Why Are Tennis Balls Fuzzy?

Tennis balls were introduced when the game of tennis was developed. The first tennis balls were primitive. Over time, they have evolved into a true piece of equipment. Now, tennis balls come in myriad colors including orange, yellow, pink and even rainbow. Whatever color they come in, they will always come fuzzy.

  1. History

    • The earliest tennis balls are believed to date back to the reign of Henry VIII. They were made of material such as putty and human hair. Scottish craftsmen are said to have made the early tennis balls. These were made from a wool-wrapped stomach of a sheep or goat. They were then secured with rope.

    From Early to Modern

    • Over the years, tennis became more popular and tennis equipment emerged from the dark ages. In the late 1800s, tennis balls were constructed of leather and stuffed with hair or wool. Today, they are made from rubber and covered with felt.

    The Felt or The Fuzzy Part

    • Tennis balls are covered with felt. The felt is the fuzzy outer layer. This is the most-expensive material used in making tennis balls. Steaming the felt makes it fluffier. The fuzzy coating increases wind resistance and control. It also reduces bounce and speed. As a ball loses some fuzz, they get bouncier. When they lose most of their fuzz, they are said to be "bald." A bald tennis ball has more bounce and spin and is harder to control.

    The Fabic Cloth

    • The cloth that covers tennis balls comes in two types. Melton cloth has a high wool content and needle cloth has a greater mix of synthetic fibers and is much less expensive to produce. Both covers have a fuzzy texture. The fuzz is imperative to maintain control of the tennis ball in a match.

    Fun Fact

    • In Shakespeare's Henry V, the reemergence of the Hundred Years' War between England and France can be traced to the gift of tennis balls that Henry was presented with as a mockery of his youth. Henry took this as the ultimate insult. The line from Shakespeare reads: "When we have match'd our rackets to these balls, We will, in France, by God's grace, play a set."