2025 Best Tennis Balls Review
There are many tennis balls bouncing around for sale on the web, as well as on the shelves of your trusted local racket sports specialist. But which ones truly perform the best?
Gareth Richman opens up a selection of fresh tennis balls for Tennishead and ‘cuts through the rubber and felt’ to see which ball brands bounce up (and down) best.
A quick dive into history first …
Tennis balls are a far cry from what they used to be. Invented by Charles Goodyear in the 1850s, the first tennis balls were made from a vulcanisation process with a flannel layer.
As the precision of game has developed, so has the demands for uniformity and a qualitative manufacturing process. Tennis balls are compression moulded in two separate ‘half shells’ which are assembled together to produce a core and covered by a ‘melton’ cloth.
Up until 1972 tennis balls were either black or white depending on the background surface they were played on. Yellow balls were then introduced for television. Surprisingly, Wimbledon did not use the new yellow coloured ball until 1986.
There are also different ball types available for playing in high altitude, as well as, pressureless ones which are commonly used for coaching and training purposes (as they last longer and more cost-effective).
Weighing up all the factors …
Each new tin of fuzzy yellow balls brings its own slight differences in terms of weight, feel, playability, durability and brand allegiance.
What could seem an easy choice to pick whatever is in front of you or what is at the best price …. is anything but. Some feel heavier and harder. Others fly across the net like lightening and are more forgiving upon impact.
Emily Webley-Smith, a British Tour professional player explains “The balls we use make a huge difference and vary widely from week to week. Since Covid there has been a marked difference in the quality of the ball and their longevity. For me, it is important to find solutions for this, if we want to see aggressive tennis being played, but all prevent injury. In addition academies and clubs replacing balls as often as they need, is not cost effective.”
Ashley Neaves, The Tennis Mentor adds “The tennis balls you choose can significantly impact your game. Using low quality or old Balla doesn’t just affect performance, it can raise risk of injury.
The bigger issue is sustainability. While manufacturers are making strides with recycled materials and improving durability, there’s still considerable progress to be made. Pressureless balls offer a for eco-friendly option due to their extended lifespan, but not without drawbacks – they can feel harsher on the arm, at least until they’re properly broken in.”
Weather and court conditions are also important factors to take into consideration. Sub zero temperatures are known to deaden play like a stone. Wet weather can drown points like a sinking ship. Heatwaves on the other hand fire up play to completely another level.
So, here is our definitive round-up of the best of the best balls bouncing from baseline to baseline.
The best of the best Tennis Balls …
Dunlop AO
That blue plastic tube with its simple clean Australian Open ‘AO’ lettering is a sure-fire winner off the shelves (especially if hitting the hard court). You can’t argue with the price tag either!
Generally speaking this ball is light, quick and lively through the air. They are probably the fastest flying between the lines. Aggressive players seeking to rip their attacking shots and pin opponents on the backhand foot, will love this offering from Dunlop.
They might not be the most durable (the yellow felt does tend to wear down after a good few of long sets) but do hold up very well and are extremely fun to play with.
Overall Bounce Rating: 3.5/5
HEAD Tour
A quality heavy hitter with phenomenal durability. HEAD have produced a sound product that bites the court very well indeed.
Perhaps not the most popular choice, but it is up there with the best of them. The Tour ball does have a bit of weighted feel to it, but provides a superb level across all surfaces. In particular, on slower playing surfaces the balls perform like a dream.
If you are a more defensive player, who wishes to get a little bit extra out of your game. Then, the HEAD Tour is definitely worth checking out. Price point is on the higher side of the scale though.
Overall Bounce Rating: 4/5
Wilson US Open
Without a doubt the Wilson US Open ball is as near perfect all-rounder as you could aim for.
The instantly recognisable logo is as unique as you can get. No player I know, dislikes striking with these extra duty spheres. They simply tick every category box we are looking at. A solid and consistent performer on all surfaces with no questions asked on durability.
OK, we admit it would be nice for a lower price point – but then again you are paying for true quality.
Overall Bounce Rating: 4.5/5
Slazenger Wimbledon
You can’t argue with history and Slazenger has years of expertise fully loaded in their pocket.
Without doubt the plushest heavyweight in its division. If you desire the most classic and iconic of them all and wish to serve and volley like a stylish Federer on a real grass court – ‘Slaz’ is your number one go to. The aluminium tin alone has class written all over it.
However, there is a division of hitters that say, the Slazenger Wimbledon carries a bit too much weight and fluff up quicker and more than they prefer. You can’t keep everyone happy!
Yes, you can jump on court with another bouncing buddy, but then you might just get called out by your partner or opponent (especially if playing on a pristine grass court).
Overall Bounce Rating: 4/5
Babolat Team
Are these the complete outsider of the bunch? Or is this a tennis ball covering more ground than any other?
Ask any seasoned professional coach and Babolat’s Team high performance tennis ball with its sleek sliver packaging screams quality from the first serve to match point. The French specialists knows a thing or two about bat and ball and have been in the game for far too long to be ignored – producing top notch racket sport equipment.
Some players may find the wear and tear is bit too rapid for the price. In our estimation though, they play out with excellent longevity and react with gusto on a surface tuned for tempo.
Overall Bounce Rating: 4/5
Mantis All Court
The new kid on the block (actually they’ve been around for 20 years bgut a recent relaunch of the company has breathed new life into their popular product range)
These balls are made in the same factory as Wilson so the quality of production is unquestionable and in fact the felt comes from renowned UK supplier Playne’s who also make felt for snooker tables. The wool content in the felt is high which in laymans terms means they will repel water and last a long time, two great qualities for a tennis ball
Price wise they are very keenly priced probably because they’re trying to break the stranglehold of the big boys so we they are thoroughly recommended.
Over bounce rating 4.5/5
Conclusion …
Each branded tennis ball has its own personality in terms of feel, speed, weight, durability and bite.
The pure zippyness and feather feel of Dunlop AO is a real plus with aggressive hitters.
Striking right down the middle, is Babolat’s Team and HEAD’s Tour both offering no nonsense playability and durability with Babolat potentially gaining a slight edge over HEAD.
For those, who want to add a bolder richness to their game – Slazenger’s Wimbledon is perhaps the class you are looking for.
However, all in all Wilson’s US Open tennis ball is our true champion across all courts at the end of the day. No other competitor matches up to it in our humble opinion and thus bounces just that little bit better on the scoresheet.
And for those wanting to try something new, the quality of the Mantis All Court left us wanting to know more about this British tennis company.
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