Gamma Shockbuster vs Penn Championship Extra Duty

The original worm dampener. It weaves across the mains and turns ping into a dead "thwack" for $4.99, so it's the max-mute pick if you want quiet over feel. It costs you string feedback, and the end clips are the weak point.

America's default can, the official ball of USTA Leagues for about $3.50 a can by the case, but it's priced for volume and plays like it, with reviewers saying it fluffs and goes flat in a set or two.