What happens to the balls at Wimbledon? Rules, charity fund and where the used ones go

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An estimated 54,250 balls are expected to be used during Wimbledon 2023, kept in constant circulation during matches to speed up the flow of action.

The balls are kept under lock and key before usage, with each one refrigerated at around 68°F (20°C) to ensure optimum performance.

Alongside the tennis action, Wimbledon brings with it some strange quirks. Here's a look what happens to the real stars of the show: the tennis balls.

What happens after they've been used? How are they collected? What are the rules on "new balls, please"? Here's what you need to know.

What happens to the balls at Wimbledon?

Used balls are collected by the group of more than 250 ball boys and girls and kept by Wimbledon organisers until each match day has reached its conclusion.

From there, used balls can be bought (subject to availability) for £2.50 (€2.90/$3) for a tin of three, or six balls for £5 (€5.82/$6.10), from the Wimbledon Foundation Kiosk at the Southern Village Store.

All proceeds go to the foundation's charitable causes, with unsold used balls donated and recycled in the weeks and months after a tournament.

Wimbledon organisers have previously donated balls to the UK Wildlife Trust to be cut up and used as homes for harvest mice.

Balls are also recycled for their rubber interior, which can be used for new floor coverings at indoor tennis and other sports training facilities.

What are the rules on tennis balls at Wimbledon?

The tennis balls at Wimbledon 2023 — all of which are supplied by the Dunlop Slazenger Group — are subject to strict competition rules, with players required to adhere to the guidelines at all times.

Players are allowed to check a maximum of four balls before serving to assess for smoothness and firmness, with even slight deviations to the surface of the ball affecting its contact with the racket, its flight, and the risk of it clipping the net.

The balls are changed after the first seven games of a match and then after every nine games, in accordance with tournament regulations. The umpire will call for "new balls, please" when it's time to change them, at which point you might also see players change rackets. In total, 48 tins of balls are taken onto each court every day.

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Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News.
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