Club match
A new can of a standard pressurised ball: Head Pro, Bullpadel Premium Pro or Wilson Premier Padel. Open it on court.
PRESSURISEDTHE BALL
Padel balls,
explained with the real numbers
Padel balls look like tennis balls, and mostly they are. The difference is two millimetres of diameter, two centimetres of bounce and a little less pressure, and those numbers change how the ball comes off the glass. Here is the FIP spec, the tennis comparison, what UK clubs use and how long a can lasts.
- 6.35 to 6.77 cm
- 56 to 59.4 g
- Bounce 135 to 145 cm
- About 10 to 11.5 psi
THE SPEC
Padel ball vs tennis ball,
number by number
Padel figures from the FIP Rules of Padel (2026 review). Tennis figures are the ITF Type 2 ball.
| Spec | Padel ball (FIP) | Tennis ball (ITF Type 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 6.35 to 6.77 cm | 6.54 to 6.86 cm |
| Weight | 56.0 to 59.4 g | 56.0 to 59.4 g |
| Bounce, dropped from 2.54 m | 135 to 145 cm | 135 to 147 cm |
| Internal pressure | 4.6 to 5.2 kg per 2.54 cm² in the rule book, roughly 10 to 11.5 psi | Not set by the ITF; about 12 psi in a pressurised ball |
| Deformation under load | 0.56 to 0.74 cm forward, 0.80 to 1.08 cm return | 0.56 to 0.74 cm forward, 0.80 to 1.08 cm return |
| High altitude ball | Bounce 121.92 to 135 cm, allowed above 1,000 m | Bounce 122 to 135 cm, for play above 1,219 m |
ON COURT
What the numbers mean
when the ball hits glass
A padel ball is a tennis ball built to the small, low end of the tennis range: same weight, up to 2 mm less diameter, a bounce ceiling 2 cm lower, a little less pressure. Nothing about it is exotic, which is why players assume the two are interchangeable.
Why padel balls carry less pressure
A padel court is 20 by 10 m with walls at both ends, and the rally continues after the ball hits them (see padel court dimensions and the padel rules). A ball at the top of the tennis range comes off the back glass faster and higher, so a defensive lob becomes an easy overhead. Trim the pressure a fraction and the defender gets a playable rebound. The rule book writes that pressure as 4.6 to 5.2 kg per 2.54 square centimetres, an old way of saying kilograms per square inch: roughly 10 to 11.5 psi, against about 12 psi in a pressurised tennis ball.
The padel balls sold in the UK
UK shops stock the same names. Head Padel Pro (now Pro+) is the default club ball, with the Pro S (Pro S+) as a faster version for cold or slow conditions. Bullpadel Premium Pro is the other everyday tube, and Bullpadel's Next Pro carries the FIP logo as the federation's own ball. Wilson makes the official balls of the Premier Padel tour, developed with the FIP: the Premier Padel for fast conditions and the Premier Padel Speed for slow ones. Dunlop Pro Padel, Babolat Court and Adidas Speed RX are the other regulars. A tube of three costs about £4 to £7 at a UK retailer such as PDH Sports.
The racket changes your game far more than the ball does, so do not spend long on the choice. Start with the best padel racket guide, or take the seven-question racket finder.
Pressurised vs pressureless
A pressurised ball is a hollow rubber core filled with gas above atmospheric pressure. It is lively, and it leaks from the moment the can is opened, played or not. A pressureless ball bounces on a thicker rubber wall, feels heavier, and keeps its bounce for months. The FIP ball certification allows one as a standard ball; in practice it is a training ball, and the Dunlop Eco Padel is the UK example.
How long padel balls last
One to three matches for a pressurised can is the honest club answer. Hard hitters on a hot outdoor court sit at the low end; a cool indoor doubles four can stretch a tube to five. Pressureless balls last until the felt wears through.
Storage and the can you opened yesterday
A sealed can keeps for years. Open it and the clock starts, which is why a can used once feels flat a week later. A pressuriser tube slows the leak: screw the lid down and the raised air pressure gives the gas nowhere to go. It preserves a live ball; it does not revive a dead one. Cold rubber bounces low and heavy, so warm the balls in a pocket before a winter match.
When to change balls
In FIP competition the organiser announces the ball, the number in play (two, three or four) and the change policy in advance; changes come after an odd number of games, with the warm-up counted as two. At club level, open a new can for any match you care about. A fresh can also helps video analysis: a dead ball changes the bounce the AI reads, and your wall play looks worse than it is.
WHICH BALL
Which padel ball
for which situation
Type and temperature matter more than brand.
Training
Pressureless balls, or once-played match balls kept in a pressuriser. Drills need a consistent ball, not a lively one.
PRESSURELESSBeginners
A standard pressurised ball or a pressureless training ball. Skip the Speed and Pro S versions, a faster ball punishes late footwork.
SLOWER IS BETTERAltitude or heat
Heat makes a ball lively, so pick the standard version. Above 1,000 m the FIP allows a lower-bounce ball; no UK court comes close.
LOW BOUNCEIndoor in winter
Cold British halls slow the ball. The Head Pro S and Wilson Premier Padel Speed exist for this. Keep balls warm until the first serve.
FAST BALLDEAD OR ALIVE
Signs a padel ball
is dead
It squeezes easily
Press a new ball and the suspect with the same thumb. The dead one gives more.
It bounces short
Drop both from the same height, side by side. Visibly lower than the new ball is enough.
It sits down off the back glass
The rebound dies early and you are stretching for every wall ball.
The felt is fluffy or bald
Fluffed felt slows the ball and makes it feel heavy. Bald felt skids off the racket face.
FAQ
Questions about
padel balls
Are padel balls the same as tennis balls?
Nearly. Both weigh 56 to 59.4 g. A padel ball may be up to 2 mm smaller, its bounce ceiling is 2 cm lower and it holds slightly less pressure: a tennis ball tuned to the slow end of the range.
Can you play padel with tennis balls?
For a knockabout, yes. The ball comes off the glass faster, so lobs get punished. FIP-sanctioned events allow only balls on the FIP approved list.
How long do padel balls last?
One to three matches for a pressurised can. Hot courts and hard hitters shorten that; cool indoor doubles stretches it. Pressureless balls keep their bounce for months.
What pressure is a padel ball?
The FIP rule book says 4.6 to 5.2 kg per 2.54 square centimetres, roughly 10 to 11.5 psi above atmospheric pressure. A pressurised tennis ball sits at about 12 psi.
What padel balls do the pros use?
Wilson makes the official Premier Padel balls, the Premier Padel and the Premier Padel Speed, under a deal announced in January 2024. Bullpadel's Next Pro carries the FIP logo for the federation's own events. Both sell in the UK for about £5 to £7 a tube.
Why do padel balls go flat so fast?
The gas inside sits above the pressure outside and rubber is not airtight, so it leaks from the moment the can is opened. A pressuriser tube slows the leak. Nothing reverses it.
How do you store padel balls?
Unopened cans keep for years at room temperature. Once open, put the balls in a pressuriser tube straight after play, and keep them out of the car boot.
What are pressureless padel balls?
Balls with a thick, solid rubber core that bounces on its own rather than from gas pressure. Heavier and less lively, but they last for months, so they suit drills.
KEEP READING
More guides
worth reading
Padel rules
Scoring, the serve, the walls, lets and golden point, as the FIP rules state them.
Padel court dimensions
Every measurement of a padel court, what the walls are made of, and what a court costs in the UK.
Best padel racket 2026
Ten picks for club players, chosen on shape, balance and core rather than badge.
New balls help,
a better game helps more
Film one match and Padel AI shows you the shots losing the points, whatever ball you use.