7 Best Tennis Balls for Clay Courts in 2022

Tennis is an extreme sport. Players will have to show great feats of their skill and strategy to win a game and come out on top. This extreme sport has different kinds of setup. One of the most diverse setups is the clay court.

Clay courts are different from other types of tennis courts. It is the most extreme setup. Players have to be on their defense rather than attack because the clay court favors the defense. Players can slide instead of fully stopping to make a great shot.

The bounce of the clay courts is higher than other courts. Also, the ball moves a bit slowly on the clay court. That leads the players to change their tactics.

As a result, the player’s skill and strategy are not the only things to consider. Tennis balls that are used to play on the clay courts should also be chosen with great consideration.

Fortunately, we’re here to make your task easier with our handpicked list of best tennis balls for clay courts in 2022.

Best Overall
Penn Championship Tennis Balls - Regular Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls - 12 Cans, 36 Balls
Runner-Up
Penn Championship Tennis Balls - Extra Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls - 24 Cans, 72 Balls
Top Brand
Wilson US Open Extra Duty Tennis Balls - (1 Dozen Cans)
Penn Championship Tennis Balls - Regular Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls - 12 Cans, 36 Balls
Penn Championship Tennis Balls - Extra Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls - 24 Cans, 72 Balls
Wilson US Open Extra Duty Tennis Balls - (1 Dozen Cans)
-
-
$50.47
$85.39
$139.99
Best Overall
Penn Championship Tennis Balls - Regular Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls - 12 Cans, 36 Balls
Penn Championship Tennis Balls - Regular Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls - 12 Cans, 36 Balls
$50.47
Runner-Up
Penn Championship Tennis Balls - Extra Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls - 24 Cans, 72 Balls
Penn Championship Tennis Balls - Extra Duty Felt Pressurized Tennis Balls - 24 Cans, 72 Balls
-
$85.39
Top Brand
Wilson US Open Extra Duty Tennis Balls - (1 Dozen Cans)
Wilson US Open Extra Duty Tennis Balls - (1 Dozen Cans)
-
$139.99

Top 7 Tennis Balls for Clay Courts in 2022 (Reviews)

1. Penn Championship Regular Duty Tennis Balls

Penn Championship Regular Duty Tennis Balls

Initially built for hard courts, these Penn Championship Regular Duty Tennis Balls can also be used to play on softer grounds like the clay court.

As it is a Championship category ball, it has quality and durability nearly equal to that of Professional tennis balls. These balls are a well-suited choice for clay fields.

Things I Like:

  • Official ball for the USTA league
  • Wool fibers with interlocked design
  • Suitable for both clay and hard court
  • Highly durable
Check Current Price & Reviews

2. Penn Championship Extra Duty Tennis Balls

Penn Championship Extra Duty Tennis Balls

One of America’s best-selling tennis balls. This ball provides excellent durability and long-lasting service. It has interlocked wool fiber design that provides consistency.

This consistency is further enhanced with the natural rubber layer. This ball has a high altitude which may cause problems on the clay court.

Things I Like:

  • Official USTA ball
  • High-quality tennis ball
  • Long-lasting design
  • Ideal for any type of courts
Check Current Price & Reviews

3. Wilson US Open Extra Duty Tennis Balls

Wilson US Open Extra Duty Tennis Balls

Wilson is one of the most trusted brands in the Tennis industry. They produce great rackets, strings, accessories, and balls.

These US Open Extra duty balls from Wilson are great balls for clay court and hard court. It is made with Dura-weave felt. The ball can take a beating and still retain its shape. It is a very durable ball.

Things I Like:

  • High durability
  • USTA and ITF approved
  • Ideal for all courts
  • Dura-weave technology
Check Current Price & Reviews

4. Wilson US Open Regular Duty Tennis Ball

Wilson US Open Regular Duty Tennis Ball

It is Wilson’s other great ball for soft and hard courts. This ball has a high altitude rating. The pressurized hollow core makes it bounce way high. It makes a great choice for courts that are too long. It is made with Exclusive Tex Tech Industries felt. This felt gives it more premium quality and durability.

Things I Like:

  • Exclusive Tex Tech Industries felt
  • High altitude
  • Pressurized core
  • Durability
  • USTA and ITF approved
Check Current Price & Reviews

5. Babolat Roland Garros Tennis Balls

Babolat is one of the greatest tennis string manufacturers. Their balls also live up to that reputation. These Roland Garros Tennis balls from Babolat are exceptionally great for clay courts.

Its extra pressurized core makes the ball bounce faster in the court. But this extra pressure core is also its weakness as it can break at high temperatures.

Things I Like:

  • Highly pressurized core
  • Fast bounce
  • Flexible rubber layer

6. Dunlop Clay Court Tennis Balls 

Dunlop balls are an excellent choice. These balls are woven in a very different way which repels dust and keeps them clean in the clay court. These balls have a high reputation for being used by ATP players.

Things I Like:

  • Anti-dust design
  • Rubber layer
  • ITF approved
  • High durable core

7. Pro Penn Marathon Regular Duty

Pro Penn Marathon Regular Duty

The Pro Penn Marathon is ideally the best and the most durable ball for clay courts. Its unique core design gives it 22% more durability than any other regular ball.

Things I Like:

  • Encore technology
  • Longest rating tennis ball by Penn’s
  • Opik felt

Buying Guide

The clay court is a bit like the indoor courts. It does not go that hard on the ball. You don’t need extra duty balls to play on a clay court. But still, it is not a matter to be overlooked. So here is a short guide.

Take the following matter into your consideration when buying a pack of tennis balls for playing on the clay court.

Regular Duty vs Extra Duty

This is directly related to the court you are playing on. If you are playing on an indoor or clay court, you can go with the regular-duty tennis balls. If you are playing on a hard court, it is better to choose an extra duty ball.

Almost every tennis ball comes in two variations. The regular-duty version and the hard-duty version. Regular duty balls have a thin rubber layer. They are also less in price.

On the other hand, extra-duty balls have a very thick layer of rubber. They are constructed in a reinforced design. Thus they can take the hard beating from the hardcourt.

Pressurized or Pressureless?

Pressurized or Pressureless balls? The answer is quite simple. If you are practicing, go for the pressureless balls and if you are in a tournament, you will be handed a set of pressurized balls.

Pressurized balls have a hollow core that is filled with air and pressurized so that it can bounce pretty well. Over time this pressure causes the ball to break. Thus, pressurized balls have a limited lifespan.

Pressureless tennis balls on the other hand do not have this pressurized hollow core. Rather they have a solid core that is filled with stiff rubber. In the beginning, they don’t have much bounce but with time they gain more bounce because the stiff core softens.

Now as we are talking about clay courts, you can choose either of these. Because clay courts are not as hard as hard courts. So any kind of ball will do.

Tiers

Tiers are ratings of the ball by the manufacturer that indicates the quality of the ball. The higher the quality, the more expensive the ball gets. You don’t want to put a lot of money behind the practice, do you? No one does.

That is why for practice, it is better to choose the beginner and intermediate tier balls. It is an ideal choice for recreational play too. They do not have that significant drop in quality and lifespan.

If you are playing in a professional tournament, then you will be provided with tier 1 balls. They are pretty expensive. But in practice, you will have to get your ball. So make the right choice.

Durability

Durability is something you should always consider while buying a ball. You don’t want to buy balls that cannot take a beating.

Although tennis balls are made with attention to durability, they often break down. Especially the pressurized balls. The pressure inside of the ball and the impact put on the ball sometimes cause it to break.

In that case, pressureless balls are the most durable ones. If durability is your focus, then choose the pressureless balls.

Altitude

Altitude is another important thing to consider in tennis. It refers to the bounce of the ball. Too much bounce can cause a lot of problems for the game. So it is better to play with balls that have minimum bounce but not too little.

Clay courts give the ball a lot of bounce. So you might want to pick a ball that gives less bounce. If you pick a ball that has high altitude and plays with it on a clay court, the ball will get too high and it will make the game too difficult for both players. So pick a ball with low to medium altitude for playing on a clay field.


FAQ

What is a clay court?

A clay court is a regular tennis court covered with clay. It could be crushed brick, concrete, or land.

How does tennis balls react to clay courts?

A ball bounces higher but moves slowly on a clay court.

What kind of ball is best suited for clay courts?

The best ball for a clay court is a regular duty ball with a pressurized core.

Final Words

Clay courts are a little different to play in. They are dusty, players can fall over, and many more. But it is not as hard on the tennis ball. For the ball, it is a soft ground that gives the tennis ball much bounce. It does compromise spin but the lifespan of the ball is not hampered much.

In short, pick a tennis ball that is rated for regular duty and has low to medium altitude. And as for pressure, choose any of them but if you are in a tournament, you will always be handed the pressurized ones.

The clay court is pretty soft on the tennis ball. So durability is not much of a factor here. But if you want to be a little more on the safe side, pick one that is extra durable and has an extra duty rating. Be sure to check the altitude of the ball.

Last update on 2022-11-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Leave a Comment