Product Overview

Precut tennis balls are standard‑size felt‑covered spheres that have been longitudinally sliced to create a flat mounting surface. This geometry allows the ball to be securely attached to the rear legs of walkers, providing a low‑friction glide that reduces wear on flooring and improves user stability.

The wholesale offering focuses on high‑volume batches where unit cost is minimized through optimized die‑cutting processes and bulk raw‑material procurement. Each ball retains the original bounce characteristics of an uncut tennis ball while presenting a consistent contact area for walker integration.

Technical Specifications

Values are based on standard production lots; tighter tolerances can be arranged upon request for specialized OEM applications.

Material Composition

The outer layer consists of a woven nylon‑felt blend (approximately 85 % nylon, 15 % wool) impregnated with a natural rubber latex coating to enhance durability and UV resistance. The core is a pressurized hollow rubber sphere formulated from natural polyisoprene with a proprietary vulcanization package that maintains internal pressure over extended service life.

Both felt and core materials comply with REACH and RoHS restrictions, ensuring suitability for institutional environments such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and senior‑living facilities.

Manufacturing Process

After standard tennis‑ball molding and curing, each ball undergoes a precision die‑cut operation using a carbide‑tipped rotary blade set to a fixed depth. The cut is performed under ambient temperature to avoid altering the core pressure. Post‑cut, the balls receive a secondary tumble‑finish to remove any loose felt fibers and to verify surface uniformity.

In‑line vision systems inspect cut depth and flatness at a rate of 200 pieces per minute, rejecting any units that fall outside the ±0.5 mm tolerance band. This automated feedback loop maintains a process capability index (Cpk) exceeding 1.33 for the critical cut dimension.

Applications

The primary function of the precut ball is to replace traditional rubber glides on walker rear legs, delivering a smoother roll over tile, linoleum, and low‑pile carpet while minimizing noise.

Because the felt surface distributes load over a broader area, peak contact pressure on flooring is reduced by roughly 30 % compared with hard plastic tips, which helps prevent surface marring in high‑traffic corridors.

Additional uses include provisional protectors for furniture legs during equipment transport and low‑cost vibration dampeners for light‑duty machinery where a non‑marking, replaceable pad is desired.

Quality Assurance

Each production lot is subjected to three verification stages: dimensional inspection (cut depth, flatness, diameter), pressure retention testing (measurement of internal pressure after 24 h storage at 23 °C), and abrasion resistance evaluation (Martindale cycles on felt surface).

Acceptance criteria are: cut depth within 12 mm ± 0.5 mm, pressure loss no greater than 0.05 bar per day, and felt wear rating above 30 000 cycles without significant pilling. Documentation of these tests is available with each shipment upon request.

Packaging Options

• Bulk cartons – 1 000 balls per corrugated box, inner polyethylene liner to prevent moisture ingress.
• Palletized loads – 40 cartons per pallet, stretch‑wrapped and corner‑protected for LTL or FTL shipment.
• Customizable labeling – bar‑code stickers or printed cartons can be added to support warehouse scanning systems.

All packaging meets ISTA 3A standards for packaged‑product shock and vibration resistance, ensuring that balls arrive at the destination without deformation or contamination.

Wholesale Pricing & Lead Time

Unit pricing is volume‑tiered: ≥5 000 pcs at $0.42 per ball, ≥20 000 pcs at $0.35 per ball, and ≥50 000 pcs at $0.29 per ball (FOB factory). Prices exclude freight, duties, and any value‑added services such as custom printing.

Standard production lead time is 15 working days for orders up to 100 k units; larger volumes are scheduled based on press capacity and raw‑material availability, with explicit confirmation provided at quotation stage.

Samples (up to 20 pcs) can be dispatched within 3 working days after receipt of a formal request, allowing customers to validate fit and performance before committing to a purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the cut depth be altered for different walker models?

Yes. The die‑cut tooling is interchangeable; depths from 8 mm to 18 mm are available upon request, with corresponding adjustments to flat width to maintain structural integrity.

What information is required to receive a formal quotation?

Required details include: desired quantity, preferred cut dimensions, packaging preference, delivery destination (for freight estimate), and any special labeling or documentation needs.

Which materials are available for the felt cover?

Standard offering is nylon‑wool blend felt. Alternative options include 100 % polyester felt for enhanced chemical resistance or a recycled PET felt blend for sustainability‑focused projects.

How is quality inspected before shipment?

Each lot undergoes dimensional verification, pressure retention testing, and abrasion resistance checks as outlined in the Quality Assurance section. Inspection certificates are supplied with the documentation package.

What packaging methods protect the balls during export?

Balls are packed in moisture‑barrier liners inside sturdy corrugated cartons, then palletized and stretch‑wrapped. Corner boards and edge protectors are added for LTL shipments to prevent shifting and impact damage.

Call to Action

For a detailed quote, technical data sheets, or to arrange sample shipment, please contact our sales engineering team.