Complete Guide: Choose the Right Padel Balls

Padel balls are one of the most essential parts of a good padel match. Therefore, it is important that you take your choice of padel balls as seriously as you take your choice of other padel equipment such as rackets and shoes. There are many different padel balls available and they vary in weight, pressure and durability, giving them different characteristics.

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In this article, we guide you in choosing the best padel ball for your needs, and we guide you in the different types of balls, their durability as well as their bounce. We also review how to extend the durability of your balls and how to best store them. Lastly, you get our recommendations for choosing a padel ball and learn why you can't play padel with a tennis ball.

Types of Padel Balls

There are 2 different types of padel balls; training balls and tournament balls. The difference between these padel balls is mainly to be found in the hardness of the balls as well as their felt. The training balls are a bit harder, which makes them to play with for a longer time. On the other hand, the felt is not as thick, so they don't have quite the same stable and continuous bounce as the tournament balls. The tournament balls are made to have a perfect bounce as soon as you open the tube, but don't hold that speed as long as practice balls.

The training balls are thus very good in a ball basket, where you are not so concerned about whether the bounce is 100% correct, but where it is more important that there is still some speed. On the other hand, tournament balls are good for playing matches where bounce is very important and where you can afford to change balls every 1-2 times you play.

Normal Speed vs Fast Padel Balls

The tournament balls of some brands are available in a speed version as well as a normal version. The speed balls have the same kind of felt as the normal balls, but they usually have a bit more pressure in the balls, which ensures an increased speed. This makes the balls more suitable for slower surfaces as well as play in colder conditions.

It is therefore very common to experience the same playing experience with a speed ball outside at 5º as you experience indoors with a normal ball at 20º.

How Can You Tell the Difference between Padel Balls?

In general, padel balls look similar; they weigh about 55-60 grams and they have a surface of felt and rubber. Manufacturers usually include in the ball's name if it is a particular version that gives the ball a certain characteristic. For example, Head has both a normal version, Head Padel Pro, and a speed version, Head Padel Pro S.

In addition to the name of the ball itself, they are also distinguished by different colour choices in the packaging such as the Head Padel Pro:

 

And the Head Padel Pro S:

What Is the Durability of a Padel Ball?

The most important thing about padel balls is that they are replaced regularly. Virtually all padel balls come in a tube under pressure (there may be exceptions), which means that as soon as you open a tube of padel balls, they slowly start to become softer. Even without having played with them, padel balls from an opened tube will basically be useless after 1 week. With balls that are played with, we recommend changing balls after 1-3 matches or after 1 week at the latest.

If you are playing with soft padel balls, they have a lower bounce, making it easier to decide the rally. Thus, rallies are shortened unnecessarily and the game changes significantly compared to the starting point. In WPT tournaments, balls are changed every 7 games, and advanced players open a new ball tube before every match.

How Many Balls Are Used for a Padel Match?

A tube with 3 or 4 balls is enough when playing padel. The server needs a ball for the 1st serve and a ball in his pocket in case the 2nd serve needs to be used. The last ball is often in the partner's pocket. Alternatively, the opponent has it or it is being placed up by the net. The point here is that there are no balls floating around the court during a rally. Firstly, there is a risk of falling over them, and secondly, you lose the point if you slip into a stray ball and therefore don't get your shot returned - it is your own responsibility to clear the balls from your half of the court.

In addition, it also ensures a better flow between rallies when the balls are effectively circulated to the server instead of you having to trudge around between each point to collect balls for the next rally. Therefore, it is not recommended to use 6 or 8 balls at a time in your padel match, as there will be too many balls to keep track of.

Padel Ball Pressurizer

By using a ball pressure tube, you can extend the life of your padel tennis balls. This way you can reuse your padel balls, so you don't have to open a new ball tube every time you play. The pressurizer is a short tube, typically with space for 3-4 balls, which you can set to a pressure of e.g. 11 psi, which a standard tube of balls comes with.

A padel ball can typically be pressurized 3-4 times and regain most of its original pressure. The pressure tube will not have optimal effect if your balls are old and have already lost much of their initial pressure. The effect is best if the balls are new and you put them in the pressure tube shortly after playing. This method can extend the life of your padel balls, saving you time and money. And it's good for the environment to use your balls for a longer time.

How to Best Store Padel Balls

It is advisable to store your padel balls at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Both too high and too low temperatures affect the ball negatively, so leave them in the tube unopened until you need them. And if you want to use them again, put them back in the tube to protect them from light and moisture - and to keep them from being spread around all corners of your padel bag.

What Is the Difference between Tennis Balls and Padel Balls?

Although tennis balls and padel balls are quite similar, there is a big difference between playing padel with a padel ball and with a tennis ball. As a consequence, it is not recommended to play padel with a tennis ball. The main difference is that padel balls have a lower pressure and therefore bounce less than tennis balls. The felt of a padel ball is also a little bit longer to make it slower. In addition, padel balls may be slightly larger (about 6.50 cm in diameter) than tennis balls (about 7 cm in diameter), however, this is not always the case.

Which Padel Ball Is Best?

We are often asked which padel racket to choose. The answer depends largely on individual factors such as level of play and personal preferences. As for which padel ball to play with, the answer is no different; it depends on your playing level and what characteristics you want from the ball. And of course, it's important that the ball is suitable for the padel courts you play on, including whether it's outdoors or indoors and the surface of the padel court.

If you play on slow courts or you want more bounce in the ball, a fast padel ball like Head Padel Pro S or RS Champions Choice are excellent choices. If you prefer a padel ball with a normal speed, many players use the Head Padel Pro.

Looking for a Good Bargain on Padel Balls?

Because of the low durability, we always offer sharp deals on padel balls. A box of padel balls contains 24 tubes of balls, so buying this will provide you with several weeks of padel play. Share the box with your mates or keep it for yourself - don't miss out on the great deals on padel balls here.

If you're in the market for a new pickleball paddle you've come to the right place. Our comprehensive pickleball paddle guide covers everything you need to know to make an informed purchase, including information on paddle dimensions, weights, materials and grips.

Whether you are a complete beginner looking for your first pickleball paddle, or you're a seasoned veteran of the game, you're sure to learn something new and useful about pickleball paddles with our guide!

PICKLEBALL PADDLE WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS

How much do pickleball paddles weigh?

Whilst the official USAPA rules and regulations don't impose any restrictions on the weight of a pickleball paddle, the vast majority of paddles used by amateur & professional players weigh between 7.2oz (204g) and 8.5oz (241g).

What weight pickleball paddle should you use?

The answer to this question will largely depend on your style of play and level of experience. Heavier paddles tend to offer more power and are usually best suited to players who like to play groundstrokes, whilst lighter paddles are often favored by players who like to play a lot of volleys, as they tend to offer greater control and precision.

For beginners, it is usually best to opt for a mid-weight pickleball paddle, which offers a balance of both control and power. Once a beginner has established his/her favored style of play, they can then choose a pickleball paddle weight accordingly.

What are the dimensions of a pickleball paddle?

The official USAPA rulebook states the combined length and width, including any edge guard and end cap on the paddle, cannot exceed 24 inches (60.96cm). The rulebook also states that the length of the paddle cannot exceed 17 inches (43.18cm). The USAPA does not place any restrictions on the thickness of pickleball paddles, but the majority of pickleball paddles are 0.4 to 0.6 inches (1.0-1.5cm) thick.

As USAPA rules allow for a range of widths and lengths (as long as the total length + width does not exceed 24 inches or 60.96cm paddles are USAPA legal) you'll find that pickleball paddle shapes can vary quite significantly). If you chose to use a pickleball paddle with an elongated, longer face, then the paddle will be narrower than traditional, non-elongated designs to meet regulations. As shown in the images below, traditional pickleball paddles are usually 7-8.25 inches (17.78-20.96cm) wide and 15-16 inches (38.10-40.64cm) long, whilst elongated paddles are typically 6-8 inches wide and 16-17 inches (40.64-43.18cm long).

How do pickleball paddles compare to rackets & paddles used in other sports?

Pickleball paddles are very distinctive. They are larger than ping pong paddles, but smaller than tennis rackets. Interestingly, ping pong paddles are allowed to be any size, shape or weight, as long as the blade is flat or rigid. In theory, you could play with a giant paddle, or a tiny one, if you really wanted to! Although the rules allow for an unlimited range of sizes, most ping pong paddles are around 10 inches (25.4cm) long and 5.9 inches (15.0cm) wide and have a weight of around 3oz (85.0g), making them significantly lighter than pickleball paddles.

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Tennis racket sizes can also vary, but with a maximum length of 29 inches (73.7cm). Most top professionals use rackets that are 27-27.5 inches (68.6-69.9cm) long and 10.63 inches (27cm) wide.

Badminton rackets have a similar length to tennis rackets, with a maximum length of 26.77 inches (68.0cm) and a maximum width of 9.06 inches (23.0cm), whilst racquet ball rackets are significantly shorter than tennis and badminton rackets, with an overall length between 19-22 inches (48.3-55.9 cm) and a width of 9.5-11.5 inches (24.13-29.21cm).

Unlike tennis and squash rackets which have strings, pickleball paddles and ping pong paddles have a solid face. Whilst pickleball paddles can be any color, ping pong paddles must be bright red on one side and black on the other.

PICKLEBALL PADDLE GRIP SIZES

Making sure that you choose a pickleball paddle with the correct grip size is important for both performance and comfort. If you use a pickleball paddle with a grip that is too large, it can quickly lead to grip-fatigue and longer term may cause issues related to inflammation and tendonitis in the elbow or wrist.

How do you measure grip size for a pickleball paddle?

Grab a ruler and, use the following steps and the diagram below to find your ideal pickleball paddle grip size:

• Hold your dominant hand out in front of you, with your palm open and fingers pointing straight up
• Gently place your fingers together so they are touching - your thumb can point out to the side and remain separate
• Align the bottom of the ruler with the bottom lateral crease in the palm of your hand
• Use the ruler to measure to the top of your ring finger

The image above, shows a grip measuring 4.5 inches, which would equate to a US Size of 4 ½ inches or a size 4 if you were looking to buy a European model.

Pickleball Grip Size Chart Size in inches Size in cm European Sizes US Sizes 3.94 - 4.06" 10.0 - 10.3cm 0 4 inches 4.06 - 4.17" 10.3 - 10.6cm 1 4 ' inches 4.17 - 4.33" 10.6 - 11.0cm 2 4 ¼ inches 4.33 - 4.45" 11.0 - 11.3cm 3 4 ' inches 4.45 - 4.65" 11.3 - 11.8cm 4 4 ½ inches 4.65 - 4.72" 11.8 - 12.0cm 5 4 ' inches 4.72 - 4.84" 12.0 - 12.3cm 6 4 ¾ inches

What are the different parts of a pickleball paddle called?

Below we've outlined what each part of a pickleball paddle is called, providing information on the materials used for the part and explaining what each is used for.

Pickleball Paddle Parts

Face - The face is the flat surface near the top of the paddle, where you make contact with the ball. The face can be constructed from a range of materials including graphite, wood or a carbon polymer

Edge Guard - The edge guard is fixed to the perimeter of the paddle's face. The edge guard shields the face from damage and helps to maintain its shape

Throat - The throat connects the face of the paddle to the handle. The throat is usually made of the same material as the face

Handle - As you might expect, the handle is the part of the pickleball paddle that players hold during a game. It is commonly made using wood, graphite or a carbon polymer.

Grip Tape - Sometimes just referred to as 'the grip', the grip tape covers the handle, providing the surface that a player's hand makes contact with. The grip tape is usually made from rubber or a synthetic material such as polyurethane (PU).

End Cap - Located at the very bottom of the handle, the end cap is sometimes referred to as the 'butt cap'. The end cap protects the handle's bottom from damage

CHOOSING A PICKLEBALL PADDLE

How do you choose a pickleball paddle?

With the abundance of choice and options available when it comes to choosing a pickleball paddle, buying a paddle can be a little overwhelming. If you're wondering what to look for in a pickleball paddle, we've made things a little easier by explaining what paddle shape, weight and material will best suit your experience level and playing style.

Shape

The majority of pickleball players use a paddle with a traditional face, with the width ranging from 7.0 to 8.25 inches. However, if a player prefers to increase his or her reach slightly, they may opt for an elongated pickleball paddle. The downside of using an elongated paddle, is that it will generally offer less power and control than a traditionally shaped paddle.

The table below outlines the benefits and drawbacks of the different pickleball paddle shapes:

Standard vs Elongated Pickleball Paddles Comparison Table Standard Elongated Centre of gravity Middle of paddle's face Near top or bottom of paddle Weight Typically lighter Typically heavier Speed/Agility High speed & agility Low speed & agility Sweetspot Larger Smaller Reach Shorter reach Longer reach

Weight

The weight of a pickleball paddle is also quite an important consideration, as it can have a significant impact on your game. The heavier pickleball paddles (those which weigh over 8.5oz or 241g) offer a high level of power, whilst light paddles (those that weigh under 7.3oz or(207g) provide a greater level of precision and control. Most players, especially beginners and intermediate level players who are still finding their playing style, find a balance by choosing a medium-weight paddle, offering a combination of both power and precision.

Face Material

Pickleball paddle faces are made from various materials including fiberglass, wood and graphite. Graphite is a type of carbon fiber that is renowned within the pickleball community for offering a superior level of precision compared to fiberglass paddles and more power than other carbon fiber options. Graphite is also relatively lightweight, which can reduce the strain on a player's grip and arm during a game.

Wooden-faced paddles are a great option for beginners or those looking to buy a budget-friendly design. Solid wood pickleball paddles tend to be substantially cheaper than those made from composite materials and deliver a comparable level of power. Wooden paddles are also extremely tough and durable, often outlasing composite alternatives.

Core

Many of the early pickleball paddles had cores which were made from a material called Nomex. Originally developed for industrial applications, Nomex offered a high level of strength and durability, without making the paddles too heavy. In recent years however, polymer cores have gained popularity as they provide a superior combination of power and control. Often utilizing a honeycomb design, polymer cores create a lightweight paddle, with a high level of precision and a better overall feel, with less vibration when striking the ball. In addition, polymer core paddles produce significantly less noise than wooden or Nomex cores, which can be a key consideration for people playing in the backyard!

OTHER PICKLEBALL PADDLE FAQS

How long do pickleball paddles last?

The lifespan of a pickleball paddle, will depend largely on the frequency and intensity of use. If you are a professional pickleball player, training and playing games on a daily basis, then a paddle will usually last between 6 months and a year. If you are a recreational player however, who only partakes in the sport once a week, a graphite paddle can last for 2 to 3 years. Wooden paddles, despite their lower cost, tend to have the longest lifespan and can last for 3 to 5 years.

How do you clean pickleball paddle?

Before cleaning your pickleball paddle, you should always check the manufacturer's instructions or contact the manufacturer to ensure that you won't damage your paddle or invalidate any type of warranty.

Many pickleball players recommend using a damp, lint free cloth to wipe off any dirt or debris from the face of the paddle. Don't use any harsh cleaning solutions or chemicals to clean the paddle, as they could damage the material.

A good habit to get into, to help maintain your paddle's grip, is to wipe the grip down with a towel after each game or practice session. Ensuring the grip is clean and free of sweat, should prolong the life of the grip. In between games, you can also wipe the grip down with a damp cloth and then pat it dry with a towel.

What is a good pickleball paddle for beginners?

It can be difficult to pick your first pickleball paddle. If you are just going to play for fun with family, then you may want to test the waters with a wooden pickleball paddle. Wooden paddles are extremely robust and durable, and extremely cost effective.

If you have ambitions of playing at a club, or you'd like to start off with a paddle that resembles something that the professionals would use, then a mid-weight, USAPA-approved pickleball paddle, such as the Vermont Venom Paddle, would make an excellent choice. With the mid-weight, traditional design, the paddle is excellent for those who have yet to establish a preferred playing style, and with a honeycomb core and graphite face, it is the choice of many serious & advanced standard pickleball players.

At Net World Sports we carry a wide selection of pickleball equipment, including wooden and graphite polymer pickleball paddles. The Vermont Venom Pickleball Paddle is USAPA approved for regulation games and has a balanced weight that suits a range of playing styles, and a perforated PU grip that ensures both control and comfort.

Ideal for beginners and recreational players, we have the Vermont Wooden Pickleball Paddles. Available to buy in a set of 2, the premium cottonwood paddles have a durable PU grip, and are relatively lightweight at 8.5oz (240g); making them comfortable to handle. Excellent value for money, they're perfect for anyone looking to play at home or in their backyard.

In addition to pickleball paddles, we also offer a wide range of pickleball nets & posts, pickleball balls and pickleball training equipment, ideal for anyone looking to play pickleball for fun, or those looking to take their game to the next level.

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