Buy tennis balls in bulk

No matter what age or skill level, tennis players get better at their craft with a good coach. Good tennis coaches provide tennis gear that tailors to an individual's particular needs. Choosing the right tennis balls for a coach's players is no exception. Tennis balls differ in a variety of ways and coaches should take into consideration all of these factors when choosing the best tennis balls for their students.

Classes of Tennis Balls

Manufacturers produce tennis balls in three major classes based on the type of play. Professional tennis balls are the highest quality and most expensive balls, followed by championship balls. Formal match play requires professional or championship tennis balls, while coaches typically use recreational tennis balls for practice, including with the use of a tennis ball machine.

Tennis Ball Construction

At their very core, all tennis balls consist of two glued hollow rubber shells. That being said, there is more to the construction of a tennis ball that coaches should consider when choosing the best ones for their students.

Felt

A covering of felt creates the outer layer of the tennis ball. Extra-duty balls have a high nylon content and a looser weave, creating a thick felt covering. Coaches should purchase extra-duty balls for outdoor tennis courts, as the thicker felt covering provides greater durability on concrete. Regular-duty balls have high wool content, creating a thin felt covering. Regular-duty balls are ideal for indoor and clay courts.

Pressurized vs. Pressureless

Most coaches prefer nitrogen or oxygen-filled pressurized tennis balls. Pressurized tennis balls provide an excellent bounce but typically only last several matches. Pressureless tennis balls have a thick rubber core filled with ambient air. Pressureless tennis balls do not have an ideal bounce but are more durable over time. Coaches often use pressureless tennis balls with beginners and move to pressurized tennis balls as players' strokes become more consistent.

Speed

For coaches who teach different skill levels, tennis balls also come in varying speeds. Coaches can choose slow-speed tennis balls for newest players and purchase medium or fast-speed tennis balls for intermediate and advanced students.

Other Coaching Considerations

Although tennis ball construction and classification are important, there are several other factors that coaches should consider when shopping for tennis balls for their students. These factors help coaches save money, buy the best product, and produce the best results from their students.