by Giles Cutlack
According to the ITF (Internal Tennis Federation) a tennis ball should weigh between 1.98–2.10 ounces (56.0–59.4 grams), this is for recreational and professional tennis. This was not always the case! In the early days of tennis, balls were made from various materials, including leather stuffed with rags or horsehair, which led to inconsistencies in weight and performance. As the sport developed, manufacturers began using rubber and other materials, leading to more standardized balls. The improvements in tennis ball construction came in the mid-19th century, with thanks to Charles Goodyear’s development of the rubber vulcanization process (one to google), this led to more consistency in ball production.
However, the specification by the ITF refers to dry tennis balls and as we play outdoors at the Weald it does occasionally rain… Tests have shown that a wet tennis ball can weigh between 5 and 10 grams more than a dry tennis ball (even more when left in puddles at the back of the court). This will change the flight, bounce, and speed of the ball, which will have an impact on your strings and in turn your arm. Some professionals will change their string tension according to the temperature, air pressure and altitude, with a lower temperature in the cold and a higher temperature in hot conditions to provide more control. In contrast Rafa Nadal consistently used Babolat RPM Blast at a tension of 57lbs.
Hopefully the sunshine and warmth will return to the Weald soon and we won’t need to worry about wet balls and string tension