Padel balls: how they differ from tennis balls
A padel ball looks like a tennis ball, and it's nearly the same size. The difference is inside: lower pressure, so it bounces lower and slower, which suits a game played off glass walls.
Updated 30 September 2026. No sponsored picks: we don't sell kit and nobody paid to be mentioned.
Padel balls vs tennis balls
Side by side, from the two rulebooks:
- Padel (FIP) / Tennis (ITF)
- 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
- 135 to 145 cm when dropped from 2.54 m / 135 to 151 cm, depending on ball type
- Pressure
- Lower than a tennis ball
So a padel ball is a touch smaller, the same weight, and lower in pressure. The bounce ranges overlap, but padel's tops out a little lower, which suits a game played off the glass.
How long do padel balls last?
The LTA's guide says padel balls typically last around three to five hours of play before they lose pressure and bounce. They start losing pressure as soon as the tube is opened, so an opened tube left in a bag for a month won't play like new. If a ball feels dead or the bounce drops noticeably, open a fresh tube.
Do ball pressurisers work?
Pressuriser tubes are sold to keep opened balls from going flat. The only claims we've found that they work come from the people selling them, and we haven't seen an independent test, so we can't tell you either way. What we can say: balls are cheap next to court time, and a fresh tube is a sure thing.
Which padel balls should you buy?
For a social game, balls from any padel brand will do. Freshness matters more than the name on the tube. For competitions, UK events sanctioned by the LTA are played under the FIP Rules of Padel, and the FIP publishes a list of approved balls. Balls usually come in tubes of three, and many venues sell them at reception.
Questions people ask
- Can you use tennis balls for padel?
- Not really. The LTA's guide says a tennis ball's higher pressure makes it bounce too much for an enclosed padel court, so it's hard to control. Tennis balls are also slightly bigger.
- How many balls come in a tube?
- Usually three.
- How long do padel balls last?
- Around three to five hours of play, according to the LTA's guide. They start losing pressure as soon as the tube is opened.
