Quick answer: almost every tennis ball used in organised play today is optic yellow (a fluorescent yellow-green), because it's the easiest colour for players, officials and TV cameras to track against most court surfaces and backgrounds. White was the standard until the 1970s but has been phased out at every serious level of the game.
Why yellow became the standard
Before the early 1970s, tennis balls were almost always white. As televised tennis grew, broadcasters and players found white balls hard to follow on screen, especially against light backgrounds and clothing. Optic yellow was introduced and adopted by the ITF in 1972, and by the 1980s it had become the standard colour at every level from grassroots to the Grand Slams.
Is it yellow or green?
The colour is technically a fluorescent yellow-green, sometimes called "optic yellow". The exact shade varies slightly between manufacturers such as Wilson, Babolat, Head and Dunlop, but all must meet ITF brightness and colour standards to be approved for competitive play.
Do other colours exist?
White balls are still produced for traditional or vintage-style play, and some brands offer orange, red or low-compression balls in orange, green and red for junior and mini tennis coaching stages, where slower, lower-bouncing balls help beginners learn technique. These coloured stages are progression tools rather than replacements for the standard yellow ball.
Does colour affect performance?
Colour itself doesn't affect bounce or speed — that comes down to felt type, compression and pressurisation. The main practical difference for players is visibility: optic yellow performs best in typical indoor and outdoor lighting, which is why it remains the universal choice for match play.
Buying guide
For adult match play, stick with standard optic yellow balls from a recognised brand approved for the surface you play on (hard, clay or grass). For coaching juniors or complete beginners, look at the red, orange and green low-compression stages, which slow the game down and build confidence before moving on to full-speed yellow balls.
Shop this guide at Central Tennis
All in stock now, with expert stringing and racket fitting available in store.
Browse more: Tennis balls · Pressurised tennis balls · Pressureless tennis balls · Junior tennis balls
Not sure what suits your game? Talk to our team — we fit, string and demo rackets every day.
