australian open

How tennis players inspect their tennis balls before serving

@JudyEv (352980)

Rockingham, Australia

January 20, 2024 5:01pm CST

We don’t often watch sport on TV but we have been watching quite a lot of the Australian Open Tennis Championships. The skill of some of these players is quite remarkable. We’ve often remarked on why players inspect three or four balls before choosing two. Good old Google to the rescue as usual and it seems they’re looking for a smooth ball and a fluffy ball. A new tennis ball will be more smooth than one that has been hit back and forth a lot. A smooth ball travels faster and should be harder to return but there is slightly less accuracy. If the first serve doesn’t go in, the fluffier ball will be used for their second serve. The server will have more control over the direction of the ball and there will be less chance of a double fault. All these factors have to be weighed up against the skill of your opponent and what you’re trying to achieve. So now we don’t have to wonder any more. It’s nice to know these things, isn’t it? The photo is of a reject tennis ball being put to good use by Sam and Maya.

20 people like this

20 responses

@shaggin (74174)

• United States

21 Jan 24

Well I’ll be darned. I never thought of why they do that

. I rarely have watched it but I have noticed them doing that and never thought anything of it. Now I know.

4 people like this

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@shaggin (74174)

• United States

21 Jan 24

@JudyEv oh I’ve seen peopel do that it’s odd

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

You have to wonder about some of the funny things sportsmen do. One tennis player is very superstitious and before serving he goes through a ritual which includes tugging at each ear and touching his shoulders. He does the same thing before every serve.

3 people like this

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@ptrikha_2 (47853)

• India

21 Jan 24

A lot goes into the Tennis tournaments and especially big ones. I used to watch Tennis matches long ago but now it is only a rarity.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

Some of the play is incredible. They return shots that you'd swear no-one could return.

3 people like this

@rebelann (113918)

• El Paso, Texas

21 Jan 24

I like how the pups put the tennis ball to very good use.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

I'm sure they prefer their use for a ball.

3 people like this

@Juliaacv (53299)

• Canada

20 Jan 24

I think that Sam and Maya are enjoying the testing that they are conducting.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

They find some of their balls are not up to extended playtime.

3 people like this

@wolfgirl569 (115834)

• Marion, Ohio

21 Jan 24

I never really watched tennis enough to notice

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

Fair enough. The other thing is that some bounce the ball over and over and over before serving while others just bounce it once or twice.

3 people like this

@RasmaSandra (84795)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

20 Jan 24

That is a cute photo. Thank you for the information it is interesting. I would have never guessed, I probably would have thought they were seeing if the ball is hard or soft,

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

It seemed an odd thing to do. I just thought all tennis balls would be the same but it seems that is not the case.

3 people like this

@GardenGerty (163426)

• United States

21 Jan 24

I thought maybe the dogs were giving the tennis ball a "lab inspection"

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan 24

Very clever. The lab was really only interested in stealing it from the border collie.

1 person likes this

@AmbiePam (98019)

• United States

20 Jan 24

Tennis players and baseball players seem to inspect the balls in their sport more than any other it seems to me.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

Cricket players are always polishing the ball before they bowl too.

3 people like this

@snowy22315 (189183)

• United States

20 Jan 24

Always a method to the madness.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

Yes, there is always a reason for these things, however strange they may seem.

2 people like this

@jstory07 (143901)

• Roseburg, Oregon

21 Jan 24

I did not know that. I only bought tennis balls for my dog when I had one.

2 people like this

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@jstory07 (143901)

• Roseburg, Oregon

21 Jan 24

@JudyEv They give the old ones to dogs to play with.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

@jstory07 Quite possibly they do.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

I know in the matches they have new balls from time to time but I don't know how often. I don't know what happens to all the old ones.

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Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (37824)

• Toccoa, Georgia

21 Jan 24

Interesting, I never ever thought about it.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan 24

There had to be a reason why they checked each ball out.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (473976)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 24

I had friends who enjoyed playing tennis in Monte Carlo and they explained why professional players inspect the ball before serving.

2 people like this

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@LadyDuck (473976)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 24

@JudyEv Our friend often insisted that we go to see him playing. I find tennis so boring.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (473976)

• Switzerland

22 Jan 24

I am sure they would look at you strangely if you take a book with you. I am lucky, I never watched cricket.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan 24

@LadyDuck I've never been to watch a live match but I think I'd prefer it to cricket. People would probably look at you strangely if you took a book to read!

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@TheHorse (226323)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Jan 24

Ah, interesting! This is something I might actually remember.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan 24

We've wondered for ages why they'd reject some balls but keep hold of others.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (188285)

• United States

21 Jan 24

I love and follow tennis but didn't know this. I learn something every day here on MyLot. Love the photo. Have a good day.

2 people like this

@RebeccasFarm (94525)

• Arvada, Colorado

1 Feb 24

Tis excellent..I'll know what to do now if I ever start being a tennis star.

1 person likes this

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@RebeccasFarm (94525)

• Arvada, Colorado

2 Feb 24

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 24

Yes, it's very important to inspect the balls!!

I was just thrilled if I could hit it back over the net! lol

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@Fleura (31656)

• United Kingdom

22 Jan 24

Who knew there was so much to it? I have enough trouble just hitting the ball into the court. I was never any use at tennis, to my Dad's disappointment I think (he used to be a keen player before he married). I was probably the only person who got worse after having a few lessons. I gave up years ago. I do love table tennis though! (although I just do it for fun, I can't say I follow any rules!!)

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@Fleura (31656)

• United Kingdom

23 Jan 24

@JudyEv I think there's an over-60s table tennis club here too.

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@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan 24

They play table tennis at the clubhouse but depending on who's playing, they might follow the rules or might not. For oldies, some are remarkably good and they do enjoy it.

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@franxav (14104)

• India

20 Jan 24

You have drawn my eyes to an interesting part of the game. And I notice that the players keep the second ball in their pocket.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

Yes, that's true. If the first ball doesn't go in, they use the second ball for their second serve.

2 people like this

@dgobucks226 (36490)

•

27 Jan 24

Yes, they hit those balls so hard compared to us normal folks that new balls are issued after so many games usually around 9 according to ATP tennis.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 24

I read somewhere how many balls are used at Wimbledon. From memory, it was something like 50,000 which is lot. There'd be a bit of competition for that contract.

1 person likes this

@dgobucks226 (36490)

•

1 Feb 24

@JudyEv Wow, interesting factoid!

1 person likes this

@sarik1 (7566)

•

2 Feb 24

It is nice interesting .

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 24

Thanks. I'm glad you thought so.

@Beestring (15339)

• Hong Kong

21 Jan 24

Interesting information. Thank you.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (352980)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

You're welcome.

2 people like this