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Ball buying guides

Pickleball balls

Speed, bounce, how a dink sits up: the ball decides all of it. Play with the wrong one and even a great paddle feels off.

Quick answer

Buy outdoor balls (harder plastic, about 40 small holes) for outdoor courts and indoor balls (softer plastic, about 26 larger holes) for gyms. Outdoor balls play faster and resist wind but crack sooner in cold weather. For sanctioned tournaments, the ball must be on the USA Pickleball approved ball list.

Ball guides

  • Indoor vs outdoor pickleball ballsLiveHoles, hardness and bounce, and which one to buy.
  • Best pickleball ballsComing soonRanked by approval status, owner-reported crack rates and price per ball.

The ball is half the feel; the paddle is the other half. Start with our best pickleball paddles for beginners, or read the 2026 serving rules before your next game.