Dunlop Tennis Balls: Top-Tier Quality for Every Occasion
Dunlop's company history dates all the way back to 1888, when founder John Boyd Dunlop patented air-filled tyres for racing bikes. It's hardly surprising, then, that he went on to develop his expertise in rubber, air and round shapes further, leading to the very first Dunlop tennis ball in 1923. To this day, Dunlop remains the most represented brand on the ATP Tour. For a few years now, Dunlop has also been the official supplier for the Australian Open in Melbourne. The legendary “Dunlop Fort Tournament” balls have plenty of devoted fans today, thanks to their remarkably precise play and above-average durability.
At Tennis-Point, Dunlop is represented with tennis balls perfectly suited to different types of players. To find your favourite ball and the price-to-performance ratio that suits you best, it's a good idea to try out several ball types side by side. One thing worth keeping in mind: even if a ball feels very lively fresh out of the can, how it performs after a few hours matters just as much.
How do Dunlop tennis balls differ from one another?
With Dunlop too, the key difference between the tennis balls on offer comes down to the manufacturing process. Pressureless balls from Dunlop feature a very thick rubber shell with no air trapped inside. The ball gets its bounce solely from the elastic properties of the rubber and retains almost the same bounce even after very extended play. That's why pressureless balls are especially popular with coaches and are usually the type used to fill ball machines. Their downside is a somewhat higher weight and a less lively bounce.
Pressurised balls from Dunlop trap air inside a noticeably thinner rubber shell. Their bounce therefore comes from the compression of the trapped air on impact. Since the rubber layer is never fully airtight, air gradually escapes, which noticeably affects these balls' liveliness after a few hours. Despite their shorter lifespan, only pressurised balls are approved for tournament play, which you can recognise by the “ITF Approved” certification. At Tennis-Point you'll find the ITF-approved tennis balls from Dunlop.
If you play regularly with your usual partners, it's worth giving preference to pressurised balls. If you want to fill your own coaching basket or the practice bucket for training, choosing pressureless balls definitely makes sense.
Discover the wide range of Dunlop tennis balls and order online
As a renowned tennis ball manufacturer, Dunlop is represented in our online shop with a broad selection. Alongside tournament balls from Dunlop, you'll also find the more affordably priced coaching balls from Dunlop. There are also Dunlop tennis balls for children. These softer, slightly larger balls are ideal for coaching young players. And there are also Dunlop giant balls. With its stylish, football-sized design, this one mainly serves as a decorative piece.