Pickleball ball specs and the approved ball list

A pickleball must be 2.87 to 2.97 inches across, weigh 0.78 to 0.935 ounces, and have 26 to 40 round holes. Those numbers come from USA Pickleball's Equipment Standards Manual (Revision 3.0, January 2025), Section 2.D. The 2026 Official Rulebook no longer prints them: its ball rule, 3.C "Ball Specifications," covers usage, color, branding and construction and hands the design details to the manual. Through 2025 the rulebook's ball rule was 2.D, which included the 26–40 hole range. The official documents always win.

This page explains the rules and the list. It does not rate, rank or recommend any ball.

Ball specifications at a glance

The manual keeps its own Section 2 numbering. Its ball section sets no hole-size limit and no cold-weather or crack test.

1. Diameter: 2.87–2.97 in, out-of-round no more than ± 0.020 in (Manual 2.D.3).
2. Holes: 26 to 40, circular (Manual 2.D.8). Indoor-style balls customarily have larger holes (2026 rulebook, Figure 3-2).
3. Seam: a slight ridge is allowed if flight is not significantly affected (Rule 3.C.5).
4. Markings: maker's or supplier's name or logo, one uniform ball color otherwise (Rules 3.C.3, 3.C.4).
5. Drop height: 78 in (Manual 2.D.5).
6. Rebound: 30–34 in, measured to the top of the ball (Manual 2.D.5).
7. Surface: granite plate at least 12 × 12 × 4 in (Manual 2.D.5).
8. Test temperature: 70 °F ± 5 °F (Manual 2.D.5).

Indoor vs. outdoor balls

Under the 2026 rulebook, "all approved balls are acceptable for indoor or outdoor play" (Rule 3.C.1). The indoor/outdoor split is a custom, not a rule. The rulebook's own example figure says the ball with larger holes "is customarily used for indoor play" and the ball with smaller holes "is customarily used for outdoor play." Every ball on the approved list, indoor or outdoor style, has to pass the same size, weight, bounce and compression tests.

PlayPickleball rows are typical designs reported by that pickleball media site, not requirements.

The approved ball list, explained

USA Pickleball's equipment site lists approved balls at equipment.usapickleball.org/ball-list/. In October 2026 it showed 394 entries. Each entry gives the brand, the model, a ball type and the date it was listed, with a photo. Search works by brand and model; there is no filter for type. Color variants can be separate entries. Opening an entry shows more detail: in the record checked for this page, type, diameter, weight in ounces, color and material.

The type codes are "Out," "Ind" and "I/O," and some entries have no type at all. Because Rule 3.C.1 allows any approved ball indoors or out, the code describes the ball's intended use rather than limiting where it can be played. The list carries no ratings, rankings or competition/recreational split.

How to check a ball

1. Read the ball. Find the maker's or supplier's name or logo printed or embossed on it (Rule 3.C.4).
2. Search the list. On the ball list, search by brand, then model. Match the exact model name and color, since color variants can be separate entries.
3. Open the entry. Check the type code and the listed diameter and weight against the ranges above.
4. For a sanctioned event, use the named ball. The tournament director chooses the ball from the list (Rule 16.G).
5. Inspect before each match. Look for cracks and soft spots; the rules below apply once play starts.

When a ball cracks or goes soft

• In recreational play, a broken, cracked, soft or degraded ball stays in play until the rally ends; it is replaced if all players agree (Rule 10.G).
• If all players agree a broken or cracked ball affected the rally, the rally is replayed. If they do not all agree, the result stands (Rule 10.G.1).
• A soft or degraded ball never causes a replay: the prior rally's result stands (Rule 10.G.2).
• In refereed tournament play, a player may appeal to the referee. A ball the referee finds broken or cracked is replaced, and the rally is replayed with a new ball if the damage affected it. A soft or degraded ball is replaced only if all players agree (Rules 20.F, 20.F.1, 17.D.14).

Organizer's ball checklist

• Event ball chosen from the current approved list, with the brand, model and color written in the player information.
• List entry rechecked shortly before the event.
• Enough new balls of the same model and color for warm-up and replacements.
• Players told the damaged-ball rules: 10.G for self-officiated matches, 20.F with a referee.
• Indoor or outdoor style picked for the venue, knowing either is legal under Rule 3.C.1.

Related: paddle specs and the approved paddle list, rules summary, pickleball terms, net height checklist.