Abstract: A core for a tennis-ball, the tennis-ball having either an internal pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure (a "pressureless" ball) or an internal pressure of up to 7 p.s.i. (0.49 Kg.cm.sup.-2) above atmospheric pressure (a "low-pressure" ball), in which the core is made from a rubber composition wherein up to 60% by weight of the total polymer content comprises either a copolymer of ethylene and propylene (an EPM elastomer) or a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and up to 12% by weight of a non-conjugated diene monomer (an EPDM elastomer). The most suitable EPM and EPDM elastomers are those containing 70 mole percent or more ethylene.

Abstract: The invention relates to playballs, e.g. tennis balls, having a core pressurized with a low permeability gas, e.g. sulphur hexafluoride. Use of such gases can cause the ball to emit a pinging noise on bouncing. The invention provides a core (1) pressurized with gas of low permeability, the internal wall surface (3) of core (1) being profiled by a multiplicity of depressions or protuberances (4), the outer wall surface (2) of the core being smooth. The profiling is preferably in the form of dimples or pimples of circular plan view.