How to tell if a tennis ball is dead

Last checked 2026-11-01 · 2 min read

Short answer

A tennis ball is dead when it no longer bounces like a new one. The official test drops it from 254 cm (100 in) onto a hard surface: a new ball comes back up to 135 to 147 cm (53 to 58 in). Drop your old ball next to a new one from the same height. If it comes up clearly lower, it has lost pressure and is past its best for match play.

The official test: drop from 100 inches

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has tested bounce the same way since 1925. A ball is dropped from 254 cm (100 in) onto a smooth granite block in a lab kept at about 20 °C, and the rebound is measured by video.

To be approved, a ball must come back up within a set range. Medium pace balls (Type 2), the most common kind, must rebound 135 to 147 cm.

Ball type	Used on	Rebound from 254 cm
Type 1 (fast)	Slow courts, most clay	138 to 151 cm (54 to 60 in)
Type 2 (medium)	Medium courts, most hard courts	135 to 147 cm (53 to 58 in)
Type 3 (slow)	Fast courts, most grass	135 to 147 cm (53 to 58 in)
High altitude	Above 1,219 m (4,000 ft)	122 to 135 cm (48 to 53 in)

Four ways to check at the court

Side by side drop. Hold an old ball and a new ball at the same height, ideally level with the top of the net, and let go together. A dead ball lands its bounce visibly lower.
Count the bounces. Drop the ball and let it bounce out. A new ball keeps bouncing for longer and the gaps between bounces stay longer.
Listen. A dead ball sounds duller and the bounces come faster together. This is exactly what BallCheck measures.
Squeeze. A ball that squashes easily between your fingers has usually lost pressure. Treat this as a hint only: lab tests show used balls get softer even when their bounce is still in range.

Why balls go dead

Most balls are pressurised: the ITF says the air inside a new ball is typically 10 to 13 psi (70 to 90 kPa) above the air outside. Once the can is opened, that air slowly leaks out through the rubber, and play wears the felt and the core. Less pressure means less bounce.

It is not a straight line. In lab tests, many balls bounced slightly higher after simulated wear before they dropped off. So a ball can feel lively for a session or two and then fall away.

When should you change balls?

There is no fixed number of hours. Professional events change balls after 7 games and then every 9, because the first change counts the warm-up. The ITF's own durability test simulates nine games for that reason.

For club play, the reliable answer is to test: if a ball bounces clearly lower than a new one on the same court, retire it from matches. It can still be fine for practice.

Measure it instead of guessing

BallCheck listens to a ball bounce on your court and compares it with a new ball of the same type on the same surface. You get a score out of 100 and a clear verdict: keep, pressurize or practice, or retire.

Questions

How high should a new tennis ball bounce?

Dropped from 254 cm (100 in) onto a hard surface, a standard Type 2 ball must bounce back 135 to 147 cm (53 to 58 in). From net height (about 91 cm) you can expect roughly half that drop height.

Do tennis balls go dead in the can?

A sealed can is pressurised, which keeps the balls from losing air. Once the seal is broken, the balls start to lose pressure.

Is a soft tennis ball a dead ball?

Not always. Used balls are generally softer, but softness alone does not tell you the bounce is out of range. A drop test is a better guide.

Are pressureless balls ever dead?

Pressureless balls get their bounce from a thicker rubber core, so they do not lose pressure. They wear out more slowly, mainly through the felt wearing off.

Sources

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