The Best Pickleball Balls for Consistent Court Control

As any athlete in a “ball” sport can attest, there’s more to your equipment than meets the eye — or to put it another way, one “ball” is not the same as another. That certainly rings true for pickleball enthusiasts. Whether designed for indoor or outdoor use, the quality of your gear can play a big part in your on-court experiences.

As such, gearing up with the right pickleball is essential to your game.

Whether commanding the kitchen on hard, outdoor courts or cooking up the competition indoors, you need the proper gear to excel at this rapidly-growing sport. From a visual perspective, however, it can be difficult to tell what separates a cheap pickleball from a higher-performance model. Thankfully, we’ve been dinking and driving with a number of top-performing balls to give you the scoop on which profile is worth your time.

How We Tested

Ben Emminger

While I’m by no means a competitive pickleball player, I have caught the bug when it comes to this entertaining and engaging activity over the past few months. As such, I’ve gathered experience with a handful of pickleball silhouettes, taking note of each profile’s durability, flight pattern, rigidity, bounce and overall visibility. Additionally, I took price point into consideration when building out this roundup, because there’s no sense in trying to enjoy an activity if the gear requirements will end up bankrupting you, right?

Franklin X-40

Dick’s Sporting Goods

BEST OVERALL PICKLEBALL BALL

Franklin X-40

• $11.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods

• Weight: 0.92 oz.
• Holes: 40
• Intended Use: Outdoor

If you’re looking for an excellent pickleball to get you started in the sport, it’s tough to beat the X-40 profile from Franklin Sports. I really admire the rigidity and durability of these balls, and the seamless construction keeps every shot true and on target.

Ben Emminger

Additionally, there’s a handful of colors to choose from, which is great for aligning your personal eyesight to your game. While I wouldn’t recommend these for indoor play due to the heightened bounce and firmness, these are still an excellent pick to keep in-tote all season … that is, unless you’re a fan of winter pickleball. Some athletes have stated that the hard plastic can begin to become brittle at temperatures below 40ºF, so be cautious is taking on a match once the snow and freeze begins to take hold.

PCKL Elite 40

Amazon

BEST UPGRADE PICKLEBALL BALL

PCKL Elite 40

• $13.99 at Amazon

• Weight: 0.917 oz.
• Holes: 40
• Intended Use: All-Courts

If you’re looking to elevate your game, it helps to start with a ball that’s approved for competitive play. This Elite 40 silhouette from PCKL carries the USA Pickleball stamp of approval, and its durable hard-plastic composition is ready to tackle a bevy of playing surfaces.

Ben Emminger

I also appreciate the neon green colorway of this pickleball, as it makes identifying shots and returns a breeze against my typical matchplay backdrop. With that said, however, I feel this impressive profile could benefit from a few other hue options for athletes who may prefer a more yellow or orange aesthetic.

Jugs Sports Pickleballs

Amazon

BEST BUDGET PICKLEBALL BALL

Jugs Sports Pickleballs

• $33.14 at Amazon

• Weight: 0.80 oz.
• Holes: 26
• Intended Use: Indoor

Multi-packs can be a great way to spread out the cost of pickleballs while still keeping you on the court for all the action. At less than $2.50 per ball, this 12-pack from Jugs Sports is right up the alley of most athletes. The soft plastic and 26-holed profile can make for excellent indoor play, and I appreciate the lime green colorway for enhanced visibility in the kitchen.

Naturally, due to the lessened hole count and softer makeup, these may not be the best pick for outdoor-centric players, but at less than $2.50 per ball, I could see these being a good practice silhouette or a pick for when competition is less intense.

Gamma Photon

Courtesy

BEST PICKLEBALL FOR INDOOR PLAY

Gamma Photon Indoor Pickleball

• $14.99 at pickleballcentral.com

• Weight: 0.85 oz.
• Holes: 26
• Intended Use: Indoor

For indoor pickleball enthusiasts, this Photon profile from Gamma Sports is a must-own for your ensemble. The quiet, soft plastic is prime for those covered matches and volleys, and the 26-hole profile is great for controlling the pace of play. I also appreciate the reasonable price point, which comes out to roughly $2.50 per ball for a 6-pack.

Unfortunately, though, these pickleballs utilize a two-piece construction, meaning there’s an internal seam across the equator of the profile. Sure, this may not deter beginner or intermediate players, but it does create a point of failure if you regularly use your pickleballs throughout the days and weeks. At a more reasonable cost, however, replacement packs are an easier pill to swallow.

Onix Pure 2 Outdoor

Amazon

BEST PICKLEBALL BALL FOR OUTDOOR PLAY

Onix Pure 2 Outdoor

• $18.60 at Amazon
  $19.99 (7% off)

• Weight: 0.92 oz.
• Holes: 40
• Intended Use: Outdoor

For those fun-filled matches under the sun, consider these sleek, durable pickleballs from Onix. I appreciate the rigid structure of the Pure 2 Outdoor balls, which create a unique bounce and sense of durability mid-play. Plus, the vibrant yellow colorway is easy to pick up in the throws of a game.

Ben Emminger

I will say, though, that while these are excellent for recreational matches against your friends and local rivals, they are not approved for tournament play. If you fancy a trophy or more regulated competition, you’ll need to swap these out for another approved profile when it comes time to test your skills.

Joola Primo

Dick’s Sporting Goods

MOST DURABLE PICKLEBALL BALL

Joola Primo

• $11.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods

• Weight: 0.917 oz.
• Holes: 40
• Intended Use: All Courts

Need a pickleball that’s tough as nails for a bevy of playing surfaces? These Joola picks are ready for any task at hand. Thanks to a crack-resistant makeup and durable design, these pickleballs are my versatile go-to that never leave my bag. Plus, the 40-hole design is excellent for a consistent flight pattern outdoors.

Ben Emminger

As durable as resilient as these are in play, however, it is always advisable to check your forecast before hitting the pickleball courts with these balls. Some athletes have stated the hard plastic can begin to soften under higher temperatures, leading to less bounce and a more flexible profile overall.

What to Look for in Pickleballs

Material and Firmness

The material of your pickleball will have a direct correlation to its playability, and it’s typically relative to your preferred court surface. For example, pickleballs designed for indoor play will usually be made from a softer plastic like vinyl, thus resulting in a less firm makeup to help accentuate the less bounce-prone play of indoor pickleball.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, outdoor pickle balls are typically composed of a polypropylene material that results in a firmer construction. This firmer profile can be bouncier across the more rugged concrete and asphalt, leading to more enjoyable, intense play when out underneath the sun.

Seams

Seams across a pickleball’s silhouette are typically housed along the interior of the ball itself, but that raised lip can still interfere with the ball’s trajectory during play. When hit along with joint, your pickleball can showcase an awkward flight pattern, thus resulting in an inaccurate shot. The presence of a seam can also warrant some durability concerns, as this gives your pickleball an area of potential failure after extended use.

While there are pickleballs showcasing a seamless makeup, it can be very difficult to interpret the difference from a beginner’s point of view. Unless you’re really looking to take your game to a newfound level of competition, you shouldn’t need to worry about this feature.

Weight and Bounce

According to USA Pickleball, balls should weight between 0.78–0.935 ounces for regulation play. While many of the pickleballs showcased within this guide fall within that weight range, it’s important to differentiate between indoor and outdoor balls when speaking of this component. Because of their softer, less-bouncier makeup, indoor pickleballs tend to be lighter than their outdoor counterparts. In order to give your shots that bouncy, intense aesthetic, most outdoor pickleballs will showcase some additional weight across their frames, due in part to the more rigid construction.

Holes

Every pickleball has a variety of holes cut into its surface to help give the equipment some balance and trajectory as it flies through the air. Indoor pickleballs typically have around 26 holes across the profile, whereas outdoor balls will commonly house 40 cut-outs. There’s also differences across hole size and space between cut-outs which can influence your ball’s flight pattern. For example, pickleballs with a tighter pattern of holes can tend to fly faster than others. Be sure to consider your playing style when looking at this component, and match your hole pattern to your preferred speed of play.

Visibility

Ever heard the expression, “Keep your eye on the ball,”? Well, it’s an actual must-have when it comes to shopping for pickleballs. While most silhouettes employ a vibrant yellow or orange colorway, it’s important to choose a hue that stands out against the backdrop mid-flight. This can help you better align your returns and shots, no matter your light conditions.

While there’s no tried and true “best” color to choose for pickleball balls, I encourage most athletes to opt for a fluorescent yellow or orange colorway. These can stand out best across the court, leading to better visuals as you dink and drive your way to victory.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Pickleballs

If you haven’t picked up the hint by now, there’s a definite difference between pickleballs designed for indoor and outdoor play, respectively. If you favor matches in the confines of your local rec center, you should opt for an indoor silhouette boasting a less firm makeup with a lower bounce rate. These balls typically play slower than their outdoor counterparts and offer less weather resistance, but keep noise to a minimum and match perfectly to the gym courts and auxiliary flooring you’re likely to play across.

Outdoor pickleballs, on the other hand, can be more resilient across the tougher playing surfaces, thanks to their more rigid construction and weather-resilient build quality. Outdoor pickleballs are also bouncier than their indoor counterparts, but can play with a more pronounced “thud” than other profiles.

There are also pickleballs labeled as “all-court,” meaning they can be used on both indoor and outdoor surfaces. In the end, be sure to purchase a set of balls that matches your intended playing surface.

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