Here Are the Best Balls for Playing Pickleball

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AS PICKLEBALL continues to boom in popularity, we at Men's Health are committed to discovering the very best pickleball gear in the sport. After finding the best pickleball paddle, we naturally turned our curiosity to finding the best pickleball ball. Pickleball balls can have a huge effect on your play, and if you don't take a second to think about what ball you are using then you could have some not-so-great results on the court. Of course you don't want to buy a pickleball ball that's cheap and prone to splitting, but you also don't want to spend too much money and end up with a ball that's too hard and too fast to enjoy at a casual pace of play.

With that all being said, we tested over 15 different pickleball balls and found 10 balls we recommend. The Men's Health editors and writers have been playing their fair share of pickleball over the past two years, and so each ball has been carefully chosen to reflect different environments and personal preferences of all types of picklers.

It's hard to tell the difference from one pickleball to another, but small details like the size of the holes in a ball and how the ball is molded can greatly impact your game. If you want to learn more about what makes a good pickleball ball, we touch on some of the science at the end of this story. But first, we present with you with our current top list of the best pickleball balls.

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X-40 Pickleballs, Bucket of 36 USAPA Approved Balls

Franklin is a trusted brand in pickleball, and the X-40 is a continuous go-to pick for us, as well as many players in the community. The X-40 has 40 precise machine-drilled holes that ensure tight spin and a balanced flight pattern, all while still adhering the USAPA specifications for tournament-approved balls.

We like them as the best ball to buy overall because you can choose between four colors (Optic Yellow, Ember, Lava, and Pink), and you get a deal of about $3.22 a ball when buying the 36-pack bucket, which is a steal when it comes to snagging a competitive ball. It's also worth noting you get this cool container with your purchase.

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Tru 32 Ball - 2 Pack

Wilson has quickly climbed the ranks in the world of pickleball thanks to its dedication in developing better tech for the sport. The Tru 32 is made from a 32-hole injection molded design that promises better air distribution and bounce consistency. The result is a ball better suited for beginners, as it's a little softer and easier to use for casual play due to bounce and lower speed. What's nice is the ball lasts quite a long time, so you're getting your monies worth with your purchase.

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Dura Fast 40 Pickleballs

The Dura Fast 40 is what a player comes to when it's time to really start getting competitive. The ball plays notoriously fast and is made with a harder compound that responds more to spin. It's true the ball is less responsive than other balls, but if you're looking to become an advanced player (or already are) you'll find this ball is much more rewarding when you square it up on your shot. Just don't expect the Dura Fast 40 to be very forgiving on less-than-quality shots.

Optic Speed Pickleballs Outdoor 4 Pack

PCKL has affirmed itself as high quality brand in pickleball over the past year. Not only have we enjoyed testing PCKL paddles but we also enjoyed playing with the PCKL Optic Speed balls. This ball has ample bounce and has great response in competitive play. It hasn't passed the Franklin X-40 in our eyes yet, but in many ways it gets pretty dang close.

Sport Pickleballs, 12-Pack

Indoor players should look at the Jugs brand. The ball is a tad bit lighter and cut with wider holes to ensure a more responsive bounce with less chance of skipping on a gym floor. The material of the ball is also softer and more rubberized, so it's be easier to return on an indoor surface and have less chance of taking a weird hop. Jugs balls are not sanctioned for USAPA tournament play, but nonetheless are a favorite indoor ball for recreational use.

Fuse G2 Pickleball Ball, 6-Pack

Onix is at the top of the food chain in competitive pickleball. The brand makes several outstanding pickleball balls that carry United States of America Pickleball Association (USAPA) approval. The Fuse G2 is a commonly used ball for outdoor tournaments thanks to its consistency—meaning the chances of getting a dead ball from a batch are slim.

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TRU 32 Ball - Case

Similar to buying tennis balls, buying pickleball balls in bulk is no joke. Wilson's cases aren't the cheapest, but they also aren't the most expensive. If you want to go the case route, a 48-ball case of Wilson's TRU 32's are going to become a mighty fine investment in the long run—especially if you're buying for you and the family, or if you are buying to teach a class how to play pickleball.

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Tru 32 Pro Ball - 2 Pack

The Pro Ball is Wilson's answer to a more competitive ball model. Like the Dura Fast 40, the ball is specially made to respond faster and carry more bounce. The Pro Ball is it's only a couple bucks more than the Wilson Tru 32 original, so it's a seriously good buy if you are looking for a competitive ball to turn to but don't want to pay up too much for one. The only downside is the Pro Ball comes in an all-red color, which dissuades picklers from wanting to play with it as much as they would with a neon orange or neon green.

Pure 3 Indoor Pickleball Balls

Even though Jugs is our favorite indoor pickleball ball, we wouldn't knock you for going with the Pure 3. Thanks to the ball's consistent balance and authentic bounce, the Pure 3 falls in line with USAPA specs for indoor tournament play. The Jugs ball is not USAPA-approved. So there's the big main difference.

SLK Hybrid Indoor & Outdoor Pickleball

For someone who wants a pickleball that can be played on indoor and outdoor surfaces, Selkirk's hybrid ball is a worthy choice. Selkirk manufactures its hybrid by utilizing a 100% matte finish on the ball, making it so it will resist scuffs and skipping no matter what court it plays on.

X-40 Pickleball Balls

Franklin is another trusted brand in pickleball. The X-40 has 40 precise machine-drilled holes that ensure tight spin and a balanced flight pattern. We like them as the best ball to buy on Amazon because you can choose between four colors—Optic Yellow, Ember, Lava, and Pink—and purchase them in reasonably priced packs of 3, 12, or 100.

• Number of holes: 40

• USAPA Approved: Yes

White Pickleballs

Recess is a small pickleball brand making some of the most stylish (and functional) gear in the game. Our favorite feature of the 40-hole ball is its classic white color, making it easy to track in outdoor play. There's also something to be said about uniformity with pickleball brands, so if you're going to play with a Recess paddle you might be best off with a Recess ball.

Why Trust Us

Several of the editors and writers at Men's Health have been bitten by the pickleball bug in the past couple of years. We tapped our wide range of personal experiences for this guide, noting which pickleball balls have proved to perform the best for us in multiple different scenarios.

It's also worth noting we have several other buying guides for pickleball gear, including dedicated roundups on the best pickleball shoes and the best pickleball paddles.

What to Look for in a Pickleball Ball

When looking for pickleball balls to buy you want to first check the material its made of.

Firmness: A ball should be firm and resistant to denting. If you can easily press your finger into the ball and create an indentation, then it's likely the ball will be prone to dead spots and not bounce properly.

Holes: Second, you want to make sure the holes in the ball are evenly dispersed and clean cut. The holes are what deliver balance, so if anything is off the chances of the ball wavering or "waffling" in the air are increased. Some balls are cut with more holes than others, and other balls are cut with bigger holes than what you might normally see. These minor details can ultimately dictate how fast a ball plays—more numerous, tighter hole cuts usually result in a fast ball.

Rotational vs. Injection Molded: If you are playing at a competitive level, it's worth checking the molding process of the ball. A rotational molded pickleball is made by the plastic being put into a gyrating process and forming the ball with no seam. These balls are usually faster and and last longer, yet they are more expensive due to the production process. Injection molded involves a process where the ball is formed in two parts and then molded together. An injection molded ball is bouncier and cheaper, yet they are prone to splitting over time as that ball gets more wear and tear.

Difference Between Indoor and Outdoor Pickleball Balls

Pickleball is played just as much indoor as it is outdoor. Indoor surfaces are generally smoother and more polished, like a gymnasium floor, while outdoor are rougher and harder.

Indoor Pickleball Balls: Generally speaking, an indoor pickleball ball is often softer and lighter because of the fact there won't be any wind impacting it's travel. The ball also sometimes has bigger holes to ensure a higher bounce since indoor floors (usually wood) aren't as strong as outdoor courts (typically concrete).

Outdoor Pickleball Balls: On the flip side, an outdoor pickleball ball is going to typically be a tad bit heavier and made with stronger materials to combat weather elements like wind and humidity. An outdoor ball will be made with more abrasive-resistant materials to better handle scuffs and impacts.

How We Selected

We consulted with Men's Health's editors and writers on the top pickleball balls in 2023. Experts, including our gear and commerce editor, John Thompson, put a number pickleball balls to the test and evaluated their performance, durability, and color. We also considered top-reviewed pickleball balls that had high customer ratings on e-commerce websites we trust.

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