SUMMARY
- There has been a long history behind the different changes that have taken place with tennis balls.
- Tennis had initially seen the usage of white balls in all events, but the problems arose when it troubled the fans.
At present, the tennis tour is a very flexible organization where players are part of various changes. There has been a rise in innovations coming into the game in the past two years. Along with different types of events, there has been an increase in player and audience interactions. Changes in the game have made it what it is now.
Now, there are questions regarding the balls used during the matches. The weightage and the frequent changes have caused a debate among the fans and the players. The situation was different a few decades ago. Players used white balls during the matches and not the present yellow balls. There is a history behind the change.
Tennis balls used in the past
There have been many examples where the sport had begun playing with balls made of wool and cloth. The introduction of the rubber balls changed the game forever. The first rubber tennis balls were brought in the 1870s but lasted only briefly as they had to be modified between matches. It led to the process becoming expensive.
After the 1900s, the sport launched hollow rubber balls, which were lighter and easier to use. They were much more durable than their predecessors. However, they tended to get dirty during the matches, affecting their game longevity. The following change in the sport stayed for a long time with the arrival of the white balls.
Question four – when did #Wimbledon switch from white tennis balls to yellow? pic.twitter.com/Xtn6L2hGED
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) April 30, 2020
In 1920, the usage of white balls spread rapidly. It was used in all official competitions on the tour. There would be no change in the balls in the future. The white balls were used in the grand slams as it became the norm, followed by all. It almost took half a century to notice the problems with white balls. The revolution it made stands still today.
The problem of using a white ball in tennis
The 1967 Wimbledon Championships changed the game forever. The change is credited to David Attenborough, who played a crucial role in the sport’s history. Attenborough is known worldwide as a biologist, historian, and broadcaster. But this time, his attention to detail led to him being part of the abolition of the white ball usage.
Attenborough used to be the studio controller for the BBC and pushed for the organization to broadcast the Wimbledon matches in color for the first time. It was a delight for the fans to watch the matches in color. Seeing Billie Jean King and John Newcombe lift the trophies in London was exciting. But there was a major problem which came out in the open.
The color broadcasting made it difficult for viewers to track the ball during the matches. In 1972, after researching the matter, the ITF concluded that a change was needed in the color of the balls. Hence, the present yellow balls came into the picture. But Wimbledon started using the yellow balls late, as they only accepted the change in 1986.
ITF announces the entry of yellow balls
Since 1972, most of the events on tour started using the “optic yellow” balls. The ITF also introduced specific measures and specifications for the balls used on the court. The uniformity brought betterment for the players as it became easier to play in different events around the world. The ITF announced the standardized weight and material.
Although the ITF has set a fixed parameter, the grand slams continue to change the balls according to the sponsors. The specifications are met by different companies, as there is no rule regarding which company to use in each event. The events can use other ball companies if the standards are maintained.
Wimbledon has been using Slazenger balls since 1902. Meanwhile, Wilson has been the ball sponsor for the US Open since 1978 and has been present at the French Open since 2020. At the Australian Open, Dunlop has been the ball sponsor since 2019. Different specifications have been made for the ATP and WTA tours.
The International Ball Committee
The International Ball Committee was formed in 1948 by the ITF. Each year, the committee releases the list of tennis balls that they have approved. Manufacturers can resend the samples to the committee if they fail the first test, which comprises seven ITF laboratory testing stages.
The first test is acclimatization, where the balls are kept at certain temperatures. It goes on with pre-compression and conditioning, mass, size, deformation, rebound, and then finally, durability. Diameter and weight are the oldest tests, and they began in 1880. The latest test is durability, which only came into the process in 2009.
Specifications of a tennis ball
Specifications must be met in the size, weight, and composition of a tennis ball. The ball must be 2.575 inches and 2.7 inches in diameter. In regards to the weight, it must be between 0.123459 pounds and 0.130073 pounds. The ball must also be made of rubber with a felt-like covering and a mixture of wool and nylon.
The balls are pressurized with nitrogen gas to encourage bounce and durability. The ball’s bounce must be 130–147 cm when dropped from 254 cm onto a concrete surface. In terms of toughness, there should not be more than 0.25 cm when a force of 45 N is applied to the ball. Only after these quality checks can the ball be used on the tour.
New balls please…. the bounce of a tennis ball has to meet strict ITF standards. Automated quality control at its best!!! pic.twitter.com/nZwOaRfYtz
— Logicon Automation (@Logicon_uk) July 26, 2017
Over 54,000 balls are used at each grand slam every season. They are thoroughly tested before being used in the matches. There is also an organization that focuses on ball testing in the sport. The balls go through different stages and are then deemed fit for usage in professional matches.
