Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?

Photo credit: Rod Cross and Crawford Lindsey- Tennis Warehouse University

So you want to know "Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?" The simple answer is that it just makes play better. According to the International Tennis Federation, the practice of wrapping the rubber balls with flannel to improve play began in the mid to late 1800s. It slows the ball down a bit, reduces bounce, and provides added grip to the surface. Imagine playing tennis with a handball, and that's basically what playing tennis sans fuzz would be like. A drawback is that it also makes each serve a little different due to its non-uniformity. If you would like to see a very, very, detailed explanation as to what exactly the fuzz does to the aerodynamics, check out this remarkably well researched write-up by the Tennis Warehouse University.



But that's probably not why you're here. The real reason this is even a topic of discussion is that supposedly this is one of those oddball interview questions that may come up the next time you're applying for a job. It's the kind of question designed to throw you off and make you think on the spot. Whether or not this question is routinely asked or not is anyone's guess. I have my doubts. I have traced it back to someone describing an interview at Xerox on a post on glassdoor.com- an internet site designed to rate employers and help those applying for positions at specific companies to know what to expect. I don't know if this is the first incident of this question being used in interviews, but it seems to be the source for the question being introduced to the masses by such publications as Business Insider.

So I'll try my hand at answering it as I would in a job interview, using the STAR technique. Here goes:

Well interestingly enough, the first tennis balls did not have fuzz on them. Initially they created a perfectly smooth rubber ball as one would expect. But what they found was that by adding a rough surface to the ball, it improved gameplay by slowing it down a bit.

(SITUATION) It reminds me of the time at my current job when a review of our incoming sales calls revealed that they were not all being handled well.

(TASK) I was tasked with making sure that all of our calls were handled professionally.

(ACTIVITY) So we implemented a very polished and proper script, and asked all the sales reps to follow it to the letter.

(RESULT) But what we found was that we were tying the hands of our most talented staff. They were just reading the script, and they sounded like they were reading a script. They lost their personality. So instead we altered our process so that the script became a guideline, and they could deviate from it as necessary, using their own judgment and experience.

Just like that tennis ball, it's our own "fuzz" that makes us special. If we were all exactly the same, no matter how polished, we would miss out on the uniqueness and personality that our customers really connect with.

 Don't call me if you don't get the job.