I am currently watching the Australian Open, and I thought no better time to ask this question.
What is it with tennis players grabbing three or four balls before a serve and rejecting all but two? Is it the feel or the look of the ball?
If they do a “let” and are offered another ball, there is no question, and they just accept it.
Over to my Forum Friends.
Maybe I should have Googled it, and I probably will.
Warm regards,
Mitch in Oz.
I found this after a Google.
It all comes down to hair . The hair on a new tennis ball tends to be smoothed flat, while a ball that’s been knocked around a bit will be more fluffy. Tennis players may check three balls or more before serving so that they can select one smooth ball and one fluffy ball. The smooth ball is used for the first serve.
Warm regards,
Mitch in Oz.
What is odd is that they make this also with new balls.
I think that, for some players, it’s a way to re-concentrate…
I have noticed on the slow speed clips when hit I can see an explosion of fibres from the ball.
The players most probably have an innate feel how fast and how it will respond to the playing surface by how much of the fibres are present or lost.
I heard a commentator talking about how they keep the bald balls and reintroduce them sometimes.
Which would be funny considering most of the guys have lovely smooth arms and legs.
I don’t think they can work anything out at that speed but does show how hard the ball gets hit. 
Ouch.
The balls are temperature controlled for pressure consistency then they stuff them in a pocket. 
‘I saw that coming’.
I have no interest in their balls but I do think they should be banned from wearing baseball caps back to front.
I would think the player could get a bit more English on the ball if it had more fluff.
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