Mantis Red Tennis Balls (Poly Bag)
Description
Designed for early development and foundational stroke work, Mantis red tennis balls are the ideal tool for coaches and players starting their tennis journey. With significantly lower compression and a slower speed profile, these balls help young athletes—and adult beginners—build confidence, improve timing, and develop proper technique from the ground up.
Whether you're running a Mini Red session or introducing basic rally skills, red tennis balls offer the consistency, visibility, and control needed to make learning both effective and enjoyable.
Key features:
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Low compression for slower pace
Red tennis balls are 75% slower than standard balls, giving players more time to position, swing, and develop solid fundamentals. -
Two-tone visibility
Bright yellow and red colour combination helps players track spin and improves focus during rallies—especially helpful for new learners. -
Coach-approved for Stage 3 & Mini Red courts
With a 75mm diameter and predictable bounce, Mantis red tennis balls are perfect for scaled-down courts and tailored lesson plans. -
Needlefelt construction for less moisture retention
Unlike traditional woven balls, these hold less water, ensuring reliable performance across court conditions. -
High durability, excellent value
Built to last through repeated training sessions, red tennis balls are a smart choice for coaches running group sessions or clinics.
Support development from first swing to first rally with Mantis red tennis balls—purpose-built for learning, designed to perform.
Coaching Ball FAQ's
What makes Mantis coaching balls different from other brands?
Our high wool content gives Mantis tennis balls a softer feel, better control, and longer-lasting performance compared to standard balls. Made with super-premium Playne’s woven felt blend with at least 46% wool and a high-durability core, they offer enhanced texture and improved spin retention for a more consistent response off the racket.
Why is wool such a good natural fibre to use in tennis ball felt?
A higher wool content is crucial in a premium tennis ball because wool performs better under pressure and in changing conditions. It absorbs less surface moisture than synthetic-heavy felts, helping the ball maintain its weight, bounce, and consistent flight even in damp or wet conditions. Wool is also naturally more resilient, meaning the felt lasts longer, resists fluffing, and retains its playability match after match. Although high wool content significantly increases our production costs, we choose not to pass that expense on to our customers — because we believe players should experience tour-level performance, durability, and consistency without paying a premium price.
How do Mantis support tennis coaches, clubs and schools?
At Mantis, we’re committed to supporting tennis coaches by keeping our coaching ball prices as low as possible without compromising on quality. We understand that coaches go through high volumes of balls every week, so we offer competitive bulk-buy discounts to help reduce costs over the season. To suit different coaching environments, our balls are available in both durable buckets for easy court use and storage, as well as recyclable poly bags for a more environmentally conscious option. It’s all part of our commitment to delivering outstanding value, convenience, and sustainability to the coaching community.
What are you doing to help with tennis ball sustainability and recycling?
We’re proud to partner with the charity Recyc-a-Ball, who share our commitment to reducing tennis’ environmental footprint. Together, we’re supporting initiatives that keep used tennis balls out of landfill and promote responsible recycling across the sport. In addition, our ball tubes are made from 100% recyclable plastic, helping to minimise waste from the very start of the product lifecycle. This partnership reflects our belief that sustainability should be more than just words — it’s about taking meaningful, measurable action to protect the future of the game.
What is the benefit of ITF tennis ball approval?
ITF approval is important because it guarantees that a tennis ball meets the official performance standards required for competitive play worldwide. To receive ITF certification, balls must pass rigorous testing for weight, size, rebound, deformation, and durability, ensuring they deliver consistent bounce, flight, and feel. This approval means players can trust the ball to perform to the same specifications used in sanctioned tournaments, providing confidence, fairness, and reliability at every level of the game.