Ball rules

A pickleball ball is a plastic ball with holes in it (Section 1, Paddletek).

Size and weight

• Diameter: 2.87 to 2.97 inches (7.29 to 7.54 cm) (USA Pickleball Equipment Standards)
• Weight: 0.78 to 0.935 ounces (22.1 to 26.5 g) (USA Pickleball Equipment Standards)
• Holes: 26 to 40 round holes (USA Pickleball Equipment Standards)

The size and the number of holes are not set in the rulebook. They are set in USA Pickleball's Equipment Standards Manual (3.C.2).

What the rulebook says

• An approved ball can be used both indoors and outdoors (3.C.1)
• The ball must be one color, with a smooth surface (3.C.3, 3.C.5)
• It must show the maker's name or similar markings (3.C.4)
• Tournaments use balls approved by USA Pickleball (16.G). The list of approved balls is published on the USA Pickleball website (3.C, USA Pickleball)

Indoor and outdoor balls

The rules do not separate them (3.C.1), but people usually use them like this:

• Indoor balls: larger holes, fewer of them (3.C, Paddletek), and softer (Paddletek)
• Outdoor balls: smaller holes, more of them (3.C, Paddletek), and harder (Pickleball.com). They are made so the wind affects them less (Paddletek)