Tennis and padel balls are a crucial part of the game, but their performance deteriorates much faster than most players realise. After just a few weeks of play, even the most visually intact balls lose their bounce and playability. This drop in performance can have a significant impact on a player’s game, leading to inconsistent ball behaviour and, over time, increasing the risk of injuries such as tennis elbow. Despite the apparent good condition of the rubber and felt, the reduced pressure in the ball affects its bounce, making it harder to control and play with effectively.
Many tennis and padel clubs, as well as coaches, continue to use these “dead” or “soft” balls, unaware of the negative impact on both performance and player health. For some, the only solution is to toss out the old balls, adding to the growing problem of sports waste. Every month, hundreds of thousands of tennis and padel balls end up in landfills, contributing to the environmental burden. While some new recycling companies are emerging, collecting and recycling balls into new ones, the process can be costly, and for many balls still in good condition, it may be considered premature to recycle them.
For players and clubs alike, this presents a hidden financial and environmental cost. The act of discarding usable balls leads to increased expenses as new balls are continually purchased, and the environmental footprint of sports increases. So, what are the alternatives? Do we continue to use the flat balls and risk poorer performance and injury? Should we throw them away, contributing to waste? Or is there a better, more sustainable way to revive these balls and extend their life? It’s time to rethink what we do with our “dead” tennis and padel balls and explore alternatives that not only help our game but also our planet.
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