They’re fuzzy, they’re round and if they’re flat, your tennis court time is definitely ruined. Tennis balls are where the action starts, and every player has their favorite brands. In my 20-plus years of playing, I’ve tried nearly all of them (even the snazzy designer Roger Federer brand that Wilson released for a while) and here’s what I’ve found: 

You’ll most often see Penn balls rolling around public courts in L.A. because coaches get them for free from the label. And those are fine for beginners. But once you develop your game and demand more performance from your serve and ground strokes, for me, Wilson tennis balls are the top-performing brand. They’re durable and just seem to stay fresh and keep their bounce longer than other brands. Plus, if you’re into status, they’re the official brand of the U.S. Open. 

There are several Wilson styles, and below are my favorites. For a luxury experience, try the high-bouncing, pressureless Wilson Triniti balls. They’re pricier than the average can but they come in a unique cardboard sleeve (no can!) and they last 3-4 weeks or more because of their extra felt and thicker core. (For that reason, they’re a favorite with ball-machine owners.) The newer Triniti “Pro” line is available on Amazon below ($8.49 / sleeve). — Jackie Smash