התמלול המלא של Ep 6: Serving Up Sustainability: Tennis Ball Waste & Life on the ATP Tour with Lloyd Glasspool

but there are costs involved. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:32.720 And uh what was I mean, what was the trigger to make you want to look at doing this? 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:39.759 It was just well, I well as Lloyd knows, I'm a bit annoying that you know I like to recycle stuff where we can reuse and so on. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.160 Um and it was just you know, these bulls lying around, surely we can do something with them. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:49.040 Um as a as a sport, we are just producing this waste. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:51.600 We're not the only sports producing waste, of course we're not. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:54.000 But it could be something we could do. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:59.680 Um so yeah, that was the trigger, and then finding out a way of way of doing it, and it's not quite as simple as I thought it might be. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.519 Otherwise it would have been done anyway, wouldn't it? 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:03.279 Do you know how they recycle them? 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:04.639 Do they do they peel them apart? 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:06.480 You say they separate the felt from the rubber? 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:11.920 Yeah, I th I I think I don't think I got it exactly right, but basically, yeah, they take the felt away from the rubber. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:18.480 So whether they crush them first and then do it or do it and then crush it and rip it up into small tiny bits of rubber that then could be reused. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:20.720 I'm not quite sure which way round it is. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:22.879 And they use this for something. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:24.959 Yeah, I know this is a crazy question. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:28.000 Is there like a is there a life cycle to a ball? 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:30.560 Like how long does the average ball last? 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:34.319 I don't play enough tennis to know, apart from maybe you know, casually. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:38.160 Is there like is there a certain time when you sort of go, I can't use this one anymore, guys? 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:42.240 It's been two weeks of just the absolute, you know, we've been drilling it around. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:52.160 Well, for people at my sort of level, I could probably make a tin of balls last a good month or even a whole season, depending on the level of friendships I play with. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:55.600 Um Lloyd, yours lasts for what is it? 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:59.199 Yeah, Lloyd, yours lasts for what, seven games is it on the pro tour or something? 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:09.360 Yeah, during a match it's can't remember if it's nine and eleven or seven and nine or something, but it's two or three changes per match. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:15.439 And when we're practicing, it's three to four new cans every single day. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:20.560 And there's sometimes up to 128 players a day practicing. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:23.439 So it's a lot of balls, a lot of cans going being gone through. 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:27.839 And is that because degradation of the like why would you change the ball so often? 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:34.319 Because the ball that I played tennis with my son with, uh you know, it's not it's not um it's not Wimbledon level. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:39.839 No, I think Neil saying that is a different level we're talking there. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:49.600 Yeah, I think the pros first up need to practice constantly with new balls because we change so often in a match, and then to answer your question, they change it so often in a match. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:07:00.879 I think because the balls get pretty fluffed up and the way we hit it, the spin we hit it with and the pace we hit it with kind of choose the ball up and then they become too slow and what we would call unplayable. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:07.040 Um, but for your average club member, more than good enough to play with for the rest of the week, I guess. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:09.279 So it's kind of the opposite of cricket in that sense. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:10.800 Yeah, exactly. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:15.199 Do you notice just before when they're going to be changed that they need to be changed? 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:15.839 Can you feel it? 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:20.399 Yeah, I mean, there's often tournaments we always serve choose to serve first. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:31.120 There's some tournaments where we'll choose to return first because by that seventh game they become so noticeably chewed that that seventh game is so much harder to hold serve. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.680 So we make sure we're not that person serving. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.519 So there is a quite a big difference. 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:41.920 See, for people who thought this was just gonna be boring stuff about oh, we put it in a bin and then the bin gets taken. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:46.240 No one is talking about this stuff anywhere else, guys, about how quickly a ball gets recycled. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:46.959 That's all I'm saying. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:49.120 Just remember why you listen to the podcast. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:53.120 Um sorry, last question on the technicalities. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:55.519 This what how why does it mean that you lose it? 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:57.040 You're more likely to lose a service game? 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:58.319 Because it's slower. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:06.240 So it'll be slower off your racket slightly, but mainly when it hits the court, it will lose pace a lot more than the new ball would. 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:11.680 The new ball would sometimes speed up off the court, at least keep the pace or lose it a little bit. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:16.240 The older it gets, it sits up and slows down a lot more. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:18.879 So it's just easier for the returner to get a better hit on it. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:21.439 And do you have different shots according to how old the balls are? 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:24.560 Like do

you train on differently fresh? 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:36.240 We don't train so, but if we feel they're getting more hits, we would probably go a bit more percentage, either serve into the body or go into regular formation rather than eye formation. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:42.080 Uh just uh give them less space to hit into if we know they're gonna get a bit of a better hit on the ball. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:44.000 Lawrence tactical change, yeah. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:46.399 Are these formations what you're practicing with your son, Lawrence? 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:48.399 Regularly, regularly, yeah. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:54.480 It's it's actually really uh one thing I will say is it's really difficult to find uh good tennis training for kids, but that's a whole other podcast. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:55.519 Go on, right. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:09:07.759 So we um a lot of people probably aren't thinking about the amount of tennis balls in the world, and I guarantee you Katie will have a stat right now about how many tennis balls there are in the world because she has these kind of stats. 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:11.840 There are more tennis balls than penguins, there are more tennis balls than mosquitoes. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:14.720 I do know I'm I'm saving this for the quiz. 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:15.039 Okay. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:15.679 Right, fine. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:15.919 Okay. 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:18.320 Just think back to what Lloyd said earlier and quickly do your maths. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:18.799 Fair enough. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:20.879 I can see Neil Googling as we speak. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:26.559 Um Yeah, my my quick googling, that's gonna work, isn't it? 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:36.399 Um, so I mean, Neil, the work that you've been doing, and obviously this is how I know you through the incredible work you're doing and trying to drive this. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:44.480 And in fact, this is now currently the only scheme in existence within the UK that truly recycles the balls. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:49.840 You know, a lot of them, as you said, goes to reuse, but this is the only one that actually breaks it down and uses it. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:54.399 And you said it uses it for insulation, but it's not an easy thing to do at the moment. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:56.559 But you've rallied a load of clubs around you, haven't you? 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:11.360 To try and Yeah, well, I just started last last year, so it's over a year now, when I was got a contact, you know, found on the internet about this um circular ball, which is what Hubber are, and you know, circular system making it reusable again. 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:14.000 Um, and and loads of clubs are interested. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:17.919 Um some of them more so than others. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:24.000 It's perhaps easier for some of the larger clubs because they have money to do this sort of thing to get involved. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.480 But because everything has a cost, you're paying for something that you used to just throw in the bin. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:32.480 So some clubs saying, Well, what why why should we bother? 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:37.600 Um, or yeah, we do, we recycle it, we give it to the local dog walkers, which is great because it's getting reused. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:42.559 But after the dog walkers finished or the schools are finished with their balls, they still go into landfill. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:57.919 Um so there's a lot of interest at various levels, but if we can break the bring the costs down by, say, getting the delivery as a group, delivering the balls as a group, um, that could help encourage people to do it. 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:05.679 And at the moment, for anyone listening, what we're really looking for is logistical support to transport these balls from Birmingham to Reading, aren't we, to the recycling centre? 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:11.919 Yes, well they've got to get down there, and uh, we could roll them because it is south, but most wouldn't get there. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:22.240 Um but yeah, that is, you know, there are there are costs and it's never going to be free to do it because the company aren't making a profit by recycling the balls. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:26.159 Um so you know, I'm I'm looking for sponsorship. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:29.600 If there are companies that could do the transport thing for us, great. 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:31.360 But we have you know have a plan ready to go. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:38.320 Um we're just working out our final figures with the company that I can then share with the with the clubs to try and keep things as low as we can. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.240 And it's all about habits, isn't it? 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:45.279 When something becomes a habit, then you just do it, it's the norm to do, but it's starting off that habit. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:52.720 And I guess like the automatic like if you just leave a bin somewhere, then when someone has a ball that's gone, it's just automatic. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:55.679 You know, you don't even need to make it a habit, you just sell the old balls go there. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:12:02.799 Yeah, uh, we've got one of the original circular bins, which is just a metal bin basically, and it's by your way out. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:05.600 So you just drop the balls in there as if you want to as they go out. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.679 If anyone finds any, they're just dropped in there. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:13.840 So that is a nice easy habit to do, and it saves someone thinking about what they should do with the balls that's building up in the garage like mine do. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:23.519 And Neil, I imagine uh well, let's I imagine that you're constantly talking to Lloyd about his his tennis ball recycling around as he trots around the globe. 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:26.320 Uh yeah, ask him to bring them all back, you know. 00:12:27.039 -->

00:12:27.279 Yeah. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:30.879 How does that um marry up with what happens on the tour, Lloyd? 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:40.879 Well, I was I was I was just uh thinking really about Neil ringing you up as you're on tour, discussing tennis ball recycling with you and asking you to ship them back home. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:43.519 And I wondered how that how how that family dynamic works. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.000 Yeah, there might be uh a little problem in that. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:50.720 Might be a bad signal if he if he calls for that for that favour to be asked. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.200 Um going through a lot of tunnels. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:54.399 Yeah, exactly. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:57.279 I mean, I know players do bring back a lot of new cans. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:59.919 I've never heard of players bringing back old balls. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.600 I mean there's always a thirstaloid. 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:02.960 There is true. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:03.759 There we go, yep. 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:06.240 Team glass pool, yep, bring your balls back. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:12.639 Is there a way that you can change manufacturing to basically make the ball recycle more recyclable? 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:27.039 So there is a way of kind of you know, obviously, you're not taking the ball straight from the production into recycling, but is there any sort of dialogue between the ball production companies and people who are trying to recycle them just to make it an easier process at all? 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:35.919 There has been some discussion, I believe, when I was speaking to the gentleman at Hubber about that, but it would just it's just changed the nature of the sport. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:42.240 And from Lloyd's end, if you change the ball too much, it completely changes, I imagine, doesn't it, Lloyd, the dynamic of the game. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:48.159 We hear about injuries happening when the balls aren't quite right, so it it would be a massive change. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:59.120 But maybe you know, if a company could do that and it doesn't change how the game feels and is played by at Lloyd's level, it's something that's possible, but uh it's too difficult to imagine at the moment. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:01.200 Have the balls always been made of the same thing? 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.399 I think so. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:02.799 Yeah. 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:11.679 I mean, to my knowledge, I I think someone actually did go down the avenue of trying to make a recyclable ball, and the quality was just really not there. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:16.480 So then they went focused on the can itself being recyclable. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:23.200 But the issue there to make it 100% recyclable, they couldn't make it pressureless or pressured. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:37.200 I'm not sure which one it is, but essentially it was almost like an altitude ball because you got rid of that perfect seal to make it

100% recyclable, so then the balls were coming out flat, so now they've kind of settled on the middle ground of the balls, they are the same. 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:45.279 The tin itself is cardboardy, but it still has that metal sharp lid to make sure the balls are pressurized. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:51.120 So there's been some progress, but it doesn't seem like much at all. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.360 Seems to be many uh challenges along the way. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:56.240 Lloyd's actually joining us from the recycling plant, by the way. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:59.840 He's he's got a recycling uh machine in the back of his property. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:02.720 Yeah, he does dentistry as his part-time job. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:03.519 Yeah, exactly. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:16.080 Hi, I'm Jonathan Overend, and I'm delighted to say that the LTA Pledge Ball League is officially back for 2026. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:24.000 This summer, tennis and paddle players across the country are teaming up to take climate action, and the prizes are massive. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:31.679 Just by taking part, you could win yourself tickets to the HSBC Championships at Queens Club next summer in 2027. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:36.879 Plus, there are exclusive grants and prizes up grabs for your local club. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:39.759 So you win and your club wins too. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.159 Getting involved is incredibly simple. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:48.639 From June to September, just head to pledgeball.org and make a simple sustainability pledge. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:54.320 It can be anything really, from cycling to practice or using a refillable water bottle on court. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:16:01.039 Every pledge counts, and every pledge earns points to help your club move up the national leaderboard. 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:05.519 Our courts and clubs are already being impacted by climate change. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:09.759 But small everyday actions add up to making a massive difference. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:16.240 So whether you're a weekend player, a coach, perhaps you run a venue or a club, your pledge counts. 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:22.080 Head to pledgeball.org, get pledging, and let's protect where we play. 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:38.879 When you are on toilet, obviously, um I mean obviously dad's start with this, having seen where these balls go and the the sheer quantity of them and the concern about what gets left behind. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:50.399 Is there is there is there much conversation on tour around like the environmental impact of things like that or of the tour itself or climate change and what you witness on tour? 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:54.240 No, I mean there could be way more done, obviously. 00:16:54.320 --> 00:17:01.840 I think at the elite level they don't do a great job of focusing on things outside of the bottom line essentially. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:10.799 Uh which kind of goes against you know what Neil was saying about to actually recycle these tools, you have to pay yourself. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:14.960 Um which is completely opposite of what you're trying to do when you're trying to build a business. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:28.799 But they do do things like offsetting carbon footprint so pay players are paying money every time they travel and they have like a leaderboard and then the top five in the leaderboard get money to give towards a charity. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:31.440 So there are initiatives like that. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:40.160 Um Yeah, I mean probably not enough, honestly, and not too much consideration of what's happening. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:40.640 Yeah. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:18:02.160 Do you know so going to that point about what's happening, do you notice I mean, I went to Flushing Meadows um actually a long time ago now, but it was extremely hot um when I was there and obviously there was Medvedev, I think, at Flashing Meadows as well, saying someone's gonna die uh a couple of years ago because of the heat and the wet bulb temperature there. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:06.799 Have you noticed a change since you've been since you've been touring? 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:08.640 I mean it's very up and down. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:17.680 I think as a trend it's getting slightly hotter, more humid past Cincinnati was I've never experienced Cincinnati like it was. 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:23.279 I think it was high thirties and like 80-90% humidity. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.880 The conditions were just brutal. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:29.440 People couldn't even finish singles matches and they weren't best of five sets, they were best of three. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:34.319 And doubles itself was brutal, which isn't usually a massively physical challenge. 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:41.119 Uh so yeah, it's definitely getting warmer, getting more humid, getting more difficult, especially for the similar skies to play. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.519 I think that's why these heat rules are coming into effect. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.640 I was gonna ask you about those. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:46.079 What heat rules do they have then? 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:58.720 I don't know the science behind it, they're this machine that takes into consideration the temperature, the humidity, a few different variables, and then if it reaches above a certain amount combined, then there's no being dangerous. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:01.039 But it has to be a mix of the humidity. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:08.079 The dry temperatures okay in Indian Well, it was like 35, but it was very dry, and I didn't struggle with that at all. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:12.480 So that was completely fine, but yeah, it's a mixture of uh different things. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.960 And I mean, what does it feel like when you're playing in that heat? 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:16.480 Is it loss of energy? 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:18.480 Is it loss of sharpness? 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:29.519

You just sweat so much, uh, you lose so much liquid more than you can replace, even if you're I mean, everyone's actively trying to replace the liquid they're losing, but it's just impossible. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:38.960 And then I think just the core body temperature, one of the things for me is just not being able, you know, because change of ends, you just sat on a seat in the sun, essentially. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:47.440 They might put an umbrella up or shade you for uh the 90 seconds you sat down, but it's actually warmer when you're sat down than it is when you're up with a bit of wind. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:50.319 So the core body temperatures keeps rising, rising, rising. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:56.559 And for me, that's one of the biggest struggles is to not let that rise above a certain amount where your whole body just shuts down, essentially. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:58.640 So, what's the discussion around that in the game? 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:03.920 Like are there kind of active discussions between players and coaches and everyone else to find ways to deal with that? 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.440 Is it about playing in different locations? 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:11.759 Is it about, you know, some kind of technology that reduces that humidity or the heat, or what's the discourse like? 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:22.400 I mean, there's lots of things players try, that's why all the Brits kind of try and do pre-season in a hot and humid place like Florida or Dubai to get used to it all of pre-season before Australia. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:24.720 I was using this heat tent. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:44.160 So we put a bike in this essentially a greenhouse, plastic greenhouse, and we put two big heaters in there, and we pump it up to like 45 degrees, I think it is, and you work out in that, and uh humidity gets up to like 50% as well, so you just get used to some of that heat, and your body gets used to overheating and sustaining it. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:47.920 And then I know Jeff Drake has struggled with it a lot in the past. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:21:06.319 Andy Murray had a bit of an issue with it, Djokovic as well, Cinner currently doesn't like the humidity, and they're all trying these new, I think there's these gloves that you put your hands in at change of ends, because that's supposed to be the nervous system, something to do with your hands and different forms of ice towels that you put on your chest around your net. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:12.720 There's just loads of ways to try and cool the body down, and it's I guess just testing things and seeing what the best technology is. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:21.920 That's really interesting, especially as we line up for the um World Cup as well, um in in the heat in the US this summer. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:30.400 Um, is there I guess going back to that discourse, is there conversation around how this how this might look for the younger players coming up? 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.640 Honestly, I don't think so. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:44.559 I think everyone's just again unfortunately selfishly focused on how they're just gonna survive and how they're gonna get through it rather than what's it gonna look like for the next generation in ten, twenty years' time when it's even worse than this. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.039 Yeah. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:55.920 And uh do you notice anything done by on the ATP tour or anything like that that that actually actively addresses this, even if it's, you know, switching to, I don't know, reusable water bottles and things like that on court? 00:21:56.319 --> 00:22:05.920 I mean the ATP have got a big sponsor in water drop where They give you bottles at the start of every tournament and they want you to just use those four bottles. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:09.359 But they give you those same four bottles at every single tournament. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.880 Which and it's all a play. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:17.680 It's not you keep these four bottles for the year, it's every tournament we have to give you four new bottles. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:30.000 I don't know if that's worse than just having plastic bottles that you can recycle or but countries like France, for example, you're not allowed, it's illegal to have any former plastic bottles. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:33.839 So all the tournaments in France do a very good job. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:36.240 Um I'm sure there's some other countries as well. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:44.799 But I think it's a bit more regional or geographical rather than purely the ATP uh we got you a brand new recyclable bottle. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.519 Fantastic. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:47.279 We'll replace it next week. 00:22:48.640 --> 00:23:05.279 That is interesting though that you mentioned France because they have you're right, they've got laws that have come in around single-use plastics, but also going back to the tennis ball recycling, they've also got something called the EU Waste Directive, which is going to make man or is making manufacturers responsible sort of from end to end. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:14.799 So you wonder as things move that way, what that does mean for tennis balls and whether the manufacturers will have to do more around making sure that it's broken down and used. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:20.319 Um I see in clubs there are these it is European clubs, I think. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:27.920 And it's a machine, not a machine, just like a it's a big circular thing where there's a hole in the top that just fits one tennis ball. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:46.000 And the idea is to once you're finished you pop each tennis ball in there and it falls down to the bottom and then it's like a big big basket or whatever at the bottom, and I assume that's to collect all the tennis balls, whether they recycle it from there or put them just back into the club to use as old balls for feeding for baskets for other players, I'm not sure. 00:23:46.240 -->

00:23:51.119 But in Europe I have noticed more of a push to collect the old balls than in the UK. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:51.839 Interesting. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.799 That's really interesting. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:24:00.079 And it does it it raises an interesting point about regulation as well, around the need for that and what that drives. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.559 I'm gonna do that. 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:06.400 It's not, is it doing enough? 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:10.880 It's maybe they're the reason that they're maybe the drilling was very specific to today. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.799 They're trying to stop the message getting out there. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:15.279 Oh, I love hanging out with you and your conspiracy theories. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:18.559 Um David Ike over here, yeah. 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.200 Come on. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:27.519 Uh so we have a special interlude in every single pod, which is one of Lawrence's favourite bits when we have a little quiz. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:38.000 And when the pod gets produced, there'll be a little intro ident, a little bit of music, and then some really tense music in the background as you all try to answer the questions I've got in front of me. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:46.160 Um, Jack, our producer, has put these together and has uh is hoping that they're more Neil friendly because it's specifically focusing around. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.839 Well, easy, you mean? 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:49.039 No, Neil. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:54.319 I've spent long enough with you to know the uh sophistication of the questions required for you. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:56.799 But they're specifically around tennis ball recycling. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.920 So are you ready for that? 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:59.759 This seems unfair, but okay. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:03.359 Are we all are we all answering this, are we? 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:05.519 You are all answering this, okay? 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.480 It is a competition. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.319 Normally it's Lawrence versus somebody else. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.200 I know he gets nervous. 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:09.839 Come on, Lloyd. 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:11.200 Lloyd's time. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:14.960 By the way, we're against we're against one of the most competitive men in the world. 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:16.480 I know, he's already leaning forward. 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.359 And Lloyd. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.240 Yeah. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:21.519 Fair point, well made. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:22.240 Yeah, thank you. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.119 See? 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.720 Right, here we go. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.599 General one. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:32.000 Roughly, how many dead tennis balls can fit into a single circular ball collection bin at a local club? 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.200 450. 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:35.039 I was I was I was about to say. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:37.359 Oh, that's not even one of my multiple choice answers. 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:39.119 I wasn't about to say that. 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:42.240 Is it the new the new pod? 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.319 I was gonna no, you're pretty close. 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:48.400 I I think we're probably 25 off, but I was gonna give you multiple choice, Neil. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.200 425. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.720 Yeah, 42. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:55.039 It's it's in the 50 region of either side of 450. 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:55.359 I know that. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:58.960 I've got a 425 from Lloyd, I've got a 450 from Neil, and what have I got? 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:00.960 475 from Lawrence, 475. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.839 Oh yeah. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:05.279 It is, according to our research, 425. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:11.920 But I know that Neil will now record himself fitting in 450 tennis balls into a circular ball container and sending that video. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:14.160 Yeah, you can squash them in, I tell you. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:15.839 Yeah, that's experience, that is. 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.079 Yeah. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.519 Hacking them up. 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.559 I've done it. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.680 Question two. 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:26.319 How many of the tennis ball, or how many of the how much of the tennis ball, sorry, does the circular ball scheme actually recycle? 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.839 It's multiple choice, ready? 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.920 A, just the rubber core. 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:35.200 B, just the outer felt, or C, 100% of the balls of the cloth and the rubber. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:35.599 C. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:38.000 Lloyd's going for C, C's gone 100%. 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.200 Lawrence? 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:41.839 Feels like a trick question, so it's got to be C. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.319 Neil? 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.519 I would hope it's C. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.960 It is C. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:45.599 Congrats. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:46.480 Come on. 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.759 Question three. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:53.279 Once collected and processed here in the UK, what are these dead tennis balls transformed into? 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:54.720 Neil has given us a hint on this. 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.440 Well, you talked about it earlier. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:57.680 Yeah. 00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:59.440 Yeah, I took a toadie, really, didn't I? 00:26:59.680 --> 00:26:59.759 Yeah. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.640 This is a listening exercise. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.640 Test if you've been listening or not. 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:08.640 Oh, here Neil used to be a teacher as well, so we did bond over that. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:10.880 I think it's just I mean, you never you never used to be. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.240 Once a teacher, always a teacher. 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.039 It's true. 00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:15.519 I'm constantly trying to

teach Lawrence new things. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:18.799 Um A, artificial grass for football pitches. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:21.599 B flooring tiles and sound insulation. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:24.240 Or C, soles for running shoes. 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:26.319 Neil can go last. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.440 Lloyd or Lawrence? 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:33.440 I think the insulation I I think I heard in insulation earlier, and that was the only one with B there, wasn't it? 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.079 Lloyd. 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:37.200 Uh I'm just gonna stick with the rubber, so C. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.720 So the soles for running shoes. 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.200 Neil? 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:39.759 B. 00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:40.960 It is B. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:43.599 Although I why can't we use it for running shoes? 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.000 Yeah. 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:52.559 The uh the other company, Deuce, who used to do this, who've now been bought up by Hubber, um they used to do it for running shoe bottoms, apparently. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:54.640 So I think you've got a little caveat there. 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:58.160 Well, we've got no longer, so let's say no point there. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.200 I think it's fair. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.799 If they don't do it any more, then we can't. 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:03.759 Well, there might still be some spare left over they're still using up. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.880 So sorry, no. 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:10.319 Well how we've got Damien Hall, the uh ultra runner on the pod next. 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:14.160 So we should definitely be questioning him about this potential partnership. 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:16.720 It is flooring tiles and sound insulation now. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.680 Question four. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:27.759 To understand the scale of the problem Neil is tackling, roughly how many tennis balls are manufactured globally each year, with the vast majority historically ending up in landfill. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:35.759 Is it A 156 million, B, 245 million, or C 325 million? 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.000 C. 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.359 Lloyd's gone for B. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:37.599 C. 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:38.240 Oh C. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:40.160 Lloyd's gone for C, 325 million. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.920 It's a comprehension test as well. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:43.200 I'm gonna go. 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:45.599 I want C as well. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.279 Just no, wait, I want B. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.960 C is too satisfying of a number. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:49.759 Yeah. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:51.920 Well, I'll have A then just to make it interesting. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:54.319 Wow, this is a straight shootout vaccine. 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.720 Well, yeah, absolutely. 00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:03.519 It is over 325 million, and because they take hundreds of years to decompose, the waste issue is massive. 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:05.119 How do they even do that? 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:10.319 Like, how can you eat so per year there are 325 million tennis balls? 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:12.559 I don't know, this is that even very big. 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:13.440 Yeah. 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:16.960 This makes makes you realise how big big the world is. 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:25.759 I know it sounds like a revelation for like a five-year-old, but it makes you realise how big the world is that you can fit 325 million tennis balls anywhere. 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:33.440 That sounds like this is the terrifying thing is that those tennis balls you first ever learn to play on, unless they've been incinerated, are still there somewhere. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.759 Somebody told me the same thing about disposable nappies. 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:41.200 You know, all your disposable nappies, unless they've been incinerated, all your toothbrushes, they're still there. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:45.680 We're still using those same tennis balls in the fourth team and toothbrushes. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:48.720 And disposable nappies. 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:51.359 Yeah, we saved Lloyd's. 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.000 Yeah. 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:55.759 But yeah, that is mind-blowing. 00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:57.279 That is mind-blowing, isn't it? 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:59.200 I I wasn't actually counting the scores there. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.720 Do we have a feel for who was the winner there? 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.839 Lloyd won that, didn't he? 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.480 Yeah, I think so. 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.519 I think I got a lot. 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:05.599 Well, just overall, Lloyd is our champion for today. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:08.799 Lloyd always has a partner, so I technically we won as a pair. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:10.799 He doesn't always have a partner, actually, Lawrence. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.640 So well in this game he does. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:17.279 Um Neil, question for you before we round off. 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:28.559 What would you like to see if there was one thing you could choose about the future of tennis to change to make it something that makes it more likely that future generations will be able to play tennis? 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:29.200 What would that be? 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:31.119 Well that's a bit of a difficult one, Katie. 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:35.599 In do you want to stick into my recycling mode or environmental mode? 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:39.519 Stepping environmental, holistic, what would you like to see done? 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:43.359 Making oh I suppose making it accessible to everyone. 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:59.920 Um so you know, having a having to buy a tennis racket and ball, nothing's cheap, so if anyone can get to anything and get to a court, because there's not that you know, if you're not a member of a club, there's not many public courts or as many around as there were. 00:31:00.160 -->

00:31:04.160 So access really, I suppose, is one of the best things. 00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:05.680 Um so anyone can get it. 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:19.200 And that that fits in a way to the recycling bit because I feel if there was information, say via the LTA on the LTA site or something, where if people have got stuff they want to get rid of, they just go somewhere and it tells them how and where it is needed and can be got rid of. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.200 Got rid of sounds awful, doesn't it? 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:24.960 Be you be reused so other people can then get involved in the sport. 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:25.279 Yeah. 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.799 Accessibility and keeping the game. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.319 Lloyd, what about you? 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:43.440 If there was one thing that you I guess from the professional game, what would you like to see in terms of making sure that it is something that is truly sustainable that you know future generations can play and enjoy as you do, we do? 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:58.559 Uh yeah, I mean, along the similar lines, at the professional level, there's so much wastage, and I think there could be a much better job of you know, just a little programme or even just a bucket where people can put stuff. 00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:12.720 I mean, there's so many shoes left at the end of the tournament in the locker room that the majority of the world will consider new, but tennis players won't wear them again because they've worn them for that tournament, they're a little bit worn out, their sponsors send them new stuff for the next tournament. 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:13.920 The same with rackets. 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:19.440 I mean, I think it was Nadal Federa, they use a brand new racket for I want to say every single match. 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:23.039 There are players at the top that do that, and then what happens to their old rackets? 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:30.640 There must be a system where they can and we're you're talking hundreds of rackets a year, you're talking thousands, tens of thousands of pairs of shoes. 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:37.759 If the accessibility is such a problem, yet there's so much wastage at the higher level, can we not use those two things to close that gap? 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:39.039 Again, a great answer. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:39.920 Sorry, Katie. 00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:47.200 Do you think there might be something, Lloyd, in in the sponsorship deal that says, right, you m you mustn't give your rackets away to the top players? 00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.880 No, I mean you can't sell them. 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:52.880 You can't sell any products you receive, but I know you can give them away. 00:32:53.119 --> 00:33:06.720 That is a really interesting question because in football we have the problem of uh sponsors and particularly kit sponsors who don't want old kits to appear on eBay, etc., because they worry that it will impact. 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.559 Well, they've nailed that one. 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.319 Well done, guys. 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:13.680 It's all over eBay. 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:14.799 What would my advice be? 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:16.720 I just want more accessibility for the sport. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:21.119 I think it's a really you know, I was having this conversation literally uh yesterday with another parent. 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:26.400 Our kids love racket sports and it's such an expensive sport for some people to get into. 00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:33.599 And as a limmy person who is always told I'm built for tennis, I always wanted to test that, but it was always just too expensive. 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:34.000 Really? 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:36.319 That's what you've been told you you you're built for tennis. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.759 Well you've got eyes and hands. 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:38.960 Well, have you got hands, Lawrence? 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:39.759 I haven't seen yet. 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.480 Oh, one. 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:46.480 They also just told me, uh, I mean, mostly it's because they either they look at me playing other sports and go, Well, he must be good at tennis. 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:48.400 That's what we said for Lloyd, yeah. 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:58.400 That worked out though, so you know Um Well, I'm very aware that Lloyd has squeezed Sin Day in between fighting for practice sessions. 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:01.200 Uh, who are you fighting against for practice sessions? 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.000 Lloyd? 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:05.119 This week it was Jack Draper and Katie Balter. 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:08.800 They were the ones uh yeah that are also on the clay. 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.159 So elbowing them out. 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:20.079 Actually, I do have a last question for you, Lloyd, because I I was asked to do the coin toss at Queens last year before the Jack Draper game, which I royally messed up. 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:28.239 I didn't know that I mean the coin is not like a normal coin size, but it turns out that when you're quite nervous, it's actually really hard to make the coin rotate in the air. 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.679 How big is the coin? 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:37.199 Um about the size of one of those giant uh chocolate coins you get in your stocking. 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:42.159 Okay, so next to you that's like it's like a kind of you're a borrower flipping flipping. 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:45.920 No one can tell on the screen, like no one knows yet. 00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:54.800 But uh it was televised and I was stood next to Jack Draper and uh I cannot remember who he was playing now. 00:34:54.960 --> 00:35:10.880 Um who was immensely tall, and it I just put the it it it is like a child or another species uh stood next to them, but the the coin toss the the coin went up and just didn't rotate when it came back down, and then it did one quick flip before it hit the floor, luckily. 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:15.039 But when I came off, the stewards at the side said they'd seen the kids doing it much better than I had. 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:16.639 So I'm not sure I'll be invited back. 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:19.760 But Lloyd, uh how tall are you? 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:21.760 Uh six foot three three. 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:22.000 Yeah. 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:31.760 And is uh I mean just I'm just checking out for whether Lawrence's you know, Lawrence's viability as a tennis player, is there is there a roughly minimum height of a tennis player? 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:36.159 Uh not many that make it below five foot eight, I would say. 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.039 Have you made it? 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:41.920 I'm I'm I'm I'm shorter than Katie, so this is horrific. 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.599 Never gonna make it. 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:46.480 I mean no, I used to be quite good at tennis, Lawrence. 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.840 I'll take you on next moment in London. 00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:52.400 I've got to admit, when I saw the clip of you flipping that coin, I thought the new Hobbit looks terrible. 00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:55.599 I can't believe it's taken us, what, seven episodes to get to this point. 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.159 No, I know. 00:35:56.719 --> 00:36:01.760 And on that note, we have to end because Laura uh because Lloyd has to go back to fight for position on the courts. 00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:04.400 Lloyd, Neil, thank you very much for joining us today. 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:06.480 It's been absolutely having me on the pod. 00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:07.039 Thanks, guys. 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:07.599 Thanks for having me. 00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.760 Good luck at practice, have it guys all. 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:11.599 See you soon, I tur up. 00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:12.639 Yeah, bye-bye. 00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:14.000 Thank you very much. 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:18.480 Thank you for joining us on the Pledge Ball podcast. 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:21.840 Before you go, it's time to turn your passion into action. 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:26.320 Make a nature-friendly pledge for your team today at pledgeball.org. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:32.079 You can join the thousands of fans who are already making a difference and helping to protect where we play. 00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:39.760 Also, with each pledge, you'll be automatically entered into the draw to win a ticket to the prestigious FSA Awards at the end of the season. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:42.159 So that's pledgeball.org. 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:44.079 Go on, get involved.