What are the red, orange and green ball stages?

Question

Accepted Answer

They are the three stages of 10 and under tennis set out in the 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis (Appendix VIII). Each stage matches a ball, a court and a racket size to the child's age and level: Stage Ball Court Recommended for Stage 3: Red Red (foam or felt) Small red court Players aged up to 8 Stage 2: Orange Orange Orange court Players aged 8 to 10 Stage 1: Green Green Full-size court Advanced players aged 9 to 10 The numbering counts down towards the full game: red is Stage 3, orange Stage 2, and green Stage 1, the last step before the standard yellow ball. The ITF gives these ages as recommendations, not strict limits.

Stage	Ball	Court	Recommended for
Stage 3: Red	Red (foam or felt)	Small red court	Players aged up to 8
Stage 2: Orange	Orange	Orange court	Players aged 8 to 10
Stage 1: Green	Green	Full-size court	Advanced players aged 9 to 10