What and why do they check so much?
@abhi_bangal (6842)
Ahmednagar, India
July 10, 2025 9:53am CST
These days I'm watching the Wimbledon matches. We have had a few discussions here already. One thing that I strongly feel like talking about is the players checking out the balls. Be it a male player or a female player, they collect at least 3 to 4 balls from both ball boys standing behind them.
Then they just stare at them as they juggle the balls with one hand and tap it back.
Sometimes they ask for a ball from one ball boy and immediately tap it to the other ball boy. I mean you all know what I am talking about. I don't need to describe their each and every move.
Now what I am curious about and what I don't understand is why all this pretense? If this isn't any pretense, then how can these actions be logically and acceptably supported?
6 people like this
6 responses
@abhi_bangal (6842)
• Ahmednagar, India
2h
If the same actions are performed again and again and especially by both players, I really doubt how much psychological impact it would have on their opponents. Because even the other player knows what his competitor is doing. And he is mentally prepared to accept the challenge.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (100333)
• United States
2h
@abhi_bangal No, no, not on their opponents. With themselves.
1 person likes this
@abhi_bangal (6842)
• Ahmednagar, India
1h
@AmbiePam Ohhhh ok ok.
But I said opponents because the overall gist all the comments and replies here is that someone is checking out the balls because he wants to get the best ball to gain an upper hand over his opponent. So, I was saying, if one player is checking out the ball so much then his opponent would think that he has chosen the best ball and he is now going to get an advantage over me. Though what you said also fits in correctly.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6567)
• United States
12h
Every athlete is looking for an advantage.
Some tennis balls feel different than others. The player is just seeking to find the favored ball or it's also possible that the time it takes or the message it sends to the opponent IS the advantage.
1 person likes this
@abhi_bangal (6842)
• Ahmednagar, India
11h
When it comes to balls, be it football, cricket, tennis, rugby... The balls used have already passed the test. Or you can say only those balls are used that are specificically designed and developed to play those particular sports. Had it been iron ball it's understandable that the shape would change.
Even cricket balls can change shape. That's why the umpires carry a ring to check if the ball passes through it or not. If the ball can pass only then it is deemed ok to use it further. But tennis balls are rubber balls (as far as I know) and it's very likely that they will go out of shape. Also new balls are used for every match and they can easily last until the match is over.
What sort of advantage, by the way?
1 person likes this
@abhi_bangal (6842)
• Ahmednagar, India
2h
@Vikingswest1 If it were some action or some planning that only a particular player does we can understand that there is definitely some reason behind checking the ball. But if hundred players out of hundred are doing the same thing, how much effect would it have mentally on the competitor?
Compare it to a scene where there is a doubles match and one player whispers something Hindi other players year. At least this is acceptable that they have planned a shot or something specific. But just checking the balls randomly...
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6567)
• United States
11h
@abhi_bangal
An advantage could be a little more confidence in themselves or a question of doubt in an opponent. A slight break to catch one's breath, or mentally prepare or to show the opponent that you've selected the perfect ball for the upcoming shot. An advantage can be physical or it can be psychological.
There are tiny nuances in many sports.
A baseball pitcher may ask to change baseballs simply because they don't like the feel of it. Same thing in tennis. A ball wears every time it's used. The more use, the more give in the ball. The more give in the ball means slower speeds of serves and returns.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (358036)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
Some of it is probably just for show but they are looking at the surface of the ball and choosing the one with the fluffiest surface. Or maybe it's the least fluffiest surface. I can't remember now. 
@abhi_bangal (6842)
• Ahmednagar, India
11h
They start checking out the balls from the very first point. And I don't think the quality will affect so soon - just after the match has started or the ball has taken some shots.
But anyway thanks for your answer.
@arunima25 (91470)
• Bangalore, India
11h
Actually they check for the overall condition, air pressure and amount of fuzz. They want the ball that would give them the best serve. I was a huge Tennis fan during my student. That was the Era of Agassi, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Pete Sampras. It's been ages since I watched a Tennis match.
1 person likes this
@abhi_bangal (6842)
• Ahmednagar, India
2h
Steffi Graf and Monica Seles... Oh what days were they... Nostalgic! If I'm not wrong, Monica Seles was stabbed by a Steffi Graf fan. And I happened to watch the match live. I think it was April 1993. I do not remember who her opponent was, or what the venue was. But I very distinctly remember this incident.
Did these legends also check the ball in the same way, the current players are doing?
@abhi_bangal (6842)
• Ahmednagar, India
2h
This is more of a practical reply. And I was sure someone would definitely come up with it. Granted, we are watching this on a Television set so we might not instantly understand the difference. But still every ball is checked from the word go even when the ball hasn't taken any beating at all... Hahaha!
