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Tennis · Laws of Tennis

Law 3: The Ball

1 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts · updated 12 October 2026 · markdown

The ball: who approves it, how many balls are used and when they are changed, what happens when a ball breaks, the ball types and their specifications, and how court pace decides which ball to use.

3.31The Ball

Approved balls, the number in play and ball changes, broken and soft balls, the ball types and their specifications, court pace and the balls for 10-and-under tennis.

Test 1Approved balls and the number in playTake a test

  1. The ITF decides whether a ball or prototype complies, on its own initiative or on application.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  2. Players, equipment makers and national associations are all examples of parties with a genuine interest.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  3. Every tournament ball must be named on the ITF's official list of approved balls.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  4. The organisers announce in advance whether 2, 3, 4 or 6 balls are in play.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  5. The number of balls and any ball change policy are announced in advance.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  6. Every standard ball type is specified as white or yellow.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  7. Only the red foam ball for young players has no fabric cover.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  8. These four are the only numbers of balls the Rules allow.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  9. Only a ball that has been approved and listed can be used in a tournament.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · applied

  10. Events may play with 2, 3, 4 or 6 balls; five is not one of them.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · applied

Test 2Ball changes and broken ballsTake a test

  1. The first change comes two games early to allow for the balls used in the warm-up.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  2. The balls have already been hit during the warm-up before the first game.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  3. The whole tiebreak counts as a single game for the ball change.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  4. New balls are never brought in at the start of a tiebreak; the change is delayed.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · applied

  5. Ball changes are made either after an agreed odd number of games or at the start of a set.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  6. A broken ball means the point is played again.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · applied

  7. Only a broken ball leads to a replay; a soft one does not.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · applied

  8. The first change is two games early, after game 7, then every nine games.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · applied

  9. Play halts and a fresh ball comes in before the replay.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · recall

  10. Game 9 would be the regular interval; the warm-up moves the first change to game 7.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 · applied

Test 3Ball types and their specificationsTake a test

  1. Type 1 is fast, Type 2 medium and Type 3 slow; a fourth type is for high altitude.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  2. All four standard types share the same mass range.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  3. Types 1 and 2, and the high-altitude ball, are 6.54-6.86 cm; Type 3 is larger.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  4. The bigger ball slows down more in the air.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  5. The high-altitude ball and the altitude options apply above 1,219 m.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  6. Thin air makes balls fly faster, so the high-altitude ball is made to bounce lower.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  7. Lab equipment wears the ball as nine games would, and its properties may only change by set amounts.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  8. Type 1 rebounds 138-151 cm, the high-altitude ball 122-135 cm and the red foam ball 85-105 cm.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  9. 6.54-6.86 cm, 7.00-7.30 cm and 8.00-9.00 cm across.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  10. Only the Type 3 ball is specified at a larger size, 7.00-7.30 cm.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · applied

Test 4Court pace and choosing the ballTake a test

  1. A rating of 0 to 29 puts a court in Category 1.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · applied

  2. 40-44 is medium-fast; 45 and above is fast.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  3. Clay and other loose mineral surfaces are the usual slow courts.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  4. A fast ball balances a slow court, and a slow ball a fast court.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I, Case 1 · recall

  5. Type 3 is meant for Category 5, fast courts such as grass.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I, Case 1 · recall

  6. It may be used at all levels except the listed events, such as ranking tournaments, Davis Cup and the Olympics.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  7. National associations choose which of their own competitions use it.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  8. Ratings 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and 45 or more.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  9. Typically Category 1, Category 3 and Category 5.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I · recall

  10. 24 is in the slow band, where the fast Type 1 ball is intended.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I, Case 1 · applied

Sources

ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 3 with Appendix I (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I19
  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 318
  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix I, Case 13