Soft Tennis ball evolution and production secrets

Soft Tennis ball, like most sports, has changed over the years. One of the elements that has changed in and of itself is the tennis ball. Thanks to tremendous technical advances, the materials from which tennis balls are made have also changed.

In today's article, we take a look at tennis balls, how they evolve and how they are produced. Tennis balls have changed significantly since the sport was just emerging.

How have tennis balls changed?

Tennis first appeared as a sport in 1870. In those days, tennis balls were made of leather and stuffed with rags or horsehair. Rubber balls that are similar to those of today were made in India. They quickly gained popularity.

Tennis balls were originally white or black, but in the 1970s the International Tennis Federation (ITF) introduced yellow balls. This change was made because bile was easier to see on TV.

The tennis balls used in today's matches are made in such a way as to meet certain requirements set by the International Tennis Federation. This means that they must be of a standard size, composition and color.

A tennis ball must be between 6.54 and 6.85 centimeters in size and must weigh between 56.0 and 59.4 grams. The only color allowed is yellow with white stripes as it allows better visualization of the ball.

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Regarding the permitted materials, the ball must consist of two rubber domes that are joined together. Compressed air is then blown inside to make sure the ball bounces properly.

Once the air has been injected into the tennis ball, it is coated on top with glue and then a layer of yellow felt is applied to it.

Production process

Manufacturers heat tennis balls so that the glue sticks together the two halves better. Here's what the basic manufacturing process for these items looks like step by step:

• Rubber mixing.
• When it is ready, the mixture is formed into a ball shape. Each tennis ball has the same weight and is made with the same precision.
• Then it is cut in half and hollowed out.
• The two halves are smoothed and joined together, enclosing the compressed air inside at the correct pressure.
• During this process, certain controls are used to check the atmospheric pressure inside the ball, which is two atmospheres.
• The perfect blend of the fabric covering the ball is a combination of nylon and pre-stretched felt.
• Finally, when the tennis ball has all the right characteristics, a logo is printed on its surface.

Upon completion of this last step, the tennis balls are placed in a hermetically sealed plastic cylinder. The pressure in this cylinder is also two atmospheres.

A tennis ball can withstand one professional tournament or nine matches. This is because irreversible deformations occur in its structure.