Keeping tennis balls properly stored is crucial for maintaining their quality and lifespan. The primary methods focus on preserving the ball's internal pressure and protecting it from environmental damage.
Key Storage Practices
Based on best practices for preserving tennis ball performance, especially when unopened, here are essential tips:
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Maintain Pressure: For unopened tennis balls, keeping them pressurised is essential to maintain their bounce and playability. This is achieved by keeping unopened balls in their original can. The sealed can holds the balls under pressure, similar to how they are manufactured.
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Control Temperature: It is crucial to avoid extreme temperatures. Store tennis balls in a cool, dry area. This means shielding them from direct sun exposure and distancing them from heat sources like radiators or heaters. High temperatures can degrade the rubber and felt, causing the balls to lose their bounce prematurely, while excessive cold can also affect their performance.
Practical Storage Tips
Here's how to implement these practices effectively:
- Unopened Cans: Store unopened cans in a stable environment, like a closet, garage (if climate-controlled), or a dedicated storage box indoors. Ensure the location doesn't experience significant temperature fluctuations.
- Opened Balls: While opened balls will naturally lose pressure over time, storing them correctly can still help. Keep used balls in a ball bag, bucket, or other container in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat. Avoid leaving them in a hot car trunk.
- Travel: When transporting balls, especially in warm weather, try to keep them out of direct sunlight inside the vehicle.
Proper storage, particularly keeping new balls sealed in their pressurised cans and avoiding extreme temperatures for all balls, significantly helps in preserving their play characteristics.
For more insights into why tennis balls are stored this way, you can refer to resources like https://evolvetennisacademy.com/blog/why-do-tennis-balls-come-in-cans/.
