tennis ball doesn't seem to fit well in 2.5" pipe

[harmon12407]

Hey guys,

I ordered some 2.5" pvc to use as a tennis ball barrel, but the tennis ball seems too large for the pipe. The ball is a Penn 4, and should be standard size, but I really have to deform the tennis ball to make it fit in the barrel.

To those of you who use 2.5 inch pvc for tennis balls, is this normal?

Thanks!

[Technician1002]

The trick is to use the thinwall pipe. This makes the inside larger. Find the stuff that will fit a pop can.

The sched 40 pipe requires ramming the ball in and then it burns the fuzz off when it is launched.

Here is how tennis balls fit. It just fits lose enough to drop right in.
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[harmon12407]

Here is the sizing chart from flexpvc.com (where I ordered from)

http://flexpvc.com/PVCPipeSize.shtml

I should be using class-200 2.5" pvc pipe?

[Gun Freak]

Tennis balls are 2.63 in diameter and that pipe is 2.60, so it would be ok to use.

[mark.f]

Tennis balls require some squishing to fit into 2.5" SCH-40. I've had easier loading with both the "pressureless" balls and cheapo multicolered tennis balls sold at places like supermarkets.