I recently tried out the HEAD Pro tennis balls in the hopes of finding a cheap all-court option for club play and heavy hitting sessions. Their bounce and speed were fine right out of the can; they were lively enough for baseline rallies and hard hitting. But after a heavy hitting session they dropped off faster than I thought it would have thought. These balls quickly lost their bounce and felt “dead” compared to higher-end or even mid-range options.
On-Court Performance & Wear
When you first take them out of the can, HEAD Pro balls have a good feel on contact and respond well, especially on serves and aggressive baseline exchanges. They feel firm, though a little low end (hard to describe but not a premium feel). The biggest problem, though, is that they just die off far too quickly. After just a few hours or one hard-hitting session, the bounce drops off and the balls start to feel flat.
As the felt wears down and the pressure drops, it gets harder to control on heavy balls.. This quick drop is very different from popular alternatives like Dunlop ATP Championship and Dunlop Fort, which keep their bounce and performance much better over several sets.
Pros and Cons – Honest Breakdown
Pros:
- Good initial bounce and speed – usable out of the can
- Affordable and easy to source in value packs
- Decent enough for short casual sessions or low-intensity rallies
Cons:
- Bounce and pressure drop significantly fast – noticeable after a short session
- Felt wears quickly, leading to inconsistent control
- Not ideal for serious baseline hitters or those that demand consistency
- Feels plasticky compared with premium balls – less satisfying contact
How do they compare to other balls?
When it comes to how long they last and value for money, HEAD Pro doesn’t hold up as well as other popular premium tennis balls. They start off well, with a quick pace and a strong bounce, but as the pressure drops, their performance drops quickly. That means players and coaches might end up using more cans each week than they thought, which makes them less appealing as a budget-friendly option in my opinion. Some comparisons:
- Dunlop ATP Championship — retains bounce and firmness longer, making it much more reliable for heavy baseline hitting (similar pricepoint)
- Dunlop Fort — offers a more premium feel with better long-term pressure maintenance for club match play (only a bit more expensive)
- Slazenger Wimbledon — softer, more controlled response that stays consistent over 2–3 sessions (they do suffer fairly early drop off too but do last a bit longer)
Quick Ratings (Based on my own playtest – not official data)
- Bounce Consistency — 6.5/10 – Clean bounce early, but noticeable drop after 1–2 hours of heavy hitting
- Durability — 6.5/10 – Pressure fades quicker than comparable balls; felt fluffs on hard courts
- Speed — 7/10 – Medium speed – doesn’t “fly,” but also loses pace sooner than expected
- Control — 7/10 Solid for casual rallies, but less trustworthy after heavy hitting
- Feel — 6/10 – Slightly plasticky response; not ideal for match play or advanced players
- All-Court Versatility — 7.5/10 Works on all surfaces, but wears down fastest on hard courts
- Value for Money — 6.5/10 Cheap price, but may cost more long-term because they don’t last very long
In summary – HEAD Pro Tennis Balls
HEAD Pro tennis balls are a cheap option for beginners. They’re fine for casual play, short sessions, or practice sets where you don’t mind losing some bounce. But for match play, repeated training sessions, or serious club use, the quick drop in performance would make me look elsewhere.
If you want balls that last a long time, are reliable, and bounce consistently even when used over several sessions I suggest buying slightly more expensive balls like Dunlop Fort or Tecnifibre Club. If budget and durability is your priority you can’t go wrong with Dunlop ATP Championship balls. HEAD Pro balls are cheap and easy to source, but in my opinion, they don’t last long enough to be worth using all the time.
Find them and other balls at Tennis Warehouse (North America), Tennis Warehouse Europe (use code TNERD10 for 10% off) or at TennisOnly (AU, NZ).
Read more tennis balls reviews.