The world governing body of tennis is investigating a notion that has the potential to drastically alter the composition and design of tennis balls.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) thinks that its prototype ball, which lacks a fabric cover like conventional balls do, would offer a more eco-friendly alternative to rubber and felt.
According to the ITF, tennis matches use hundreds of millions of balls annually, and because of the nature of ordinary tennis balls, recycling them presents certain difficulties.
In order to address the issue of sustainability, it is investigating potential solutions for a new ball design, techniques to increase the lifespan of balls, and regulations surrounding ball modifications.
To explicitly examine sustainability in tennis, a working group comprising the ITF, manufacturers, and other federations has been established. According to the ITF, when it comes to equipment, tennis balls have become the main focus.
A few miles from The All England Lawn Tennis Club, in Roehampton, south-west London, the ITF’s lab houses a variety of robots for testing racquets and balls in addition to an antiquated computer-powered wind tunnel for testing ball aerodynamics.
