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7 Best Tennis Balls For Hard Courts

Tennis hard courts are extremely tough on even the most durable balls out there. It doesn’t take long for balls to look and feel a bit used, as every shot bounces off of a gritty surface.

Those looking for the best and highest-performing balls will find the perfect options below. These are the seven best hard court balls currently on the market, and all bring something different to the table that wins over fans.

1. Wilson Championship Extra Duty

One of the best values in the game right now is this Wilson Championship tennis ball. It might not last as long as some of the options out there, but it should make it through a typical match at the local level. Getting one full hitting session out of these balls for a couple of hours is worth it for money.

This ball is very well-rounded, offering great playability and consistency every time. The felt is pretty durable, and stays colored well throughout the match.

It shouldn’t be too much of an issue getting dirty on hard courts, but the liveliness could be just slightly better as time goes on. Considering that is available just about anywhere, the Wilson Championship extra duty is a popular choice on hard courts.

Pros

  • Easy to find when shopping
  • Excellent value for the price
  • Keeps its pop pretty well for the price

Cons

  • Picks up dirt way too easily
  • Felt could be improved overall

2. Wilson US Open Extra Duty

A common option found at many different facilities is the Wilson US Open extra duty. This ball aims to last a long time on hard courts, and it is known as the official ball of the US Open. People will pay a little bit of a premium to get that type of ball, but most feel like it’s worth it for the extra longevity.

As far as not fluffing up and performing well is concerned, few balls match this one. It comes in a sleek can that catches the attention as well.

The ball might not look that much different from others out there, but it all adds up into one of the most well-rounded options available. It doesn’t come at a super cheap price, but many have converted to this option and never looked back.

Pros

  • Outstanding durability
  • Supported by the US Open
  • Lively feel out of the can

Cons

  • Feels a little lighter than other tennis balls
  • Felt discolors a little too easily

3. Wilson Triniti

Wilson deserves credit for thinking outside the box and coming up with something a little bit different with the Wilson Triniti tennis ball. These balls are known for being high-quality and sustainable, while also playing much like traditional balls.

It feels a little bit livelier at the beginning, but what holds its value is that it will feel fresh for a long time thanks to an engaged core of integrated plastomer material.

Not everyone’s thrilled with the price, but considering that they last for a long time, they’re worth it to players who are planning on using the ball for a while. Even if these balls last twice as long as traditional balls, it’s worth it for players in the end. In fact, a lot of teaching pros are starting to incorporate them.

Pros

  • Sustainable
  • Lively out of the can
  • Longest lasting ball on the market today

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Sounds a little bit different than a traditional ball

4. Penn Tour

As the name implies, the Penn Tour tennis balls are high enough quality to use for professional matches. In fact, four out of the five largest tournaments in North America use this ball during matchplay.

They don’t have quite as much durability as the Marathon options, but they play very similarly. The felt lasts a long time, and the Smart Optik treatment ensures that it’s very easy to spot.

For just a little bit cheaper than the Pro Penn Marathon balls, these might be the perfect option for those who plan on using a new can every time to go out and play. Durability doesn’t matter quite as much in this case, and the difference in play could be negligible.

Pros

  • Same ball used on tour in many tournaments
  • Great visibility
  • A little cheaper than the Pro Penn Marathon ball

Cons

  • Durability takes a little bit of a hit
  • Feels heavy under damp conditions

5. Pro Penn Marathon

For a more premium version from Penn, the Pro Penn Marathon balls are the best option on hard courts. The felt is more durable, the brightness stays around a little bit longer, and players can sometimes get two full sessions out of these balls before having to replace them.

Teaching pros love the Pro Penn Marathon because they can get a ton of life out of them overall. They do a great job of still looking fresh even after quite a bit of use as well.

They are a bit more expensive than the previously mentioned Penn Tour options, but casual players feel like it might be worth the extra bit of money to get extra hitting out of them.

Pros

  • Encore technology helps with longevity
  • LongPlay felt adds durability
  • Plays like a tour-level tennis ball

Cons

  • Slightly more expensive than the Penn Tour model
  • Hard court option should only be used on hard courts

6. Dunlop Championship Extra Duty

Any ball officially endorsed by the ATP tour has to be a pretty solid option. Dunlop has made this an extra-duty option that fits all different styles of play. They have their own names for the technology they use, with Max Core and Durafelt HD cloth maximizing durability.

One of the great things about this ball is that it can work pretty well on clay courts if there are no other options. It doesn’t fluff up as much as others, which comes in handy for all court surfaces.

Having the ball move quickly across the court when hitting around for a while makes a pretty big difference.

Pros

  • Endorsed by the ATP tour
  • Durafelt HD cloth stays strong
  • Has a true bounce even after heavy playing

Cons

  • Gets dirty faster than similar balls from other companies
  • Stock is hit or miss

7. Dunlop Australian Open

The final ball to make this list is a premium solution from Dunlop. The Dunlop Australian Open ball, as the name implies, is used at the highest level of play.

They have put an HD core on this ball, adding more consistency and greater durability. There’s also HD Pro Cloth felt, built to withstand even the hardest hits and most rugged play.

This is a premium option from Dunlop, compared to some of their more affordable solutions for tennis players. Those who might not particularly hit hard will find that this type of ball might not be worth the price in the end.

Instead of spending so much more money on a can of balls, going with a less premium option might be the better choice.

Pros

  • Improved durability from the previous release
  • Cloth stays very sharp in color
  • The same ball has been used in Grand Slam events

Cons

  • Most expensive Dunlop ball on the market
  • The added Australian logo on the ball makes it look too busy

What Is The Best Overall Tennis Ball For Hard Courts?

  • Pro Penn Marathon

The ball is a perfect mix of high-quality performance and overall value. It is the longest-lasting tennis ball put out by Penn, and makes it perfect for players of all skill levels.

The reason why it is a little better than the Penn tour balls is that they can be used for a longer time during practice after initially being used in a match.

A lot of people like having a few balls to hold onto for service practice or hitting around in general. Considering the affordable price, many are fine spending that amount of money on a consistent option that just works.

For the best tennis balls on clay courts, check out this post.