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HEAD Reset Balls

by TN
written by TN

Sustainability is the word these days. Wilson launched their Naked racquets and their Triniti balls. Now it's time for HEAD Reset balls.

The HEAD Reset balls are a part of HEAD's ongoing “Rethink” initiative. Trying to find more environmentally sustainable solutions to manufacturing in an industry that creates a lot of waste. Tennis requires strings and balls to be replaced frequently and is pretty bad for being sustainable. It's not an easy problem to fix because you might have a performance problem as soon as you start looking into more natural products.

HEAD are honest in saying that the HEAD Reset balls are more for coaches and recreational players. You won't see these semi-pressurized balls on tour anytime soon. Like most non-pressurized or semi-pressurized balls, they don't give the same bounce, spin and feel as pressurized balls. If you want to learn more about tennis balls, check out this video.

HEAD Reset balls description

This is the product description on HEAD's official website.

Intense research and development and extensive testing have gone into developing the HEAD RESET Ball, a more sustainable choice for coaches and recreational players. As part of HEAD's RETHINK project to help reduce the sport's environmental impact, this semi-pressurized and durable ball has a special compound that includes pre-consumer recycled material. The special compound extends the life of a ball with 50% lower air pressure than standard tennis balls. The 4-ball carton is made from 100% recycled materials; instead of paper coating, the colors are printed directly onto the carton.

The price for a pack of 4 is 8 euros, which competes well with the Wilson Triniti, which retails for €8.50 on Tennis Warehouse Europe.

I will see if I can get a sample of the HEAD Reset line of tennis balls in the future. I'm a big fan of the HEAD Tour XT ball, which is one of my favorite tennis balls, but this one has a completely different target group. Comparing it to Wilson Triniti and Triniti Pro, could be interesting though.

Have you tried Triniti or Reset balls? What tennis balls do you play with otherwise?

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Balls

What tennis balls should you use?

by TN
written by TN

I've gotten some requests to talk about what tennis balls you should use. I have ordered a variety of different tennis balls to get going.

There are different things to consider when you consider the question of “what tennis balls should you use?” My number one tip is to not go for the cheapest possible ball. That will give you a less consistent bounce and durability. As long as you go for a quality ball, you should be fine. But some balls are made for clay, some are made for hard courts, some are better for ball machines and there are even balls made to play on higher altitudes.

Tennis balls for kids

We should not forget that kids and juniors should play with different balls until they turn around 12-13 years old (depending on their physical ability/size). Ages 3-5 should use foam balls, ages 6-8 should use red dot balls, ages 9-10 should use orange dot balls, and ages 11-13 should use green dot balls.

What's the difference between a premium and a budget tennis ball?

A premium ball offers more natural wool and woven felt for better durability, resiliency, and consistency. Believe me, it's worth the extra money if you can spend it. Premium balls all have a higher concentration of natural wool fibers and are made with a woven construction; similar to how a premium rug is made from weaving the materials together.

Pretty much every and any ball brand offers a premium tennis ball. I have written about HEAD Tour XT before, which is one of my go-to-balls but I also like Dunlop Fort All Court and Wilson US Open. You can find all these balls at my affiliates, Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe and Tennis Only.

Budget balls are made out of synthetic fibers and a so-called needle-punch construction. You can play tennis with them, but you won't get a nice, consistent bounce and they won't last as long.

There is also an in-between solution called, which the tennis manufacturer industry has agreed (?) to name Championship. You'd think championships are the best balls, but these are slightly better versions of the entry-level balls. They are not as good as premium balls, but a better budget option. Just look out for the word “Championship” when you're shopping. Examples are HEAD Championship, Wilson Championship, or Babolat Gold Championship.

What is the difference between a clay court ball and an all-court ball?

In Europe, they sell tennis balls for clay courts and so-called all-court balls. The differences are not huge. A clay-court ball is woven to stay cleaner and not absorb as much dirt/clay as a regular ball would. I also feel like a clay court ball lasts a little longer overall, but that might be my imagination.

In the US, the ball categories are not broken into clay and all-court, but extra duty and regular duty. Extra duty is more durable.

Pressureless balls vs Pressurized balls

There are mainly two types of tennis balls: pressureless and pressurized. Besides the felt and the rubber core, this is the main component of a tennis ball: air or gas.

Pressureless balls are made of synthetic fibers and generally have a heavier, firmer feel due to the thicker core construction. I'm not sure if the Wilson Triniti Pro balls are any different, but I will know once I get around to reviewing them.

Pressurized balls are the most common these days and the only ones used on tour. They always come in a pressurized container that will give you a nice exhale-sound once you open it (feels like opening a can of beer :)).

Most pressurized balls are filled with air and have an air pressure rating of around 0.83 bar and 0.97 bar (12 and 14 PSI).

What about the rubber core?

The rubber core of a tennis ball is made from natural rubber derived from rubber trees. A typical location for the sourcing of rubber is Thailand.

What does all this mean for your tennis ball buying?

Different balls perform in different ways. Some love lighter, livelier balls that bounce a lot straight from the can (I have experienced this with Babolat balls for example), some enjoy a heavier, slower feel (HEAD Tour XT is a good example), and some prefer a harder, firmer ball (Wilson US Open). I find a good compromise between slow and lively to be the Dunlop Fort All Court, which is one of my favorite balls along with the HEAD Tour XT.

I have also noticed that balls that come soft and ready to be played out of the can, like the HEAD Tour XT, are more likely to be gone in a shorter time than a ball that is a bit firm at first but softens up. I think the idea with tour balls is that they should be consistently playable from the get-go and not change too much during play. This is where both HEAD Tour XT and the Dunlop All Court are remarkably consistent. I also like Wilson US Open, but I feel they play a bit better after the first hour.

Like with tennis racquets, it's all a matter of taste. Some balls are better on faster courts, some on slower courts. You ideally want a softer, livelier ball on a cold day and a heavier, slower ball on a hot day for example. This works the same way as it does when you adjust your string tension to the climate. You'd ideally want a lower tension on a cold day and a higher tension on a hot day where the ball travels faster.

The pros are picky!

Tennis professionals live on the margins. It's a centimeter here and there. It's about who is the most zoned-in player on the day, but it's also about the gear. There is a reason they tend to show up with a few different tensions ahead of a match. To be able to adjust the power level based on the conditions and how they're hitting that day.

Tennis pros are also notoriously picky about the balls they're using. Different tournaments use different balls and this can become a hot topic before a Grand Slam or a tour event. Rafa was quite vocal about the balls used during the French Open a few years back, but he is far from alone. Players like to voice their opinions on balls and courts. A slow court and a slow ball can be a pain to play for some players who like to be aggressive, while a fast court and a fast ball typically favor the bigger servers and strikers.

It's all in the details!

Ps. You can find all these balls at my affiliates, Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe and Tennis Only. Ds.

Now I'm keen to hear, what is your favorite tennis ball and why?

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Balls

Wilson Triniti Pro

by TN
written by TN

Wilson went environmentally friendly in 2019 with the Wilson Triniti balls. Now they launch the heavy-duty Wilson Triniti Pro.

Tennisnerd contributor and racquet tester extraordinaire, Henrik Wallensten, reviewed the first Wilson Triniti ball here. Now Wilson launches the Wilson Trinti Pro, which is a bit more expensive and tailored towards advanced and heavy use. The Triniti Pro features premium woven felt “for a consistent bounce” while the ball will feel fresh for hours of use thanks to the Engage Core of integrated plastomer material.

What's different from a traditional ball? The Wilson Triniti Pro comes in a octagonal container, which is 100% recyclable after use. Wilson calls it a “better ball for the planet”.

How does it play?

I have not yet tested the Wilson Triniti Pro, so I can't say, but I am going to order a can, sorry sleeve and do a review. A few facts about the Wilson Triniti Pro ball:

  • All court surfaces
  • Fully recyclable packaging
  • USTA approved
  • ITF approved

Wilson has made a few strides in the “save the environment”-direction for their product marketing (besides launching a bunch of different design collaborations for their standard racquets). I'm thinking mainly about their Wilson Naked racquets , which created quite a stir due to their stiff price tag (about double a standard racquet). These balls are a bit more expensive than your standard can, which I personally would like to understand why. Is it the packaging that costs more? Or is the engineering of the ball more expensive?

No matter what, I think it's sensible to pay a bit more for quality tennis balls. You will get better playability and durability out of them, so I wouldn't try to be too budget conscious around tennis balls if possible.

Keen to hear if you have had any experience with the Wilson Triniti and the Triniti Pro. I'm quite picky when it comes to what tennis balls I use and although I think it's important to be environmentally conscious, I'm not sure how much of a sacrifice in performance you have to make when choosing the Triniti ball over a regular tennis ball.

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Ball machinesBalls

Slinger Bag Review

by Henrik Wallensten
written by Henrik Wallensten

Fellow tennis nerd and buddy Henrik Wallensten is back. This time with a Slinger bag review, the most popular ball machine in the world?

This Slinger Bag review was done during a week where Henrik got to borrow and test the Slinger Bag from FK Sports Nordic. Henrik has now reviewed this product for the Swedish Tennis Magazine as well as Tennisnerd. Word over to Henrik.

What is it?

I get a lot of questions about ball machines, but I can't give any straight answers since my experience is limited. The Slinger Bag is a portable ball machine that looks like a large sports bag with big wheels and a shoulder strap. In Sweden, they deliver the Slinger bag complete with a lot of accessories as well as 50 Wilson Triniti balls, an oscillator that allows the machine to shoot tennis balls from side to side, a remote control, and a ball collector tube. You can adjust the angle of the balls from a degree to 40 degrees and also adjust the velocity to simulate anything from hand-fed balls to regular hard-hit baseline strokes.

How does it work?

Hard-hit and heavy groundstrokes are something frequently stated by players who have tried the Slinger bag. It produces a really heavy topspin on the ball and if you do 50 shots in one sweep with the oscillator function, you'll get pretty tired. It's a really nice training session because the heavy topspin forces you to really move your feet and prepare your shots properly if you don't do that, your strokes will suffer, and you will hit the ball late because the ball kicks off as soon as it hits the ground.

The battery is removable and lasts for around three hours of usage. The machine weighs 15 kg and can shoot out balls in velocities between 16 to 72 km per hour. The ball container holds space for 144 balls.

Features and accessories

Remote Control
Oscillating Base
Telescopic Ball Tube Pick-up
Phone/Camera Holder
USB Charging Cable
1 Large Gear Compartment
4 Zipped Side Compartments
Rechargeable Battery
3-hour Battery Life
1-Year Warranty

Specs:

Weight: 15 kg
Speed: 16-72km/h
Battery Life: 3 hrs
Ball Capacity: 144

An appreciated machine

One smart and appreciated function is the USB output, where you can charge your phone while practicing. Speaking of a mobile phone, it also includes an attachment on the telescope-style handle to film yourself while training with the Slinger bag.

Overall, this machine was appreciated by all the players I tried it together with. It's a great accessory for improving your tennis. It might not have all the functionalities of more expensive ball machines, but it does the job, costs a lot less than most machines, and is easy to transport to and from the court.

You can buy the Slinger bag from Tennis Only, Tennis Warehouse Europe, or Tennis Warehouse.

Have you tried the Slinger bag? 

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BallsNews

What tennis balls do you use?

by TN
written by TN

What tennis balls do you use? Some don't even know, they just play with “whatever”. The tennis balls can be quite important.

It took me a few years of tennis playing to understand how important it is to change balls relatively often. Playing with overly-used and worn tennis balls can lead to injury. They will lose the felt and become soft and lack liveliness and bounce. I play with the same balls twice generally and I currently use HEAD Tour XT balls. They are durable, feels good on the arm and has a bit more weight to them. I also like Dunlop Fort All Court for example.

What tennis balls a tournament uses is not trivial for the players. I wrote about Nadal's complaints about the French Open balls here. And in today's match against Dusan Lajovic in Rotterdam, Daniil Medvedev complained loudly and frequently about the Tecnifibre X-One balls (his sponsor). He even complained in French, probably to drive the point home to Tecnifibre even further.

It's a money thing

On the ATP Tour, the balls used is a money thing. To get the tournament to use your balls, you will need to write a nice, big sponsor cheque. Nothing strange about that, but the players don't have any say in the balls chosen. From what I have heard, Medvedev was not alone in voicing complaints about the Tecnifibre X-One balls. I have never used them myself, so I don't really have an opinion about them, but they are said to be lively and pretty light for “Tour” balls. This is what tournament director Richard Krajicek said about the balls.

“It's a very good ball. Lively and durable, tennis players like it very much.”

Maybe tennis players in general, but not Daniil Medvedev.

I am personally a fan of heavier balls because I get more control out of them. But it all depends on the circumstances. If you play with a heavy ball in heavy conditions, it might get too much. And if you play with a lively and light ball on a hot sunny day on a clay court, it's not ideal either. Like with everything, you need to find a balance of the conditions and the ball. I am not sure how Rotterdam's court plays in relation to the balls, but it might be a mismatch.

What tennis balls do you play with? Do you have a favorite or it doesn't matter?

Ps. If you want to support Tennisnerd, you can buy tennis balls, racquets or other gear with one of our affiliates and we get a small commission. Thanks! Ds.

Tennis Warehouse
Tennis Warehouse Europe
Tennis Only

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BallsNews

Nadal is not happy with the French Open balls

by TN
written by TN

Rafa Nadal is not happy with the French Open balls. He talked about the colder weather and the slower balls in a press conference yesterday.

Rafa Nadal is the undisputed King of Clay with his 12 French Open titles. And when he's disturbed about something, usually people listen. In a press conference yesterday we got to know that Nadal is not happy with the French Open balls. This year Wilson is the ball sponsor and the balls are slower and supposed to last longer. Coupled with the colder weather (September instead of May), this creates quite tough conditions for the players.

“I had a lot of success on this surface but the situation is special and the conditions now are the toughest ever for me here probably […] the conditions are very tough, the weather is so so cold.

It’s not the right balls to play on clay courts. The organization needs to take a look at this in the future as it’s dangerous for the elbows and shoulders of the players.”

Babolat has been the ball sponsor for many years at the French Open, but when the contract ended, Wilson stepped in. So this is a new situation.  Rafa is not alone in his complaints, Dominic Thiem has also voiced an issue with the slower balls.

“The Babolat were actually my favorite balls, they were nice and fast, perfect for my game, perfect for Nadal’s game too. The new balls will be slower, more open. That will certainly change the results a bit.”

Is it a coincidence that two Babolat-sponsored players complain about the new Wilson balls? Maybe not. But we have to remember that tennis players are creatures of habit and any change can feel alien to them.

Wilson Roland Garros balls

I haven't tried the Wilson Roland Garros balls myself, but it would be interesting to compare them both. This is what Wilson writes about the ball on their official website.

Boasting a core designed for longer rallies and a felt that limits moisture and dirt pick-up for peak consistency during grueling points, the Wilson Roland Garros ball produces performance fit for the zenith of the clay-court season.

Have you tried the Wilson Roland Garros balls or the Babolat Roland Garros balls? What do you think of them?

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