Tennis balls were originally white or black but were changed to 'Optic Yellow' to improve visibility for TV viewers.

The transition to 'Optic Yellow' was driven by the rise of color television in the late 1960s. Research commissioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in the early 1970s found that fluorescent yellow balls were significantly easier for home viewers to track on screen. This specific shade, officially known as 'Optic Yellow,' falls within the part of the light spectrum where the human eye is most sensitive.Before this change, tennis balls were traditionally white or black depending on the court surface color. The ITF officially introduced the yellow ball to the rules of tennis in 1972. However, traditionalist venues resisted the change for over a decade. Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament in the sport, continued to use white balls to maintain its strict heritage and aesthetic standards.It was not until 1986 that Wimbledon finally made the switch to yellow balls after pressure from broadcasters and fans. David Attenborough, who was a senior controller at the BBC in the 1960s, is often credited with championing the shift to color broadcasts and highlighting the visibility issues of white balls. Today, nearly all professional matches use the fluorescent shade to ensure maximum clarity for both live audiences and digital viewers.