Key takeaways: outdoor balls are harder, heavier, with about 40 small holes, to cope with wind and rough courts. Indoor balls are softer and lighter, with about 26 larger holes, for a slower game on smooth floors. Buy the type that matches where you play, pick a bright colour that contrasts with the court, and expect outdoor balls to crack after a few hard sessions.
A pickleball ball looks like a plastic toy, but its design changes the whole game: speed, bounce, how the ball reacts to spin and how long it lasts. Here is what to know before buying a pack.
Indoor vs outdoor at a glance
| Outdoor ball | Indoor ball | |
|---|---|---|
| Holes | Around 40, small | Around 26, larger |
| Plastic | Harder, thicker wall | Softer, thinner wall |
| Speed and bounce | Faster, lower, livelier | Slower, higher, easier to control |
| Wind | Resists it better | Gets pushed around |
| Durability | Can crack, especially in cold weather | Softens and goes out of round |
| Best for | Outdoor hard courts, driveways | Sports halls, wooden or vinyl floors |
Using an outdoor ball indoors makes the game fast and skiddy; an indoor ball outdoors is slow and blown about. Clubs usually standardise on one model, so check before you buy for group sessions.
Official specifications
Balls used in sanctioned events must be on the approved list and meet these specs:
- Diameter: 2.87 to 2.97 in (7.3 to 7.5 cm)
- Weight: 0.78 to 0.935 oz (22.1 to 26.5 g)
- 26 to 40 evenly spaced circular holes, one solid colour
- Bounce: 30 to 34 in when dropped from 78 in onto a hard surface
For casual play, any decent ball works; specs matter if you want the same feel as at your club.
Colour
Pick the colour you see best against the court and the background: yellow and optic green on blue or green courts, orange in bright sun or against light walls. The rules only require a single uniform colour.
How long does a ball last?
Outdoor balls take a beating: hard drives, rough asphalt and cold temperatures all lead to cracks. A heavily used outdoor ball can split after a few sessions; recreational players often get several weeks out of one. Indoor balls rarely crack but gradually soften and lose their round shape. Replace a ball when:
- it is cracked or a hole has split;
- it wobbles or bounces unevenly;
- it feels noticeably softer than a new one.
Store balls at room temperature; leaving them in a freezing car makes them brittle.
Buying tips
- Buy packs of 6 to 12: balls are cheap individually but wear out.
- Check that the model is « approved » if you play in leagues or tournaments.
- Starter pickleball sets usually include a few balls; they are fine to learn with, but regular players soon switch to a better model.
FAQ
Can you use an outdoor pickleball ball indoors?
You can, but it will be fast and skid on smooth floors, and rallies will be shorter. Indoor balls give a slower, more controllable game in halls.
Why do pickleball balls crack?
Repeated hard impacts and cold temperatures make the plastic brittle. Outdoor balls crack more often because their harder plastic absorbs less shock.
How many holes does a pickleball ball have?
Between 26 and 40. Indoor balls typically have 26 larger holes; outdoor balls around 40 smaller ones.
Are pickleball balls the same as wiffle balls?
They look similar but are not interchangeable. Pickleball balls are made to tighter specs for weight, bounce and roundness, and they are more durable.