Okay, so, I’ve been getting into this beach tennis thing lately, and let me tell you, the balls are a whole different game compared to regular tennis. I started out thinking, “Hey, a ball’s a ball, right?” Wrong!
I grabbed my old tennis racket and a can of those regular, fuzzy yellow balls and headed to the beach. First few hits, and I’m already thinking this is way too bouncy. The balls were flying everywhere, and not in a good way. I was chasing them more than hitting them, and it felt like I had zero control. It was a mess!
Started looking for something new
So, I did what any normal person would do – I started looking around online to find some actual beach tennis balls. And guess what? There are tons of options out there! And they are different than the normal tennis ball. I saw some from a brand called Teloon, selling in packs of 12 or 18, coming in different colors, and even had a mesh bag included. It was all pretty neat. And then there were these Flow Beach Tennis balls, which seemed a bit pricier, I guess they’re like the fancy kind. But, I also saw some more budget-friendly options from brands like GRANDCOW and ZHUOKECE.
I read that ITF approved ones are the way to go if you want that official feel. They call them “Stage 2” balls, which I guess is some technical thing. Apparently, they’re made with some special acrylic felt and have a 100% rubber interior. Sounds fancy, huh? And they say it’s “thickened rubber” which I guess makes them last longer, especially with that “extra duty needle felt.” I’m no expert, but it sounded good to me.
Time to get hands on
I ended up ordering a 3-pack of those Copa Beach Tennis Balls. They weren’t too expensive, but I just wanted to try a few first before getting a whole bunch. When they arrived, I immediately felt the difference. They were definitely less bouncy than regular tennis balls and felt a bit heavier.
- First Impression: Definitely less bouncy, a bit heavier.
- Material: Felt different, seemed tougher.
- Bounce: Way more controlled, didn’t fly everywhere.
Real Test!
Took them to the beach the next day, and man, what a difference! I could actually rally with my friend, keep the ball in play, and even started to get some decent shots going. The game just flowed better, you know? It felt like I was actually playing tennis, not just chasing a runaway ball. Even when I hit the ball a little harder, it wouldn’t go flying out of bounds. It was a whole new ball game, literally! They also seemed to hold up pretty well to the sand and all that, didn’t get all worn out after just one day.
So, yeah, beach tennis balls are the real deal. If you’re thinking of trying out beach tennis, don’t make the same mistake I did. Get yourself some proper beach tennis balls, and you’ll have a way better time. Trust me, it’s worth it.