Latest Posts

What Patience Really Means in Tennis Does Tennis Really Need the Laver Cup? The Code: What Happened to “Are You Sure of Your Call?” The Best USTA League Award Swag I Have Ever Received Tennis Beyond the Headlines: September 28, 2026 What Does a People’s Choice Award Actually Measure? Fort Worth’s 60% Rule: When Compliance Misses the Point

Real Tennis Balls

On By Teresa Merklin

The specification for the tennis ball are codified in Appendix I of the ITF Rules of Tennis. It is probably way more detail and information than most players need or care to know. What I first took to be a subtle anachronism describing the construction of the tennis ball led me to the stunning realization that the sport we call tennis is not real tennis. Additionally, we don’t play tennis with real tennis balls.