The Fascinating History of the Tennis Ball
Tennis has been one of the most beloved and popular sports for centuries. As it’s evolved, so too have its iconic balls. But one question that often arises is: were tennis balls ever white? The answer is far more fascinating than you might expect!
In its earliest days, tennis was a much different game than the one we play today. It used to be played with bare hands and a wooden paddle-like instrument called a ‘palette’. This handcrafted tool had no standard size or shape and players would craft their own to fit their preferences. Balls at this time were usually made from cloth and filled with either feathers or wool – neither of which were white in color.
The Introduction of Rubber
It wasn’t until 1874 when an Englishman named John Gasson patented what he called “Gutta Percha” – a type of rubberized material derived from tree sap found in Malaysia – that things began to change for the sport’s ball design. With his invention, manufacturers could now use Gutta Percha to form standard-sized spheres that could be used as tennis balls; they even came complete with dimples like those seen on modern golf balls! Initially these rubberized versions remained dark in color due to oxidation caused by exposure to air but eventually manufacturers figured out how to dye them various colors including yellow, red, black, blue and green.. However, it took another 10 years before anyone thought about painting them white – which ultimately changed everything!
White Becomes Standard
As strange as it may seem today – considering how closely associated they are with being white – tennis balls weren’t initially painted such because people felt there was no need for them to be visible during play since players knew where each ball should go according Major Walter C Wingfield who invented lawn-tennis (the sport’s original name)in 1873 . It wasn’t until 1888 when someone realized that if you painted them bright colors then spectators would be able not only see the ball better but also determine who won points more easily leading many manufacturers decide make all their products uniform in appearance by coating them uniformly using off-white paint.. Needless say this practice quickly caught on becoming universal within just few years thereafter.
Conclusion
Today’s modern game wouldn’t look nearly as recognizable without those signature yellow fuzzballs bouncing around court sides all over world; however what many don’t realize is that these iconic items didn’t always appear way do now—in fact they actually weren’t even originally painted white at first! Therefore next time you catch yourself watching some exciting match up between two top tier pros remember appreciate small details behind every shot—especially something seemingly mundane yet integral part history such classic pastime like humble little ping pong sphere itself!.