If you are new to pickleball, you may be wondering what ball is used for Pickleball? As a pickleball beginner, you may be wondering what a pickleball ball is. And how to choose the right ball because there are so many choices.
But Frankie says relax – the Bros will take the stress out of selecting Pickleball balls.
Let’s take a look.
As Pickleball slowly takes over the world, new beginners are piling into the game. It all seems so familiar, the rules, the paddles and the even the ball. But the ball isn’t a toy or a wiffle ball, it’s a pickleball ball. Let me tell you all about it.
What Ball is Used for Pickleball
A Pickleball ball is a round, plastic ball the size of a baseball and is similar to a modern wiffle ball. It has between 26 and 40 holes that are evenly spaced along the surface. They are light weight and have indoor and outdoor versions.
If you take a look at the history of Pickleball balls, you will learn that the design of the pickleball has evolved over the years. Wiffleballs, then Cosom Fun Balls were used to play Pickleball years ago, but they weren’t suited to the game, especially tournament games for two reasons.
- The Balls bounced too high
- The balls would get destroyed easily during intense games.
This led the Pickleball bodies, USA Pickleball and the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) to create rules and guidelines about playing pickleball. They also created specifications for equipment like paddles and balls. This includes a USAPA Approved Ball list.
That is why we don’t use wiffle balls or Fun Balls anymore. We use Pickleball balls, designed for the game of Pickleball. Let’s take a look at the types of Pickleballs available.
Types of Pickleball Balls
There are only two types of Pickleball balls to choose from – Indoor and outdoor balls.
If you want to get technical, there are many differences between indoor and outdoor Pickleball balls. But as a beginner, it’s not important and can be explained very simply.
- Indoor Pickleball Balls have 26 holes with a wider diameter.
- Outdoor Pickleball Balls have 40 holes with a smaller diameter. And the Outdoor balls are made out of harder, heavier plastic for outdoor play.
You could easily play with either ball in any scenario, indoor or outdoor. But you will soon find that indoor balls are designed for indoor play. And outdoor balls are designed for outdoor play.
But as long as the pickleball ball bounces, and you can hit it – any ball will be fine for a pickleball beginner. But at some point, you will need to choose the right ball for you.
Choosing the Right Ball for You
Pickleball beginners can roll up to any Pickleball hall or venue, and get started with any ball. It won’t matter, as long as the ball is molded plastic like a wiffle ball. You will get handed a paddle and a ball and you can play a game. You won’t think twice about what ball is Used for Pickleball, or if the ball is USAPA approved.
More experienced players will start to take their Pickleball balls more seriously. They will decide what ball works best for them based on the following criteria:
- Indoor or Outdoor balls: Depending on the environment.
- The Ball Color: Depending on the vision level of the player, the court color, court type or time of day.
- The Players Experience: This will help decide if a player will use a cheap beginner pickleball, USAPA Approved balls or tournament ball for competitive play.
- Players Budget: The branded USAPA approved balls for tournament play are more expensive, and are preferred for players that want to practice at tournament level. But a beginner will be fine with the El-Cheapo balls for everyday play.
Pickleball beginners will not notice the difference between ball brands or types. The most important thing to focus on is playing with a ball that is bright and easy to see (ball color). And ultimately, price will be important when starting out. .
But honestly, any bag of balls is perfect for a Pickleball beginner.
READ MORE: If you are looking to learn about USAPA Approved Pickleball Balls, learn what USAPA Approved balls are used across the World. And if you are ready to hit the big leagues, learn what Pickleball Balls are used in Tournaments.
How to Buy the Right Pickleball Balls
There are so many Pickleball stores that sell so many different brands and types of balls. This can be overwhelming because they all look exactly the same. And it can be difficult to choose how to buy the right pickleball balls.
The best way for Pickleball beginners to get started is to select balls based on price. There are budget brands that sell great value balls in bulk. Starting with a nicely priced 12 pack of pickleball balls is ideal for a beginner.
If you want to be adventurous, you can also try the sampler packs. These cost a little more, but you get a variety of indoor and outdoor balls, or a variety of colored balls, or even a mix of branded balls.
As you become more experienced, and can tell the difference in balls, you will likely gravitate more towards the tournament balls. They are more expensive, and not required for beginners. But they can be fun to test out if you have any spare coins to buy a few.
That’s part of the fun of playing Pickleball. Trying new paddles and balls, and experimenting to see what works best for you.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many types of Pickleball balls available. It’s great to know all about Pickleball, such as what ball is used for Pickleball. But as a beginner, it’s more important to get involved, have a go and enjoy a game with your friends.
As you slowly level up and build your pickleball skills, you may decide to spend more time focusing on your pickleball gear. Especially if you want to play tournaments, then pro paddles and tournament balls are a must.
Neil Young had a saying that applies to buying Pickleball Balls… “If you overthink… You stink”. So keep it simple, start with a cheap bag of 12 balls and have fun.
Pickle On!
The Aussie Pickleball Bros.