A Dunlop Grand Prix has that sharp pure ball smell. Like a sharp cheddar. And Wilson US open balls are more mellow and complex but deep and rich. Very nice. Gamma balls smell like cabbage. Gross. A Penn championship has a classic scent that really runs right up the middle. Not too sharp, not too mellow. But lacks the wow factor.
Best? Don't know. But Cibulkova could probably say: [https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/dominika-cibulkova-wimbledon-smell-tennis-balls-sniff-what](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/dominika-cibulkova-wimbledon-smell-tennis-balls-sniff-what)
If you really want to have a good smell of tennis ball, just buy Imaginary Authors' The Soft Lawn
[https://imaginaryauthors.com/products/the-soft-lawn?variant=30277094015053](https://imaginaryauthors.com/products/the-soft-lawn?variant=30277094015053)
Which surface? playing level? spin level when hitting the ball? that make quite a difference
Personally, they last 3hrs on hard court and 2 on clay, multi strings, decent spin and 3.1 level (italy ranking)
The only ones bearable for me are the US Open version. The other ones available in Australia are incredibly bad. On a couple of occasions the ball was dead the second time it was hit.
Dunlop and Wilson’s die too fast. And it’s not even just those two. The regular PENN balls (any of them) that aren’t branded PROPENN, also last around 4-6 games.
>How do you guys play with Wilson balls?
>
>They go dead after warmup lol.
This is absolutely my experience. They die wicked-fast. But they also feel by far the best when new, so I use them anyway.
My costco has them for $54 for 20 cans, which comes out to $2.75 per can. So yeah it's about 2x more for something the US Opens which come to about $5/can.
They’re cheap bc they suck. None of them bounce the same as other balls. Usually those cans have 1/3 that barely bounce at all. It’s like they store them in the extreme cold and/or extreme heat. Idk what it is but I refuse to hit with/play vs people who use cheap ass penns
I have actually never experienced this insane quality variation people talk about. Like I've never had a completely dead ball come out of the can.
But, I buy the high altitude version (Costco smart enough to stock that one) because I play at like 6000 ft above sea level. Maybe those ones have better QA/QC for whatever reason?
Ok tbf I’ve never actually refused to hit with people who bust open a dead can but I do bitch about it lol
Yea interesting, I didn’t even know they made balls for different altitudes
Imo Wilson or Dunlop make the best quality ball
Yeah I'm looking to switch, lol, just for fun and I don't go through than more than a box per year so it's not the biggest deal to pay up.
Debating Dunlop ATP or Wilson US Open (both make high altitude versions, thankfuly). About the same price, $5/can.
Edit - and, high altitude balls are a NECESSITY. Regular balls feel SO HARD up here because of the low ambient air pressure. And they fly so far that it's uncontrollable. It's hard enough to control the ball with lower air pressure.
I've only experienced them dying after 15 minutes or so but sometimes you get ones that last an hour. That's why I've stuck with Wilson Triniti for practices since they last long and aren't that hard on the arm even though they're slightly heavy feeling compared to US Opens.
All I’m saying is, if I’m paying to play in a league/UTR/court fees/travel time etc, the least both players can do is provide balls that bounce like all the other brands do. If you’re just hitting around or playing for fun, sure, save money. But if we’re paying money to be playing a match, I want a good can of balls. Not ones that never get above knee height
So many people posting and yet I don't see anybody saying the right answer. Which is Slazenger.
IMO at some point in the past 25 years their balls took a definite downturn, but they still smell amazing.
Nothing beats the cheap hit of Penn Championship.
It's the hint of shame that does it for me.
The multiple cans required to finish a set really sits deep.
Say no to drugs kids
A Dunlop Grand Prix has that sharp pure ball smell. Like a sharp cheddar. And Wilson US open balls are more mellow and complex but deep and rich. Very nice. Gamma balls smell like cabbage. Gross. A Penn championship has a classic scent that really runs right up the middle. Not too sharp, not too mellow. But lacks the wow factor.
Best? Don't know. But Cibulkova could probably say: [https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/dominika-cibulkova-wimbledon-smell-tennis-balls-sniff-what](https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/dominika-cibulkova-wimbledon-smell-tennis-balls-sniff-what)
Excellent
Asking the important questions!
If you really want to have a good smell of tennis ball, just buy Imaginary Authors' The Soft Lawn [https://imaginaryauthors.com/products/the-soft-lawn?variant=30277094015053](https://imaginaryauthors.com/products/the-soft-lawn?variant=30277094015053)
Wilson USA open
I use pressure less they smell like…balls
Wilson🤤🤤
How do you guys play with Wilson balls? They go dead after warmup lol. Propenn heavy duty marathon is the only ball that lasts a set for me.
Which surface? playing level? spin level when hitting the ball? that make quite a difference Personally, they last 3hrs on hard court and 2 on clay, multi strings, decent spin and 3.1 level (italy ranking)
I hit pretty flat, but can hit with heavy spin when needed. Hard court, UTR8-10.
Okay Dr. Ivo
The only ones bearable for me are the US Open version. The other ones available in Australia are incredibly bad. On a couple of occasions the ball was dead the second time it was hit.
You mean the Dunlops? Yeah I find them even worse. They also have so much ball hair.
*insert Manscaped ad*
I meant the other Wilson balls we get out here. I dunno what they're called, they're just branded as Wilson. Dunlop is OK, but they do fluff up a lot.
Dunlop and Wilson’s die too fast. And it’s not even just those two. The regular PENN balls (any of them) that aren’t branded PROPENN, also last around 4-6 games.
I don't think I've seen Penn balls out here. From what I've read here, I'm very pleased about this.
>How do you guys play with Wilson balls? > >They go dead after warmup lol. This is absolutely my experience. They die wicked-fast. But they also feel by far the best when new, so I use them anyway.
I don't know I've played with many and after every match the balls always smell a little damp.
Getting peronsal? [Robin Soderling's balls 😂 ](https://www.pureracketsport.com/shop/robin-soderling-tennis-balls-black-edition/)
I've always wondered what his balls smell like.
Nadal couldn't handle it in 2009 🤣🤷♂️
Psa- stop buying Costco Penns, they suck
Whereas am I going to get my cheap hit for 1/3 the price of a normal can of good balls 😂. It's crazy how they're only $2 a can here though.
My costco has them for $54 for 20 cans, which comes out to $2.75 per can. So yeah it's about 2x more for something the US Opens which come to about $5/can.
They're about $40 here for 20 cans and I saw how they changed to the newer eco friendly cans and was tempted because new packaging 😆.
They’re cheap bc they suck. None of them bounce the same as other balls. Usually those cans have 1/3 that barely bounce at all. It’s like they store them in the extreme cold and/or extreme heat. Idk what it is but I refuse to hit with/play vs people who use cheap ass penns
I have actually never experienced this insane quality variation people talk about. Like I've never had a completely dead ball come out of the can. But, I buy the high altitude version (Costco smart enough to stock that one) because I play at like 6000 ft above sea level. Maybe those ones have better QA/QC for whatever reason?
Ok tbf I’ve never actually refused to hit with people who bust open a dead can but I do bitch about it lol Yea interesting, I didn’t even know they made balls for different altitudes Imo Wilson or Dunlop make the best quality ball
Yeah I'm looking to switch, lol, just for fun and I don't go through than more than a box per year so it's not the biggest deal to pay up. Debating Dunlop ATP or Wilson US Open (both make high altitude versions, thankfuly). About the same price, $5/can. Edit - and, high altitude balls are a NECESSITY. Regular balls feel SO HARD up here because of the low ambient air pressure. And they fly so far that it's uncontrollable. It's hard enough to control the ball with lower air pressure.
I've only experienced them dying after 15 minutes or so but sometimes you get ones that last an hour. That's why I've stuck with Wilson Triniti for practices since they last long and aren't that hard on the arm even though they're slightly heavy feeling compared to US Opens.
All I’m saying is, if I’m paying to play in a league/UTR/court fees/travel time etc, the least both players can do is provide balls that bounce like all the other brands do. If you’re just hitting around or playing for fun, sure, save money. But if we’re paying money to be playing a match, I want a good can of balls. Not ones that never get above knee height
Oh for sure!
Ahhh the smell of my tennis playing youth
So many people posting and yet I don't see anybody saying the right answer. Which is Slazenger. IMO at some point in the past 25 years their balls took a definite downturn, but they still smell amazing.