You’re ready to hit the court for the first time. You’ve got the cool outfit. You have great shoes. You’ve finally selected a racket to meet your needs. The last step, grab some tennis balls and head out. The problem? There are many different kinds of tennis balls on the market, and understanding each is the key to your success on the court.

It All Starts With Class

All of the tennis balls on the market today are divided by class. You can choose from balls ranked professional, those ranked championship, and those ranked practice balls. All of them will serve for play, but what you actually select depends a bit on your skill level and the court surface on which you intend to play. Professional balls are just that, what a USTA tournament would approve were you to play there. When you crack open the can and grab one, you’re going to find a high level of pressure that holds all the way through a match. Championship balls are actually a level below professional. They cost a bit less, but they’re perfect if you’re practicing or you’re playing in a junior level tournament. They’re incredibly durable, and they offer great quality. Practice balls are the cheapest ones on the market today. They last almost forever, but they won’t give you the bounce you might get at the professional level.

Playing Surface

In addition to thinking about the class of ball you’re going to use, you may also want to think about the surface on which you will be playing. Regular duty balls were designed for indoor use or soft clay courts. They have the softest level of felt on the market, so if you use them on hard courts, they’re not going to last. Extra duty tennis balls are designed for those hard outdoor courts. The felt on the outside is carefully woven with added wool to help them last on that tough playing surface. They also make balls designed just for grass courts. These are regular duty level balls, but they have a stain resistant treatment on them. The final type is hi-altitude balls. These are meant to be used if you’re playing at an altitude of more than 4000 feet.

A Note for Beginners

If you’re a beginner, you can also find balls developed just for you. They’re designed for both beginners and kids. Stage three balls, or red balls, were designed for kids ages ten and under. They help boost your child’s confidence as he or she plays. Stage two balls, or orange balls, are a little more advanced, but they’re perfect as your child moves up the ranks. Stage one balls, or green balls, are the last stage before you move up away from tournament tennis balls. They have a lower bounce as compared to professional balls, and they’re used to help beginners develop the right technique.

Ready to get started? Grab a can of balls and hit the court.