Balls and court pace

Rule 3 — Approval and announcements

A ball used under the Rules of Tennis must comply with Appendix I. A tournament ball must appear on the ITF's official approved-ball list. The ITF decides whether a ball or prototype meets the specifications or is otherwise approved, on its own initiative or following an application by a genuinely interested party such as a player, manufacturer or national association. Its review and hearing procedures apply.

Before the event, organisers must announce how many balls will be used: 2, 3, 4 or 6. They must also announce any ball-change policy.

Rule 3 — Changing balls and damaged balls

A ball-change policy may change balls at the start of a set or after an agreed odd number of games. With a game-based policy, the first change occurs 2 games earlier than later changes to account for the warm-up. A tie-break counts as 1 game for this purpose.

Do not change balls at the start of a tie-break. If a change is due there, delay it until the beginning of the 2nd game of the next set.

If a ball breaks during a point, replay that point. If it is merely soft when the point ends, rather than broken, do not replay the point.

Appendix I(a–b) — Surface and common specifications

SI measurements take precedence throughout Appendix I. Apart from the Stage 3 Red foam ball, balls must have a uniform outer fabric cover. Any seams must be stitchless. A ball must meet one of the listed standard or junior ball specifications.

Type 1 Fast, Type 2 Medium, Type 3 Slow and High Altitude balls all weigh 56.0–59.4 g (1.975–2.095 oz), are white or yellow, and have forward deformation of 0.56–0.74 cm (0.220–0.291 in). Their differences are listed below.

• Type 1 Fast: size 6.54–6.86 cm (2.57–2.70 in); rebound 138–151 cm (54–60 in); return deformation 0.74–1.08 cm (0.291–0.425 in).
• Type 2 Medium: size 6.54–6.86 cm (2.57–2.70 in); rebound 135–147 cm (53–58 in); return deformation 0.80–1.08 cm (0.315–0.425 in).
• Type 3 Slow: size 7.00–7.30 cm (2.76–2.87 in); rebound 135–147 cm (53–58 in); return deformation 0.80–1.08 cm (0.315–0.425 in).
• High Altitude: size 6.54–6.86 cm (2.57–2.70 in); rebound 122–135 cm (48–53 in); return deformation 0.80–1.08 cm (0.315–0.425 in).

Appendix I(b), Notes 1–4 — Pressure, altitude and deformation

Type 2 may be pressurised or pressureless. A pressureless ball must have internal pressure no greater than 7 kPa (1 psi). It may be used above 1,219 m (4,000 ft), provided it has acclimatised at that tournament's altitude for at least 60 days.

Type 3 is also recommended on any surface above 1,219 m (4,000 ft). The designated High Altitude ball is pressurised and intended only for play above that altitude.

For the standard ball types, deformation is the average of 1 measurement along each of 3 perpendicular axes. Any 2 individual readings must differ by no more than 0.08 cm (0.031 in).

Appendix I(c) — Durability limits

The standard balls in Appendix I(b) must also satisfy the durability test. Laboratory equipment simulates 9 games of play. The figures below are the largest permitted changes in the measured properties, not the initial ball specifications.

• Mass may change by no more than 0.4 g (0.014 oz).
• Rebound may change by no more than 4.0 cm (1.6 in).
• Forward deformation may change by no more than 0.08 cm (0.031 in).
• Return deformation may change by no more than 0.10 cm (0.039 in).

Appendix I(d) — Stage 3 Red foam ball

Only the junior types specified in Appendix I(d) may be used in competition for players aged 10 and under. The Stage 3 Red foam ball may have any colour and is the exception to the usual fabric-cover requirement.

• Mass: 25.0–43.0 g (0.882–1.517 oz).
• Size: 8.00–9.00 cm (3.15–3.54 in).
• Rebound: 85–105 cm (33–41 in).
• No forward-deformation value is specified for this type.

Appendix I(d) — Stage 3 Red standard ball

The standard Stage 3 ball must be red and yellow, or yellow with a red dot.

• Mass: 36.0–49.0 g (1.270–1.728 oz).
• Size: 7.00–8.00 cm (2.76–3.15 in).
• Rebound: 90–105 cm (35–41 in).
• No forward-deformation value is specified for this type.

Appendix I(d) — Stage 2 Orange ball

The standard Stage 2 ball must be orange and yellow, or yellow with an orange dot.

• Mass: 36.0–46.9 g (1.270–1.654 oz).
• Size: 6.00–6.86 cm (2.36–2.70 in).
• Rebound: 105–120 cm (41–47 in).
• Forward deformation: 1.40–1.65 cm (0.551–0.650 in).

Appendix I(d) — Stage 1 Green ball

The standard Stage 1 ball must be yellow with a green dot.

• Mass: 47.0–51.5 g (1.658–1.817 oz).
• Size: 6.30–6.86 cm (2.48–2.70 in).
• Rebound: 120–135 cm (47–53 in).
• Forward deformation: 0.80–1.05 cm (0.315–0.413 in).

Appendix I(d–e) — Junior measurements and testing

For junior-ball deformation, average 1 reading along each of 3 perpendicular axes. There is no limit on the difference between individual forward-deformation readings and no return-deformation specification. Coloured dots must be reasonably sized and positioned.

Tests for rebound, mass, size, deformation and durability must follow the regulations in the current ITF publication on approved tennis balls, classified surfaces and recognised courts.

Appendix I — Court pace classification

Court pace is measured using test method ITF CS 01/02, the ITF Court Pace Rating, under the ITF guide to test methods for tennis court surfaces. A surface's measured rating, rather than its name alone, determines its category.

• Category 1, slow: a Court Pace Rating of 0–29. Most clay and other unbound mineral surfaces are examples.
• Category 2, medium-slow: a rating of 30–34. Category 3, medium: a rating of 35–39. Most acrylic-coated surfaces and some carpets are examples within these categories.
• Category 4, medium-fast: a rating of 40–44. Category 5, fast: a rating of 45 or more. Most natural grass, artificial grass and some carpets are examples within these categories.
• Type 1 Fast balls are intended for slow courts. Type 2 Medium balls are intended for medium-slow, medium and medium-fast courts. Type 3 Slow balls are intended for fast courts.

Appendix I — Green balls beyond junior competition

Stage 1 Green balls may also be used at other competitive levels, except in the excluded events below. Each national association decides which of its national competitive events should use them.

• They are not permitted under this extension in world-ranking professional events, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, or Olympic and Paralympic tennis events.
• The exclusions also cover World Tennis Tour men's, women's and junior tournaments and team events sanctioned by the ITF and affiliated regional associations, ITF World Tennis Masters Tour and team events, and ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour and team events.