As pickleball fever sweeps the nation, more of those plastic, swiss-cheese looking balls are making their way onto the shelves of sporting goods stores. But what kind of ball is used in pickleball? What makes them special, and more importantly where can you get your hands on them.

What kind of ball is used in Pickleball

The balls used in pickleball are a type of wiffle ball, but are completely unique to the sport. Where wiffle balls used for baseball have no real design or weight restrictions, an official pickleball is constructed of plastic and must weigh between .78 to .935 ounces, be 2.874 to 2.972 inches in diameter, and be one consistent color.

Is a pickleball a wiffle ball?

Let’s start by clearing up the term wiffle ball. For starters, wiffle ball is both a type of ball and a sport. When speaking of ball construction, a wiffle ball is any ball constructed of plastic with holes in the shell and a hollow interior. These types of balls can be used for a number of games or sports, including wiffle ball.

When it comes to pickleball, the type of ball used can be described as a wiffle ball. It has a hollow interior, holes along the shells, and is made of hard plastic. But that doesn’t mean you can just raid your shed and use that wiffle ball you having lying around. In order for it to be legal for pickleball, it needs to meet certain requirements.

Official requirements for a Pickleball

Like their official rules for serving or specifics for court dimensions, there are a set of standards a ball must make to be considered legal set by USA Pickleball. At your local courts, you probably won’t catch much flack for deviating from this (unless you break out a tennis ball).

But if you have any ambition to compete professionally, you’ll want to make sure you practice with a legal ball. Even a few ounces can effect your game, especially when your trying to tune your shots to barely clear the net.

What is a pickleball made of?

A pickleball has to made of plastic. Tennis or racquet balls that are made with rubber are not allowed. In fact, their bouncy nature makes game play nearly impossible and potentially dangerous.

What are pickleball dimensions?

The official weight of a pickleball should come in somewhere between .78 to .935 ounces. Most of the time, you’ll find balls that weigh 26 grams (or .91 ounces). The size of a pickleball should be between 2.874 to 2.972 inches in diameter. When you shop around, you’ll typically see them measure in at 74mm (about 2.9 inches).

What are official pickleball colors?

All the rules really say are that a pickleball must be one solid color. Typically, neon green, yellow, white, and orange are the most common. With that said, you can find everything from hot pink to indigo on line. There are some multi-colored balls out there that are helpful for training purposes in learning to hit spins. The different colors allow you to track how the ball is spinning, which can help you hone your shot. Just make sure to switch it out before you take on a pro.

Wrap up

You should never let having the wrong size ball keep you from getting out and playing. With that said, if you see pickleball as a sport you could play for a long time, it’s probably worth investing in the right gear. So in the meantime, use that old wiffle ball and get out there! But maybe make plans to swing by the Big 5 on your way home.