Why Tennis Players Check the Ball Before Serving

Today we explain what tennis players look for in a ball before they serve. If you have ever watched a tennis match on TV or YouTube, you have probably noticed that the server carefully inspects several balls before choosing which one to use. Usually, players ask the ball kids for three or four balls and then select the one they believe is best.

The way a tennis ball behaves depends on several factors such as weather conditions, altitude, and temperature. Because of this, players examine each ball before deciding which one to serve with. But why do professional players check the ball so carefully before serving? Let’s take a closer look.

Are All Tennis Balls the Same?

Tennis players often inspect multiple balls before serving and usually keep an extra ball in their pocket. To many people, this may seem unnecessary, since all tennis balls look the same. In reality, they are not.

Tennis balls are filled with pressurized air and covered with a layer of yellow felt on the outside. The air pressure inside the ball plays a crucial role in how it bounces. Different court surfaces affect bounce height, speed, and spin, but pressure loss over time also has a major impact. As tennis balls are used, they gradually lose pressure, causing them to bounce lower and travel slower through the air.

The felt on the outside of the ball also plays a role in how the ball moves, even if its effect is more subtle.

What Do Tennis Players Check Before Serving?

Although different tournaments use different brands of tennis balls, each event uses the same type of ball throughout the tournament. Since the balls are technically identical, what exactly are players checking before serving?

Primarily, players examine the felt and the air pressure of each ball. Newer balls usually have higher air pressure, which allows them to travel faster through the air. This makes them ideal for powerful first serves. However, new balls also have more felt, which increases air resistance.

More worn balls have less felt and lower air pressure. As a result, they experience less air resistance but also produce a lower bounce. This combination can be useful depending on the type of serve a player wants to hit.

Why Do Players Keep a Second Ball in Their Pocket?

Most players keep a second ball in their pocket before starting a point. This ball usually has more felt than the one chosen for the first serve. If the player needs to hit a second serve, they often use this ball because the extra felt provides more control and slows the ball down slightly. This makes the second serve safer and more reliable.

This small detail is part of the fine margins that separate professional tennis players from the rest, where even the choice of ball can influence the outcome of a point.