Pickle Trivia
How are indoor and outdoor balls different?
About 1 min readUpdated: October 10, 2026
Indoor and outdoor balls often differ in the number and size of their holes, and in hardness. Under the rules, though, any approved ball can be used indoors or outdoors.
Pickleball balls often have a different number of holes for indoor and outdoor play (Pickleball.com). Under the rules, however, an approved ball can be used in either setting (3.C.1).
What is different?
| Point | Indoor | Outdoor |
|---|---|---|
| Holes | Larger and fewer (e.g. 26) | Smaller and more (e.g. 40) (Pickleball.com) |
| Hardness | Softer | Harder (Pickleball.com) |
| Weight | Often lighter | Often heavier (Paddletek) |
| Wind | More affected | Less affected (Paddletek) |
These are all general tendencies, and they vary by product.
Why are they different?
- Outdoor balls have smaller, more numerous holes, which is said to help them fly straight even in the wind (Paddletek)
- Outdoor balls are made of hard, thick plastic so they can be used on concrete or asphalt (Paddletek)
- A gym floor makes the ball bounce differently from an outdoor court, so a different ball is needed (Pickleball.com)
What do the rules say?
- The number of holes is set at 26 to 40 (USA Pickleball Equipment Standards)
- An approved ball can be used anywhere, whether it is an indoor or outdoor ball (3.C.1)
- At tournaments played under USA Pickleball rules, the tournament picks the ball from the approved list (16.G). You can see the approved list at USA Pickleball
The details are summarized in Ball rules.
Related rules and terms
Sources
Last reviewed: October 10, 2026
How to read the sources: numbers like (8.F.4) are rulebook sections, and links are outside sources. An "Author's note" is the author's personal experience, not an official rule.