Key takeaways
- Tennis ball color changed in 1972, when the ITF added yellow balls to the rules because research showed television viewers could see them more easily.
- Before that, balls were black or white, chosen to stand out against the court behind them.
- The oldest grass-court championship in London kept white balls until 1986.
- Tennis balls are fuzzy because the rules require a fabric cover, a cloth of wool, nylon and cotton that adds drag and grip.
- A standard ball must weigh 56.0 to 59.4 grams and rebound 53 to 58 inches when dropped from 100 inches.
Most people assume tennis balls have always been that electric shade, somewhere between lemon and lime. They have not. For roughly a century the ball was white or black, and the switch came from television, not from players asking for it.
This guide covers tennis ball color, why tennis balls are fuzzy, and the exact numbers a ball has to hit before it can be used in play. The history comes from the International Tennis Federation's history of the tennis ball, and the specifications come from the ITF Rules of Tennis and the federation's technical booklet.
Why are tennis balls yellow?
Tennis balls are yellow because the ITF added yellow to the rules in 1972, after research showed television viewers could see yellow balls more easily.
As color television arrived, a small white ball moving fast over a court full of white lines could be hard to follow on screen. The ITF's own history puts it plainly. Yellow went into the rules because research showed the balls were "more visible to television viewers." The rules still allow white, but yellow is what nearly every match uses today.
A widely repeated story credits the broadcaster David Attenborough with pushing for the change. The ITF's own history of the ball does not mention him, and I could not trace the story to a primary record, so treat it as unconfirmed.
What was the original tennis ball color?
The original tennis ball color was black or white, chosen to contrast with the court behind it, and that held until 1972.
The earliest lawn tennis balls of the 1870s were made solely of India rubber, according to the ITF. Makers soon improved them by stitching flannel around the rubber core, then made the core hollow and filled it with gas. Later the flannel gave way to a purpose-made melton cloth, and the stitching was replaced by a vulcanized rubber seam.
The white ball suited the game's early look. Players wore white, courts were often grass, and spectators watched from the stands rather than through a camera. For the full story of how the modern game grew out of real tennis, see our guide to the history of tennis.
When did the oldest grass-court championship switch to yellow balls?
The oldest grass-court championship in London switched to yellow balls in 1986, fourteen years after the ITF first allowed them.
The ITF history notes that the championship "continued to use the traditional white ball" after yellow entered the rules. It "eventually adopted yellow balls in 1986." That made it the most famous holdout in the sport, at an event already known for its all-white dress code.
Fourteen years is simple arithmetic: 1986 minus 1972. By the time the grass-court event made the move, many younger players had rarely hit anything but yellow.
Is tennis ball color officially yellow or green?
Officially, tennis ball color is yellow, because the ITF rules allow only white or yellow for standard balls.
Many people still see green, and the argument has no official answer beyond the rulebook. The fluorescent shade most makers use sits close to the line between yellow and green, and lighting, shadows and the court color all shift how it reads to the eye.
The rules get more colorful for young players. Balls for 10-and-under competition are slower and lighter, and they carry color codes so coaches can tell them apart at a glance.
| Ball type | Colors the ITF allows | Mass | Rebound from 100 inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (Type 2) | White or yellow | 56.0 to 59.4 g | 53 to 58 inches (135 to 147 cm) |
| Stage 1 (green) | Yellow with a green dot | 47.0 to 51.5 g | 47 to 53 inches (120 to 135 cm) |
| Stage 2 (orange) | Orange and yellow, or yellow with an orange dot | 36.0 to 46.9 g | 41 to 47 inches (105 to 120 cm) |
| Stage 3 (red, standard) | Red and yellow, or yellow with a red dot | 36.0 to 49.0 g | 35 to 41 inches (90 to 105 cm) |
Why are tennis balls fuzzy?
Tennis balls are fuzzy because the ITF rules require a uniform fabric cover, and that cloth slows the ball and helps it grip the strings.
The ITF technical booklet describes a standard ball as a hollow rubber core covered by a textile of wool, nylon and cotton. The reference ball the ITF uses to test court surfaces specifies woven cloth of about 55 percent wool and 45 percent nylon. Any seams must be stitchless.
That cover does two jobs. First, it adds drag. NASA's Glenn Research Center explains that drag on a sphere depends on its shape, size and the flow around it, and that a sphere's drag coefficient varies widely with flow speed. A fibrous surface changes that flow, so a felt ball slows down in the air more than a bare rubber ball would. Second, the cloth gives the strings something to bite, which is how players load the ball with topspin and slice. Those shots, and the rest of the game's vocabulary, are covered in our glossary of tennis terms.
The fuzz also changes as a match goes on. The nap fluffs up, wears down and picks up dirt, so the ball plays differently after a few games. That is why the rules let event organizers schedule ball changes, either after an agreed odd number of games or at the start of a set.
How does the ITF test a tennis ball?
The ITF tests a ball in a fixed sequence of conditioning, pre-compression, mass, size, deformation, rebound and durability checks under controlled lab conditions.
- Conditioning: balls sit for at least 24 hours at 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius) and 60 percent relative humidity.
- Pre-compression: each ball is squeezed by 1 inch (2.54 cm) three times on each of three axes, nine squeezes in all, to remove any set from storage.
- Mass: a standard ball must weigh 56.0 to 59.4 grams (1.975 to 2.095 ounces).
- Size: ring gauges check a diameter of 6.54 to 6.86 cm (2.57 to 2.70 inches).
- Deformation: a machine measures how far the ball squashes under load and how well it recovers.
- Rebound: the ball is dropped from 100 inches (254 cm) onto a smooth, rigid block and must bounce back 53 to 58 inches.
- Durability: the ball is fired at a hard surface 20 times at about 40 meters per second, then rolled in an abrasive box for two minutes. The routine simulates nine games.
The ITF history adds one more detail: the mass range was last changed in 2000, when it widened from 56.7 to 58.5 grams to today's 56.0 to 59.4 grams.
Why are tennis balls sold in pressurized cans?
Tennis balls come in pressurized cans because most balls have a gas-filled core, and a sealed can stops that pressure leaking away.
A pressurized ball gets much of its bounce from the gas inside the rubber core. Once the can is opened, that pressure slowly escapes, and the ball gradually feels flatter and slower. The ITF's approval process even includes measuring the pressure inside sealed packaging as well as inside the balls.
Pressureless balls work differently. The rules define them as having an internal pressure no greater than 7 kPa (1 psi), so their bounce comes from the rubber core itself instead of trapped gas. They last longer in storage and often show up in ball machines and practice baskets, while pressurized balls remain the norm in matches.
Which tennis imagery works on a wall?
Tennis imagery works on a wall when one bold element, often that yellow ball, gives the eye a clear place to land.
Optic color is a gift for art. A single yellow ball against a dark or muted background reads from across a room, the same reason it reads on a television screen. Playful pieces with dogs and baskets of balls suit a living room or game room, while black-and-white court scenes sit well in a study. If your taste runs older, our guide to vintage tennis racket decor covers the wooden-frame look. The full range sits in the tennis wall art collection. Each piece is one gallery-wrapped canvas, made to order in Europe and ready to hang, with a floating frame as the optional upgrade.
Featured tennis pieces
Frequently asked questions
When did tennis balls change from white to yellow?
The ITF added yellow balls to the rules in 1972, after research showed they were easier for television viewers to see. Events adopted them over the following years. The oldest grass-court championship in London was a famous holdout and kept white balls until 1986.
Are white tennis balls still legal?
Yes. The ITF rules still allow standard balls to be white or yellow, so a white ball that meets the mass, size, deformation and rebound specifications is legal. In practice almost every event uses yellow, and white balls are now mostly a retro novelty.
What is the fuzz on a tennis ball made of?
The fuzz is a cloth cover over a hollow rubber core. The ITF describes it as a textile of wool, nylon and cotton, and its reference test ball uses woven cloth of about 55 percent wool and 45 percent nylon. The rules require a uniform fabric surface with stitchless seams.
How much does a tennis ball weigh?
A standard tennis ball must weigh between 56.0 and 59.4 grams, or about 1.975 to 2.095 ounces, under the ITF rules. Its diameter must fall between 6.54 and 6.86 centimeters. Balls for young players are lighter, with the green-dot ball at 47.0 to 51.5 grams.
Why do tennis balls go flat?
Most tennis balls are pressurized, with gas sealed inside the rubber core. After the can is opened, that gas slowly escapes and the bounce drops. Wear on the felt also changes how the ball flies. Pressureless balls avoid the leak because their bounce comes from the rubber, not the gas.
