How to Find the Perfect Pickleball Ball
In my short time playing pickleball, I have not run into a subject more polarizing than the ball of choice for the groups I have played in. Actually, there have been more heated discussions/arguments about the brand of ball than line calls, legal serve techniques, and scoring combined.
Reflecting back to all of the sports I have played, I have found that players are always very passionate about the equipment used and of course, pickleball is no exception. The pickleball ball itself has many different and distinct features in its makeup and that seems to drive each player’s ball preference. Features such as: indoor vs. outdoor, yellow vs. white, soft vs. hard, seamless vs. seamed, and many more that spur on the passionate disagreements and ire amongst pickbleballers.
I learned this very quickly when naive me picked up 3 Penn Outdoor pickleballs that were on sale. When I pulled one out for the first time, I was shut down and taunted immediately. There I was, trying to be honorable and contribute balls to a game, but my group made me promise that I would never try to use that type of ball again. They were “too soft and didn’t bounce. Plus, you’re ugly.” Not sure what the last part had to do with the balls, but onward with this article.
I know the same is true in tennis (Penn vs. Wilson) and racquetball (Penn vs. Ektelon) and beer (taste’s great vs. less filling). People quickly gain a favorite and defend it with all their life. The quality of their game play seems to depend on the use of their favorite balls, and the “wrong balls” used in a rec game can open you up to a new level of player disagreements and excuses for missed shots.
So, I wondered: “What are the official pickleball specifications (Page 5)?”
Well, here are the key details:
1. The ball shall be made of a durable material with a non-textured, smooth surface.
2. The ball may have a ridge or seam but it cannot impact its flight characteristics.
3. The ball shall be 2.87” to 2.97” in diameter.
4. The ball shall weigh between 0.78 and 0.935 ounces.
5. The ball shall have a bounce of 30” – 34” to the top of the ball, when dropped from a height of 78”, onto a granite surface.
6. The ball shall have a hardness of 40 to 50 on a Durometer D scale at an ambient temperature of 75 to 80 degrees F.
7. The ball shall have a minimum of 26 to a maximum of 40 circular holes.
8. The ball must have the manufacturers name or logo printed or embossed on the surface.
9. Tournament Directors choose the ball to be used in their tournament and it must be approved by the USAPA or IFT.
10. Today, there are approximately 65 USAPA/IFP approved tournament pickleballs.
10 facts that give me no clue, as to the best ball to use for rec play. 10 facts that answer none of my questions. 10 facts that paint a picture of the ball, but tell me nothing about my quest for “Thee Ball,” because there can be only one. No?
So, what are the big differences between pickleballs?
Well, after those 10 ambiguous, uninformative facts, I decided to dig a little deeper, as I often tend to do. The first distinction is indoor vs. outdoor balls. If playing pickleball outdoors — or indoors on a tennis court surface — outdoor balls are typically used. The “outdoor” ball, because it is slightly heavier, harder, has smaller holes, and travels significantly faster than the indoor ball.
Outdoor Pickleballs
· They weigh about 0.88 ounces.
· They come off the paddle hard and fast.
· They are designed to be less affected by the wind.
· They will play differently as the weather heats up and they become softer.
· Yellow is the most popular color, with white and orange following closely behind.
Popular Brands of Outdoor Pickleballs
Dura Fast 40 – considered the original pickle ball
They have 40 holes of varying size.
They were the official ball of the 2019 US Open Pickleball Championships.
The ball is seamless and weighs in at 0.88 ounces.
Single sized holes for consistent flight.
Approved for USAPA sanctioned tournament play.
The ball is seamless and weighs 0.93 ounces.
They are seam welded for durability.
They have smaller holes than other outdoor balls.
Indoor Pickleballs
· They are lighter and softer than outdoor balls.
· They have larger holes.
· They are softer off the paddle and easier to control.
· They rarely crack, when used indoors.
· They weigh 0.8 ounces.
· Their colors vary by popularity with white, yellow and lime green being the top three colors.
Popular Brands of Indoor Pickleballs
Large hole version of the Fuse Outdoor ball.
Designed to fly straight, bounce accurately and be durable.
Diameter 2.9”.
Weigh 0.92 ounces.
Gamma Photon Indoor Pickleball
Made with balanced two-piece construction.
They have thicker construction, meant to make them easier to control and give them a truer flight.
Have a 2.9” diameter.
Weigh 0.85 ounces.
Enough with the boring details. Let’s get serious about pickleballs.
Outside of playing in a USAPA sanctioned tournament, pickleballers can use any ball they please. It does not have to be on the approved list. So, if you show up at an unfamiliar court to play in a non-sanctioned match or game, be prepared to play with the community’s ball of choice. Or, plan to spend a good 20 minutes debating the merits of your balls vs. theirs (reminder, dear reader, this is an article about pickleballs). For me, I just want to get on the court, get to the kitchen and play! Yellow, White, Pink, if it bounces and flies consistently, let’s go!
Just remember, the balls can vary from 2.87” to 2.97” in diameter and may have from 26 and 40 holes. So, if you move out of your ball comfort zone, expect to take a game or two to get use to the bounce, flight, and feel. Outdoor balls are built for durability and to fly smoothly through, windy, air. Indoor balls are built for consistent bounce, are softer and designed to be played in relatively still air (AKA indoors).
Hard balls will come off your paddle a little faster, while the soft balls will take a little more power to reach the service line on your opponent’s side.
Bottom line: new court, new people, new balls or any of the above – take some time to warm up and get used to the ball. Not just warming up your body, but your eyes to the flight and bounce of the ball off your paddle, as different ball types will bounce in different ways off your paddle face.
Arguing about the ball being on or not on the approved ball list, in a rec setting with a new group of people can be pointless and fruitless. Especially, if its you against 2 or 3 regulars. So, keep your ball brand consistent, but be prepared to play with a different brand occasionally.
Last factoid, before I let you continue your pickleball reading – my community favors yellow Dura Fast 40 and Franklin X, in that order. If you show up one day to play with anything else, prepare to be teased and taunted and no one wants to be harassed because of their balls.
