Quick answer: A tennis ball is a pressurised rubber ball covered in felt. A pickleball is a hard, hollow plastic ball with holes. Pickleballs are usually a little bigger but much lighter, so they travel, bounce and sound different from a tennis ball.
Last updated: 24 June 2026. This comparison was checked against the ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 and USA Pickleball's 2026 rules hub.
If you have come from tennis, the ball is one of the first things that makes pickleball feel odd. The court is smaller, the paddle is solid and the ball does not jump off the surface in the same way.
The basic difference
| Feature | Tennis ball | Pickleball |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Rubber core with a fabric felt cover | Hard, moulded plastic with a smooth surface |
| Typical approved size | 6.54-6.86cm for standard Type 1 and Type 2 balls | 2.87-2.97in, or about 7.29-7.54cm |
| Typical approved weight | 56.0-59.4g for standard Type 1 and Type 2 balls | 0.78-0.935oz, or about 22.1-26.5g |
| Surface | Felt-covered | Smooth plastic, with 26-40 circular holes |
| How it plays | Higher bounce, more spin grip from the felt | Lower bounce, slower flight, more affected by wind |
Why a pickleball has holes
The holes are not just decoration. They help control the ball's flight and stop a light plastic ball behaving too wildly through the air. USA Pickleball equipment standards allow 26 to 40 circular holes.
You will often see a practical difference between indoor and outdoor balls. The 2026 USA Pickleball rulebook notes that balls with larger holes are customarily used indoors, while balls with smaller holes are customarily used outdoors. Outdoor balls usually need to handle wind and rougher surfaces; indoor balls are normally built for smoother floors and calmer conditions.
Why tennis balls feel livelier
A tennis ball is built around a rubber core and a felt-covered outside. Standard approved tennis balls are heavier than pickleballs, and the felt helps the strings grip the ball for spin. That is part of why tennis can produce a heavier, higher-bouncing shot.
Pickleball is different. The ball is lighter, harder and less springy. That helps explain why rallies often feel more compact and controlled, especially around the kitchen line. It is not just tennis on a smaller court with a funny ball. The kit changes the rhythm.
Can you use a tennis ball for pickleball?
No. A tennis ball is the wrong size, weight, surface and bounce for pickleball. It will not play like a proper pickleball and it will make the rules, shot timing and court feel misleading.
The same is true in reverse. A pickleball is not a replacement tennis ball. It is designed for a different sport, a different striking surface and a different court shape.
Which ball is easier for beginners?
Most beginners find the pickleball easier to track because it travels more slowly and the court is smaller. That does not mean every shot is easy. The lower bounce means you need to get into position early, and the hard plastic ball rewards neat contact rather than a big tennis swing.
If you are moving over from tennis, start with the basics in our UK guide to pickleball, then use the pickleball rules for beginners guide to understand the serve, scoring and kitchen. For a first-session learning path, read is pickleball easy to learn?.
What kit do you actually need?
For a first hit, you need a pickleball paddle, proper pickleballs and comfortable court shoes. Do not overthink it. A sensible beginner paddle and the right ball for your playing surface will teach you more than borrowing a tennis racket and hoping for the best.
If you are already comparing court sports, our pickleball vs tennis guide explains how the rest of the game differs. When you are ready to look at equipment, browse our pickleball paddles. If grip comfort is the issue, racket overgrips can also be useful across racket and paddle sports.
Want a first-session kit checklist?
Use the Darts Connect email form at the bottom of the home page and ask for the pickleball first-session checklist. Until article-level sign-up is approved, that is the clean fallback route.
FAQs
Is a pickleball bigger than a tennis ball?
Usually, yes. Approved pickleballs are about 7.29-7.54cm in diameter, while standard approved Type 1 and Type 2 tennis balls are 6.54-6.86cm.
Is a pickleball heavier than a tennis ball?
No. A pickleball is much lighter. Approved pickleballs weigh about 22.1-26.5g, while standard tennis balls weigh 56.0-59.4g.
Why are pickleballs plastic?
Pickleballs are hard plastic because the sport is designed around a solid paddle, a smaller court and a lower bounce. The material is part of the game, not a cheaper tennis-ball substitute.
Do indoor and outdoor pickleballs differ?
Yes. Indoor balls usually have larger holes, while outdoor balls usually have smaller holes and are built for outdoor surfaces and wind.
Does a pickleball bounce like a tennis ball?
No. A pickleball has a lower, less lively bounce. That is one reason pickleball rallies feel more controlled and closer to the net.
Sources
- International Tennis Federation: Rules of Tennis 2026
- USA Pickleball: official rules
- USA Pickleball: Official Rulebook PDF
Sources checked 24 June 2026.
