/ Journal

Stories from the court.

Updates, field notes, and the journey of building a student-led recycling movement.

16 posts · Updated regularly

/ Featured

Sydney Shen, BallBack Chicago Chapter Leader

Meet Sydney Shen: Building BallBack in Chicago

How a high school tennis player in Chicago turned dead balls piling up at public courts into a growing BallBack chapter with partnerships across the city.

August 28, 2026Sydney Shen5 min read

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From the field.

BallBack chapter leader collecting balls at a partnered court

StudentsExtracurricularGuide

The Best Environmental Extracurricular You Can Start This Month

Looking for a high school extracurricular that actually counts? Here is how leading a BallBack chapter works, what the time commitment really is, and why a measurable environmental project beats another club membership.

August 28, 20266 min read

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Trunk full of boxes of recycled tennis balls at the end of a pickup day

MilestoneStoryPartners

65,000 Balls Recycled: A New Milestone

BallBack just crossed 65,000+ tennis balls recycled. This jump was thanks to working with Eco Serve Tennis and Esha Meta, and there is more to come. Keep an eye on our Instagram, newsletters, and maybe even the news.

August 28, 20264 min read

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MilestoneStoryPartners

60,000 Balls Recycled: Where BallBack Stands Now

After a video crossed 115,000+ views, BallBack grew fast. We're now at 60,000+ tennis balls recycled across 40+ partnered facilities with 170+ active members.

August 23, 20264 min read

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MilestoneStoryPartners

50,000 Balls Recycled: A New Milestone

BallBack just crossed 50,000 tennis balls recycled or repurposed. A look at the momentum that got us here, the partners and chapters driving it, and what's next.

July 24, 20264 min read

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MilestoneStoryPartners

40,000 Balls Recycled: We Hit a New Milestone

BallBack just crossed 40,000 tennis balls recycled or repurposed. A quick thank you, a look at the new tennis centers that pushed us over the line, and what's next.

May 28, 20264 min read

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Boxes of collected tennis balls at the end of a pickup day

GuideRecyclingReuse

What to Do With Old Tennis Balls: 6 Real Options

Got a bag of dead tennis balls in the garage? Here's exactly what to do with them, from the easiest five-minute fix to the option that actually recycles the rubber.

June 8, 20266 min read

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Used tennis balls collected in a box at a partnered court

StorySustainabilityTennis

The BallBack Story: How It All Started

From noticing dead tennis balls piling up at a local court to building a recycling network across Texas. Here's how BallBack went from an idea to a movement.

March 22, 20265 min read

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Boxes of used tennis balls collected courtside before shipment

EnvironmentRecyclingEducation

What Happens to Tennis Balls When You Throw Them Away?

Most tennis balls end up in the trash without a second thought. Here's what actually happens to them and why it matters more than you'd think.

March 24, 20266 min read

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Used tennis balls boxed up for reuse and donation

TipsRecyclingCommunity

5 Things You Can Do With Dead Tennis Balls (Besides Trash Them)

Got a pile of old tennis balls collecting dust? Here are five actually useful things you can do with them, including how to recycle them for free.

March 25, 20264 min read

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Wide view of a partnered tennis facility BallBack collects from

SustainabilityTennisDeep Dive

The Hidden Environmental Cost of Playing Tennis

Tennis looks clean and green. But the sport has a serious sustainability problem most players never think about.

March 26, 20267 min read

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Collection bins set up outside a community clubhouse

HOASustainabilityPartnership

How HOAs Can Make Their Tennis Courts More Sustainable

Most HOA tennis courts go through hundreds of tennis balls a year with no recycling plan. Here's a simple fix that costs nothing and takes almost no staff time.

March 28, 20265 min read

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Pro shop counter where a BallBack collection bin sits

OpinionSustainabilityTennis

Stop Acting Like Everything Is Disposable

125 million tennis balls end up in U.S. landfills every year. The sport is finally waking up, but the real fix starts at your local court.

April 10, 20265 min read

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Courtside at Fretz Tennis Center where BallBack collects balls

EconomicsSustainabilityTennis

The Real Cost of a Can of Tennis Balls

Three balls. Four bucks. Two hours of play. Most of us never do the math on what a single can actually costs, in dollars or in waste. Here's the breakdown.

April 18, 20264 min read

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Chapter leader loading collected balls at a local court

GuideChapterStudents

How to Start a BallBack Chapter at Your School

Starting a BallBack chapter is easier than you think. Here's the exact playbook our student founders used to build a recycling network across Texas.

May 24, 20265 min read

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Labeled boxes of used tennis balls ready to ship

GuideRecyclingHow-To

How to Recycle Tennis Balls: A Practical Guide

Curbside bins won't take them and most cities don't have a program. Here's the actual step-by-step on how to recycle tennis balls for free, no matter where you live.

June 1, 20266 min read

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