Though some tournaments pay their ball boys and girls, most tournaments don’t. But still, tournaments receive hundreds, sometimes thousands of applications for their ball person jobs.
The job has several perks – ball boys and ball girls get to see many great players in action in close quarters. They get to hand around the court and get free tickets to watch matches. They get a food allowance and in most cases, get to keep their brand-name uniforms.
Great players such as Roger Federer have been ball boys. Federer has talked about memorable his experience was as a ball boy.
US Open pays its new ball boys and girls by the hour – $12.50 in 2020, which is New York’s minimum wage. Returning ball persons earn a little more.
They also get a food allowance and can watch any match for free. They get tickets to watch any match, though they are not premium seats.
Wimbledon
Wimbledon does not pay its ball kids, though there is a stipend of around £200 for the whole tournament. But it is an honor to be selected. Wimbledon selects 250 ball kids from around 700 applicants. The ball kids typically come from select schools.
Wimbledon offers its ball boys extensive training so they can be at their best during the only grand slam tournament on the grass.
Australian open
Australian Open ball boys and girls are not paid. They are volunteers for Tennis Australia that runs the tournaments. They get free meals and tickets for themselves and their families as perks.
Australian Open selects around 350 ball kids from 2500 applicants. Few ball kids at the Australian Open come from other countries.
French open
French Open does no pay its ball boys. But it has one of the rigorous programsto select ball boys. The program is one-year long where potential ball boys tested for physical and ball-handling abilities.
The program starts with around 400 kids but also around 200 are selected for the French Open.
Ball boys deal with odd requests and sometimes get hit by the ball
Here are a few instances where ball kids had to face the ball or had to attend to odd requests from players.
A tennis player asked a ball girl to peel a banana and was told off by the umpire.
Rafa accidentally hit a ball kid and then kissed her
As tennis players, we spend a lot of time moving from side to side with stops and starts. A good tennis shoe will provide good lateral support and cushioning, and a good outsole that will last a while. It’s no fun replacing a shoe because it has worn out in 3 months.
Based on my research, Asics Court FF2 is the best overall shoe on the market. The shoes are comfortable and provide excellent stability. If you are looking for a value pick, I would recommend the Adidas GameCourt shoes.
Novak Djokovic, who is one of the fastest and aggressive movers on the court, wears the Asics Court FF2 shoes. These shoes shine in every possible category – comfort, stability, traction, and speed.
The Asics Court FF2 features a mono sock construction that firmly secures your feet in the shoes. The updated uppers are comfortable, yet provide good support. One drawback with the durable shoe uppers is that your feet can get hot after long hours of play.
The shoe has GEL cushioning for comfort and provides excellent balance as you move from side to side. These shoes require little to no break-in period and you can play at your best as soon as you put them on.
Rafael Nadal, who is one of the most aggressive movers on the court on the tennis tour, wears the Nike Air Zoom Vapor Cage 4 shoes. These shoes hold their own with even Rafa’s aggressive movement.
The shoe features a unique lacing wrap that supports your feet. The shoe offers good lateral stability, and you can make a quick change of direction on the court without slipping.
The shoes are comfortable with soft, plush cushioning. The shoes have a low-to-the-ground feel and a soft comfortable ride. The shoes do require an hour or two of breaking in because some areas of the shoe have stiff material that will take some time before they flex.
If you have narrow feet, consider going down half a size. The shoe offers fantastic durability and traction. The shoe comes in all court and clay court versions.
Adidas Adizero Ubsersonic 4 shoes are lightweight and provide a glove-like fit. The uppers include two layers – a seamless Primeknit layer that has a sock-like construction, and a layer of woven Primegreen material. The secure fit allows you to change directions quickly on the court.
The foam in the midsole makes the shoe more comfortable compared to the previous versions. The shoe comes with a removable insole, which you can remove and wash periodically.
The shoe weighs 13.5 oz, definitely on the lightweight side when it comes to most tennis shoes. The shoes run true to size and don’t need any break-in period.
The shoe’s outsole has durable rubber material that provides excellent traction as you move around on the court. A dense herringbone tread pattern in high wear improves the shoe’s durability.
If you wear out the outsoles on your tennis shoes quickly, then take a look at the Asics Gel Resolution 8. The shoe provides fantastic durability. It even comes with a 6-month outsole warranty.
Given how durable these shoes are, these are not the most lightweight shoes on the market. Once you put them on, you won’t feel the weight as much, as the shoes are comfortable and provide a snug fit.
Gael Monfils, who is known for out-of-the-world athleticism on the court wears this shoe on the men’s tour. The shoes provide excellent traction, yet are comfortable due to the plush cushioning and flexible uppers.
These shoes come with thin laces that may put pressure on the top of the feet, just beneath the shoelaces. These shoes may also need a slight break-in period but will be worth it given all the other benefits you get from this shoe.
New Balance designed this shoe with extensive input from Milos Raonic. The word “lav” in Serbian means lion. Raonic’s grandfather lovingly called Raonic, the Lion. That’s how these shoes got their name.
These are some of the most comfortable shoes on the market. Shoes have plush cushioning that has a luxurious feel to them. You are likely to wear these shoes even after you leave the court because they are so comfortable.
New Balance Fresh Foam Lav provides a snug and secure fit due to its full booty construction. The mesh uppers and padded heel collars provide good support for your feet as you move around the court. The mesh uppers also give good ventilation during long hours of play.
The durability of this shoe is decent. It does come with a 6-month outsole warranty that should give you peace of mind if you are someone who burns through outsoles quickly.
The shoes have good traction – just the ideal balance between grabbing and giving to take quick cuts on the court. A 10.5 size (US) shoe weighs 15.4 oz. So these shoes are on the heavier side but they are extremely comfortable.
Air Zoom Vapor Pro shoes are lightweight and fast. These shoes will help you move around the court quickly and cover the court and cover the well.
This lightweight shoe is one of the best in the light-weight category of tennis shoes. The lightweight means that you sacrifice durability because there just is not enough material in the soles. It has decent traction that will allow you to move or slide around the court easily.
The uppers of this shoe are supportive. Cushioning is excellent in the midsole area. Comfort and breathability are top notch. You will have no problem spending hours on the court with this shoe.
Stan Wawrinka wears the Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion on the tennis tour. These shoes are known for their support and stability. They fit snugly and allow you to move from side to side with confidence.
These shoes are firm and could have used more cushion for comfort. The shoe uppers are stiff and support your feet well. The outsoles feature a herringbone pattern that gives excellent traction on the court.
The durability of this shoe is average. If you are someone prone to dragging the feet on the court and wearing out the outsole, I would consider the Asics Gel Resolution.
These shoes look great on the court. The fit is rigid and narrow, so plan to give some time to break in.
Recreational players don’t need an expensive shoe that has a lot of bells and whistles. They just need a shoe that has most of the features of the best shoes and a shoe that they can wear not just on the tennis court but also off the court. Adidas GameCourt is a shoe that checks all the boxes.
These shoes look great but have a simple design. The upper mesh is breathable allowing you to play long hours on the court without your feet getting hot. The shoe features memory foam material in the midsole and the high impact areas to provide excellent comfort.
These shoes are great for hard and clay courts. Durability is decent given its price point. The shoe has good traction and you won’t have problems taking quick cuts on the court.
Your feet will feel secure and locked-in as soon as you put on the Babolat Propulse Fury shoes. The shoes are great for aggressive movers. It offers good stability as you move around the court.
While the shoe uppers are comfortable, the shoe could use some additional cushioning underfoot. The shoe has a low-to-the-ground feel, so you will feel connected to the court. Note that the shoe needs at least a few hours of break-in period before you will feel comfortable.
The shoe has impressive durability. So it’s great for those who are rough on their shoes. It comes with a 6-month durability warranty. The shoe offers predictable traction allowing you to start and stop effectively.
The shoe weighs 15 oz and is definitely on the heavier side when it comes to tennis shoes. But there is plenty to like in this shoe after a few hours on the court.
One knock on lightweight tennis shoes has always been their below-average durability. To make shoes light, shoemakers remove material from the outsole which degrades durability. But Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 4 shines on both fronts – lightweight and excellent durability.
These are high-performance shoes, yet are very https://amzn.to/3oOnqZrcomfortable. There is good cushioning in the forefoot area and the midsole has a responsive feel. The uppers feature a smooth padded material and offer good ventilation.
These shoes ride high and players will see some heel slippage. Tightening up your shoelaces will prevent heel slippage. I would rate the stability of this shoe as average as your feet won’t have the locked-down feel you get with shoes such as the Asics Gel Resolution 8.
The shoe weighs only 12.4 oz for a men’s 10.5 size (US). These shoes tend to run large, considering going down half a size from your regular shoe size.
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