6 Best Tennis Balls For Hard Surface

If you are new to tennis sport, all balls may look alike. But that’s not true. There are many variations in these balls. Today, there’re more than 200 brands approved by the International Tennis Federation. These companies design models that have different features to fit varying expertise levels, player preferences, and playing surfaces.

It, therefore, becomes difficult to choose the right ball. But, when shopping for one, there are some factors you should consider. The choice of your tennis ball will significantly influence how good or bad your game will be once you start playing.

There are various companies today that design tennis balls. That’s why they come in different qualities and styles. But, with so many sellers, it becomes really challenging to decide which brand sells high-quality balls.

Fortunately, we’ve researched different types, and in this guide, we have listed the best tennis balls for hard surfaces. Before we go into the review, we need to go through why it’s necessary to have special balls for hard surfaces.

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Why You Need Special Balls For Hard Surfaces

Tennis balls have evolved over the last years. Some famous brands that produce them include Wilson, Penn, and Trenton, among others. They’re manufactured worldwide though mostly in the United States and Europe. With all the improved technology, tennis balls have started to be created court specifically, this to increase the durability but also, more importantly, the playability.

Hardcourt surfaces will need an Extra duty tennis ball. This is because these surfaces are rough, your ball needs to handle this roughness for you to have a smooth time. Extra-duty ones don’t wear down easily and have a thicker felt best for hard surfaces. However, their felt isn’t woven tightly around the ball’s core to allow better and longer performance.

It is essential that you play with the right ball on specific surfaces. If one uses a regular duty ball on a hard surface, its durability is highly compromised, and it’ll wear down much quicker. And if you use an extra duty ball on a clay court surface, the clay will penetrate through its felt and cause it to puff.

1. Penn Championship Tennis Ball

If you want a set that’ll last for many years, look no further than these Penn extra duty models. Penn is a company that has been designing tennis balls for 100+ years, and this model will surely not disappoint. Its performance will not let you down. And whether you’ll play indoors or out, this is an excellent choice.

These balls are hardwearing enough, even with repeated use on hard surfaces they’ll still withstand applied pressure. They’re approved by USTA and ITF for use in USTA leagues as they deliver consistent bounce and speed when playing.

Something interesting is the technology used in manufacturing them. Penn uses an interlocking process that ensures longevity. And as they feature elastic seams which are securely woven, this reduces cracking that is caused by wear and tear. Also, their felt fibers make them more durable.

Pros

Durability
Lightweight

Cons

Expensive
Sometimes Uneven Bounce

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2. Wilson US Open Extra Duty

If you’ve been playing tennis for some time, you’re probably aware of one of the toughest tennis tournaments in the world, which happens every September, the U.S Open. This is the Official Ball for the US Open.

We did not just include the ball just because it’s used in the U.S Open, because there are other reasons that are worth mentioning. First, it’s constructed with high-grade wool. Also, the ball has dense and thick covers, which should mean that durability is not something that one should worry about.

Also note that even though it is designed for use on hard court surfaces, one can still use it on other surfaces too. It’s a very responsive model with an excellent bounce that’s well-known for its consistency.

Pros

Official Ball of The U.S Open
Durability
Lightweight

Cons

Expensive

Check Price On Wilson.com

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3. Penn ATP Regular Duty

Another popular ball from Penn is the ATP regular duty, which is the ATP Master Series official ball. It’s one of the most popular balls for professional tennis players. The quality and feel of the ball are extremely good in the beginning, but the durability isn’t the best.

This is not a practice ball, as long as you don’t want to buy new balls once a day. However, it’s the perfect ball for tournaments that wants to provide the best quality balls and doesn’t have problems changing them after each match.

As Penn is known, they use Smart Optic felt to improve the visibility of the ball, which gives this ball 20% more visibility than a regular tennis ball. If you like to play late at night, Penn is the brand for you.

Pros

Quality
Official Ball For The ATP Master Series
Visibility

Cons

Durability
Cost

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4. Dunlop Grand Prix Hard Court Ball

Dunlop is yet another famous company. It’s best known for its affordable price and its secret rubber core formula which is made up of 14 ingredients that make it very durable. They use Dura-Felt cloth technology to make their balls withstand pressure. It’ll take years before the bounce of this ball wears out.

Although these balls are mainly designed for use on hard surfaces, one can still play with them on clay courts. However, you will get the best out of the ball if you use it on hard court.

Their felt is woven hence giving some unique feel to players, and MaxGlow Technology makes them brighter than other ordinary balls hence giving users quick reaction time.

Pros

Durability
Bright
Affordable

Cons

It does get flat anytime

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5. Slazenger Wimbledon Official Tennis Balls

The Slazenger Wimbledon ball is the official ball for the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon. You may wonder why I included this ball, since Wimbledon is played on grass. Even though the ball is made for grass courts, It does extremely well on hard courts. The balls for grass and hard courts are quite similar, so the surfaces don’t really matter that much.

Slazenger Wimbledon ball offers players solid playability. They’ll do an excellent job in tournaments both indoor and outdoor, a great ball for recreational play as well if you can afford it. When it comes to performance, they are overall, one of the best balls in the world.

We love the patented application process used on this model, which makes it visible to both players and spectators. The outer cloth is made of patented hydro guard technology hence making it 70% water-resistant.

It’s just a quality ball that isn’t necessarily the cheapest or the most durable, but the quality and feel are extremely good.

Pros

Water-Resistant
Official Ball For The Wimbledon Championships
Reliable Bounce

Cons

Cost
Durability

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6. Wilson Championship Extra Duty

Wilson Championship is among the finest packs available. This pack consists of tournament-level balls that have heavy-duty felt which is typically designed for use on hard courts. Their felt is Dura-Weave, which improves the durability a ton.

Wilson Championship balls are mainly used in NCAA and the Australian Open. Their heavy-duty construction makes them withstand wear and tear when used on hard surfaces. This feature improves their lifespan and prevents deforming or getting flat with time.

Additionally, their woven felt is bright and can be seen clearly, and also it repels water hence giving users a nice playtime. They’re specifically for use in tournaments, but you can also use them when practicing.

Pros

Used In Australian Open
Made For Hard Court
Durability

Cons

Expensive

Check Price On Wilson.com

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Final Thoughts

Choosing the right tennis balls is hard and quite confusing. Everything looks pretty much the same and it’s hard to find a favorite without play-testing yourself. There are some minor differences between the balls that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Take my list into consideration and try as many balls as you can. However, keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to practice with the same balls that you play matches with.

Here is the full list of the best hard court tennis balls right now