I was cleaning out my garage this morning and stumbled upon a can of tennis balls I hadn’t touched since last summer. They were all dusty and a bit sad-looking, you know? Made me wonder if tennis balls actually go bad or if it’s just a myth.
Getting Started with the Old Balls
I grabbed the can and shook it hard—no rattle, so that felt okay. Then I popped it open and pulled all three balls out. The felt was a bit matted down and some parts had faded from yellow to this weird pale shade. I gave them a squeeze, and they felt way softer than the brand-new ones I bought last week.
Next, I took them outside to my driveway for a bounce test. I dropped each ball from shoulder height onto the concrete. The new ball bounced up real high, like hip level. But these old ones? Barely hit my knees, and one just kinda thudded like a rock. That got me thinking, maybe something’s off with them.
Testing on the Court
I drove to the local park tennis court to hit some balls against the wall. I started with the new ball—it flew nice and smooth, bounced predictably. When I switched to the old balls, things went downhill. They wouldn’t bounce right, felt dead and sluggish off my racket. Even trying to serve was a struggle; they wobbled all over instead of going straight. It was like playing with bricks.
After that, I sat down and recalled reading somewhere that heat or moisture messes with the rubber. So I sniffed the balls—yep, they had this faint plastic-y smell, not as fresh as new ones. That was the nail in the coffin for me.
What I Learned from All This
In the end, tennis balls do go bad, period. The rubber breaks down over time, especially if they’re stored in a hot spot like a garage or attic. The bounce just disappears, and they lose their zip. If yours are over a year old or look faded and feel soft, they’re probably toast. I saved myself from wasting a game night by tossing these duds.
Bottom line: check your balls regularly before you play. Squeeze ’em, bounce ’em, and if they don’t snap back like a champ, retire ’em to the trash. Simple as that, and it keeps your game fun and fair.