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Why are tennis balls yellow?
If you have ever played tennis or simply watched a match on television, you have certainly noticed that tennis balls are always yellow. But have you ever wondered why? We explain why the tennis ball is yellow.
Expert guide
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The origins of tennis: white balls
Tennis, as we know it today, is very different from its origins. In its early days, tennis balls were mainly white. These colors were chosen due to their high contrast with the court color, making them easier to spot during play.
The evolution towards yellow
The transition to yellow was primarily driven by television. As television technology evolved and color broadcasts became the norm in the 1960s and 1970s, producers began looking for ways to improve game visibility for viewers.
White tennis balls were difficult to spot on color television screens. That's where yellow came in. Tests showed that yellow, particularly "optic yellow," was more visible on television screens. Furthermore, this color offered good contrast with tennis courts, whether they were grass, clay, or hard courts.
The official adoption of yellow
In 1972, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) officially adopted yellow as the color for tennis balls in professional tournaments. This decision was made to improve the visibility of the balls for players, spectators in stadiums, and, of course, viewers at home.
Since then, yellow has become the standard color for tennis balls, so much so that it is difficult to imagine a tennis ball of another color.
Why not another color?
It is interesting to note that, although yellow is the official color, the ITF also allows the use of white balls in official tournaments. However, yellow remains the preferred color for the reasons mentioned previously.
Other colors, such as the orange ball or the green ball, are often used for children's tennis balls, as they are even more visible and attractive to young players.