Abstract: A practice tennis ball and apparatus including a soft spherical member comprising a sewn cotton jacket enclosing a soft, cotton thread waste interior. A knit cover overfits the sewn jacket and may receive a marking powder suitable to removably indicate a contact upon a surface when the ball is in play. The knit cover removably overfits the sewn jacket to facilitate insertion of additional applications of marking powder. The apparatus includes targets in form suitable for application upon a vertical surface to receive the soft, pliable ball as it is propelled by a tennis racket.