a difference?

The difference between old and new ball is that the old ball is softer. This means that it will stay longer on the stringbed upon the contact. This results in more power, spin and control. New balls are harder and springier, therefore you will need to have better technique to control them, for ex.

Do tennis balls lose their bounce?

And remember, much a like an opened soda can that goes flat, an opened tennis can will lose their bounce as well, even if they are unused. Once they lose their bounce, which will be considerably noticeable, they are dead. Make sure to leave those ones behind or gift them to your dog!

How do you make tennis balls last longer?

sensible answers only please. Place three balls in a microwave on high and Nuke them. The balls will bounce higher. That bounce may last 30 minutes or more.

43 related questions found

Do tennis balls last longer in the can?

Playing at a recreational level, a can of pressurised tennis balls will last anywhere between 1-4 weeks of light to moderate play. If used for competitive tennis, a pressurised set of tennis balls might last as little as 1-3 hours. Pressureless tennis balls can last 1 year and maybe even longer.

Why are tennis balls kept in the fridge?

As seen above, tennis balls got their bounce from the pressurized air inside the rubber core. It's a well-known fact that temperature has a huge impact on pressure and this, in turn, will affect the amount of bounce. Most times, the tennis balls are kept in the refrigerator to ensure consistency of bounce in the ball.

Why is there a seal on tennis balls?

Tennis balls are usually packed in a hermetically, or airtight, sealed cans containing three balls. The reason why every time you open the seal you hear an exploding sound is that the can is pressurized.

Do tennis balls break?

You'll be surprised how many tennis balls actually break during fast serve contests and warmups in higher level tournies. I've seen 3 out of 21 break within 10 minutes in hot weather A/Open practices.

Which tennis balls last longest?

Pressureless balls are the best tennis balls for a ball machine since they last longer. Most high level or professional players do not use pressureless balls. They are mostly for amateur play. You can usually buy pressureless tennis balls in high quantities for practicing.

Why are tennis balls changed during a match?

They're also switched for a replacement set after the first seven games to make sure they aren't worn down. During a match, balls are then switched every nine games to prevent players from having to use scuffed or damaged balls.

What is the difference between Penn 1/2 and 3 tennis balls?

Types of Balls

Type 1 is for play on slow court surfaces, such as clay. Type 2 is for medium-paced courts, such acrylic and carpet, and Type 3 is for faster courts, such as artificial turf and grass. Contrary to what some people believe, the numbers on tennis balls do not indicate a type of ball.

How long do tennis balls last unopened?

So how long do tennis balls really last? Tennis balls will go bad after about 2 weeks or 3-4 playing sessions. Unopened tennis balls are kept in a pressurized tube to help them retain bounciness and firmness, but even those will expire after two years (due to very tiny leaks).

Can you reuse tennis balls?

If you put a couple of tennis balls in the pool it will absorb all the oils from swimmers. Have to replace them every couple of weeks and then you can reuse them again! Kids bikes making divots in your yard?- Consider putting a tennis ball on the end of a kickstand.

How often are tennis balls changed at Wimbledon?

In all matches used balls will be replaced by new balls at the conclusion of the first seven games and thereafter at the conclusion of every ninth game.

Do tennis balls need to be pressurized?

Match play generally requires pressurized tennis balls; ball machines and lessons are perfect for pressureless varieties. Either type is suitable for all skill levels, though pressureless balls are a bit heavier and require more force.

Are tennis balls Pressurised?

A new tennis ball has an internal ball pressure of around 14psi so to ensure the ball retains the new ball feel on the shelf, the cans also have the same pressure applied to the can. This ensures the shelf life of the ball is the same from day of manufacture to the day it is opened.

What gas is inside tennis balls?

Pressurized tennis balls are filled with either air or nitrogen, with nitrogen keeping the balls inflated longer. On the other hand, non-pressurized balls are solid, which keeps them from deflating. However, non-pressurized tennis balls wear and tear at a quicker rate than pressurized balls.

Why are tennis ball cans so sharp?

Tennis ball cans are pressurized so that there is little to no difference between the air pressure inside and outside the ball. The pressure inside the can is why you hear the distinct pop when opening it for the first time.

How quickly does a tennis ball lose its bounce?

Although our hypothesis was proven wrong, our experiment supports this rule in professional tennis. We measured the bounce of a new tennis ball at intervals during 50 games and discovered that it becomes dead after about 10 games.

Can you microwave tennis balls?

That means that air loss is actually a part of the design of a tennis ball, so the only way to restore it would be to put more air in it. Microwaving does not do that. So it wouldn't work.

How often do they change balls at US Open?

After every nine games, the balls are changed. Grand Slams often see long tense matches and so a lot of balls are used.

What can you do with old tennis balls?

10 Clever Uses for Old Tennis Balls

  1. Floor cleaners. Put tennis balls on the end of a broom to clean cobwebs from hard to reach corners or your ceiling. ...
  2. Floor protectors. This is an easy one. ...
  3. Lantern. ...
  4. Comfy chair. ...
  5. Laptop holder or camera mount. ...
  6. Pool cleaner. ...
  7. Laundry. ...
  8. Bug repellent.

Do ping pong balls get old?

They don't tend to wear out but they do break. The plastic will get a crack in it and then be unusable. You will notice the ball will stop bouncing the same way and you may even notice a slightly different sound to the bounce.