They try to find a ball which has less hair, less fluffy makes the ball move faster through the air. Less drag more speed.It also mentally gives the players confidence that their first serve could be faster and reduce the chance of the opponent to return the serve.The fact that it makes them feel better makes them play better.

Less fluffy for the first serve

For 2nd serve they're looking for more control than speed to avoid a double fault.They want to make sure the ball does land in.For this they choose the fluffier ball, it gives them a much firmer grip.It's not like you are going to win the match because you chose a fluffier/ less fluffier ball but there's science behind this and you should use that to your advantage.Fun fact: Serena Williams is the only player who doesn't pick a ball, she plays what she gets. One at a time.

More fluffier more control 

It all comes down to fluff. Subscribe and turn on notifications (🔔) so you don't miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Before each serve, most professional tennis players go through a ritual to get in the zone. Novak Djokovic will bounce the ball with his racket, then with his hand. Rafael Nadal will usually pull his shorts and the sleeves around his shoulders, then touch his nose and tuck his hair behind his ears. All very distinct routines. But there’s one tennis ritual nearly every pro tennis player does: choosing a specific tennis ball. A common belief among players is that the ball they choose can help them win. But there’s real physics at play behind this ritual — and It all comes down to the fuzz. For a faster serve, players try to find a compact ball. For a slower serve, they feel for more fuzz. The idea is that a fluffier ball is more likely to be slowed by drag as it travels through the air — and that choosing the right level of fuzz can help the serving player defeat their opponent. More information on the aerodynamics of sports balls: https://people.stfx.ca/smackenz/courses/HK474/Labs/Jump%20Float%20Lab/Mehta%201985%20Aerodynamics%20of%20sports%20balls.pdf Michael Kosta's podcast, Tennis Anyone: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ca3fTFmcoNgpQe6SD5XQa Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com. Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H

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It all comes down to fluff.

Subscribe and turn on notifications (🔔) so you don't miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO

Before each serve, most professional tennis players go through a ritual to get in the zone. Novak Djokovic will bounce the ball with his racket, then with his hand. Rafael Nadal will usually pull his shorts and the sleeves around his shoulders, then touch his nose and tuck his hair behind his ears. All very distinct routines. But there’s one tennis ritual nearly every pro tennis player does: choosing a specific tennis ball. A common belief among players is that the ball they choose can help them win.

But there’s real physics at play behind this ritual — and It all comes down to the fuzz. For a faster serve, players try to find a compact ball. For a slower serve, they feel for more fuzz. The idea is that a fluffier ball is more likely to be slowed by drag as it travels through the air — and that choosing the right level of fuzz can help the serving player defeat their opponent.

More information on the aerodynamics of sports balls: https://people.stfx.ca/smackenz/courses/HK474/Labs/Jump%20Float%20Lab/Mehta%201985%20Aerodynamics%20of%20sports%20balls.pdf

Michael Kosta's podcast, Tennis Anyone: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ca3fTFmcoNgpQe6SD5XQa

Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO

Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.

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Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o
Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H

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What tennis pros look at when they pick a ball

Less fluffy for the first serve

More fluffier more control

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