Tennis ball types and specifications
The four ITF ball types and what separates them — mass, size, rebound and deformation — plus the counterintuitive rule that fast balls are for slow courts.
Overview
The ITF specifies four ball types for adult play: Type 1 (fast), Type 2 (medium), Type 3 (slow) and a High Altitude ball. They share a mass range of 56.0–59.4 grams (1.975–2.095 ounces) and differ in size, rebound and deformation.
Every ball must have a uniform outer surface consisting of a fabric cover, except for the Stage 3 (Red) foam ball, and any seams must be stitchless. All four adult types may be white or yellow.
The inverse rule most people get backwards
Ball Type 1 (fast speed) is intended for play on SLOW pace court surfaces. Ball Type 3 (slow speed) is intended for play on FAST pace court surfaces. Type 2 (medium) is for medium-slow, medium and medium-fast surfaces.
The pairing is compensatory rather than additive. A fast ball on a slow court and a slow ball on a fast court both move the overall speed of play towards the middle, which is the point: the ball type exists to offset the surface, not to reinforce it.
What actually differs between the types
Size is the clearest difference. Types 1, 2 and High Altitude measure 6.54–6.86 cm (2.57–2.70 in); Type 3, the slow ball, is noticeably larger at 7.00–7.30 cm (2.76–2.87 in). A bigger ball meets more air resistance, which is how the slow ball is slowed.
Rebound differs too. Type 1 rebounds 138–151 cm (54–60 in); Types 2 and 3 rebound 135–147 cm (53–58 in); the High Altitude ball rebounds 122–135 cm (48–53 in). Forward deformation is 0.56–0.74 cm for all four; return deformation is 0.74–1.08 cm for Type 1 and 0.80–1.08 cm for the others.
Altitude
Thin air at altitude means less drag, so a standard ball flies faster and further. The Rules provide two answers. The High Altitude ball is pressurised and has a lower rebound range than any other type.
Alternatively, a pressureless Type 2 ball with an internal pressure no greater than 7 kPa (1 psi) may be used for high-altitude play above 1,219 m (4,000 feet) above sea level, provided it has been acclimatised for 60 days or more at the altitude of the specific tournament. Type 3 is also recommended for high-altitude play on any surface above that height.
Good to know
- All four adult ball types share a mass range of 56.0–59.4 g.
- Type 1 (fast) balls are for SLOW courts; Type 3 (slow) balls are for FAST courts.
- Type 3 is physically larger, which is how it is slowed.
- The High Altitude ball has the lowest rebound range of the four types.
- Acclimatised pressureless balls are an alternative above 1,219 m (4,000 ft).
Where it’s used
Sports that use tennis ball types and specifications:
Related equipment
Tennis racquet
A strung frame with a handle, used to hit the ball in tennis. Head size, weight and balance vary to suit different playing styles.
Tennis ball
A hollow rubber ball covered in felt used in tennis and related racquet sports.
Sports bag
A roomy bag for carrying kit, footwear and gear to and from training, usually with a separate compartment for wet or muddy items.
Sources
The rules, dimensions and specifications on this page were read from these documents.
- ITF Rules of Tennis — International Tennis Federation, 2026, Appendix I — The ball (read 2026-09-12)
- ITF Approved Tennis Balls, Classified Surfaces & Recognised Courts — International Tennis Federation, 2026, Ball specifications and test methods (read 2026-09-12)
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Tennis ball types and specifications in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- Tennis racquetBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Tennis learning path.
- Tennis ballBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Tennis learning path.
- Sports bagBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Tennis learning path.
- The tennis net, posts and singles sticksBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Tennis learning path.
- What the Rules regulate about a tennis racketBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Tennis learning path.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Equipment
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
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- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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