Padel Ball vs Tennis Ball: What's Different
Size, pressure and bounce compared, from the official rulebooks.
A padel ball differs slightly from a tennis ball in diameter, rebound height, and internal pressure limits. At Wildcard Sport, we research equipment regulations directly from official governing-body rulebooks.
The International Padel Federation (FIP) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) maintain separate equipment rules. Our sport comparisons compares the sports themselves. Padel balls use a lower rebound ceiling and smaller allowable diameters.
The two balls share the same mass range of 1.98 to 2.10 ounces (56.0 to 59.4 grams).
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) notes that a padel ball is slightly less pressurised so it does not bounce as high or as fast as a tennis ball. Official tournaments strictly enforce these specifications. Competitive players cannot swap the two ball types during sanctioned play.
Side by Side
Official federations publish strict physical limits for ball manufacturing. The standard padel ball specification aligns closely with an ITF Type 2 medium tennis ball, but specific dimensional thresholds set them apart.
| Specification Parameter | Padel Ball (FIP Standard) | Tennis Ball (ITF Type 2 Medium) |
|---|---|---|
| Governing specification | FIP Rules of Padel; FIP Balls Document | ITF Rules of Tennis; ITF Equipment Document |
| Ball diameter | 2.50 to 2.67 in (6.35 to 6.77 cm) | 2.57 to 2.70 in (6.54 to 6.86 cm) |
| Ball weight | 1.98 to 2.10 oz (56.0 to 59.4 g) | 1.98 to 2.10 oz (56.0 to 59.4 g) |
| Rebound test (dropped from 100 in / 2.54 m) | 53.1 to 57.1 in (135 to 145 cm) | 53.1 to 57.9 in (135 to 147 cm) |
| Forward deformation | 0.22 to 0.29 in (0.56 to 0.74 cm) | 0.22 to 0.29 in (0.56 to 0.74 cm) |
| Return deformation | 0.31 to 0.43 in (0.80 to 1.08 cm) | 0.31 to 0.43 in (0.80 to 1.08 cm) |
| Durability limit (nine-game simulation) | Max 0.014 oz (0.4 g) mass; 1.57 in (4.0 cm) rebound | Max 0.014 oz (0.4 g) mass; 1.57 in (4.0 cm) rebound |
| Internal pressure statement | 4.6 kg to 5.2 kg per 2.54 square cm | Typically 10 to 13 pounds per square inch (psi) above atmospheric (70 to 90 kilopascals, kPa) |
| Pressurisation types allowed | Pressurised or pressureless (<= 7 kPa) | Pressurised or pressureless (<= 7 kPa / 1 psi) |
| Cover material | Cotton, wool, and nylon blend over rubber core | Uniform fabric cover with stitchless seams |
| Approved colors | White, yellow, or contrasting color | White or yellow |
| High-altitude threshold | Contested (above 800 m, 1,000 m, or 1,219 m) | High Altitude type, rebound 122 to 135 cm |
| Approval body | International Padel Federation (FIP) | International Tennis Federation (ITF) |
| Example US retail price | $6.50 per can of 3 (Babolat Court X3) | Not covered by our sources |
| Verdict | Use it for padel, and FIP competitions require it | Use it for tennis, and it is not FIP-certified for padel |
Size and Weight
The difference between padel ball and tennis ball sizing sits at the edges of their official bands. Under FIP rules, a padel ball must measure between 2.50 and 2.67 inches (6.35 and 6.77 cm) in diameter. Under ITF rules, standard Type 1 and Type 2 tennis balls measure between 2.57 and 2.70 inches (6.54 and 6.86 cm).
The two ranges overlap between 2.57 and 2.67 inches (6.54 and 6.77 cm). A padel ball can be up to 0.07 inches (0.19 cm) smaller than the smallest legal tennis ball. In contrast, the largest legal tennis ball is 0.04 inches (0.09 cm) larger than the largest legal padel ball.
For Type 3 slow tennis balls, the ITF permits a size range of 2.76 to 2.87 inches (7.00 to 7.30 cm). Those large tennis balls never overlap with padel dimensions. Padel balls are smaller only at the bottom of the padel range, and any ball between 2.57 and 2.67 inches (6.54 and 6.77 cm) fits both rules.
Weight rules between the sports show total alignment in primary federation documents. Both FIP and ITF mandate a mass range of 1.98 to 2.10 ounces (56.0 to 59.4 grams).
Secondary sources occasionally publish narrower figures. Retailer PadelShop.com published a comparison table listing tennis balls at 56.7 to 58.5 grams. That narrower band sits inside the broader 56.0 to 59.4 gram limit established in the official ITF rulebook.
Pressure and Bounce
Internal pressure creates the primary functional separation between these balls. The FIP rulebook defines padel ball pressure as "between 4.6 Kg and 5.2 Kg per 2.54 square cm." The federation prints that exact phrase in its official equipment rules without providing a standard conversion to other pressure units.
The ITF describes tennis ball pressure differently in its equipment publications. The federation states that pressurised tennis balls typically operate at 10 to 13 psi above atmospheric pressure, which equals 70 to 90 kPa. Secondary retailer claims from PadelShop.com estimate padel ball pressure at around 10 to 11 psi and tennis ball pressure at approximately 14 psi.
Rebound tests illustrate how pressure differences alter vertical bounce. In testing, technicians drop each ball from a height of 100 inches (2.54 m) onto a hard horizontal surface. A standard padel ball must produce a rebound height between 53.1 and 57.1 inches (135 and 145 cm).
Standard Type 2 tennis balls share the same minimum rebound of 53.1 inches (135 cm). However, the ITF allows a higher maximum rebound of 57.9 inches (147 cm). For Type 1 fast tennis balls, the rebound window increases to 54.3 to 59.4 inches (138 to 151 cm).
Both governing bodies allow pressureless balls. The ITF says pressureless tennis balls get more of their bounce from a thicker rubber core. Under FIP rules, a pressureless padel ball must maintain an internal pressure no greater than 7 kPa.
The ITF enforces the identical 7 kPa (1 psi) pressure ceiling for pressureless Type 2 tennis balls. In official deformation testing, both ball types must compress between 0.22 and 0.29 inches (0.56 to 0.74 cm) under forward load. Return deformation must measure between 0.31 and 0.43 inches (0.80 and 1.08 cm).
What They're Made Of
The FIP specifies a hollow rubber inner core for the padel ball, and its covering may have a seamless fold. The ITF rules in our sources specify the tennis ball's fabric cover, not its core.
Outer covers rely on synthetic and natural fabric blends. The FIP technical rules state that a padel ball covering contains a combination of cotton, wool, and nylon fibers. Tennis ball rules from the ITF require a uniform fabric cover with stitchless seams, excluding Stage 3 foam balls.
Color requirements provide another small distinction. The ITF requires standard competitive tennis balls to be yellow or white. The FIP rulebook permits yellow, white, or any color that contrasts with the court surface, while its technical document notes color as "Any."
Both federations enforce an identical durability standard. Laboratory testing simulates nine games of continuous play to assess structural wear. After testing, neither ball can lose or gain more than 0.014 ounces (0.4 grams) of mass.
The durability test also limits rebound changes to 1.57 inches (4.0 cm). Forward deformation cannot change by more than 0.031 inches (0.08 cm), and return deformation cannot shift by more than 0.039 inches (0.10 cm).
Approved Balls and Tournament Rules
Competitive players must use certified balls during sanctioned tournaments. Only balls certified by the International Padel Federation are permitted in official calendar competitions, including Premier Padel and the CUPRA FIP Tour. The FIP established its formal testing program on April 1, 2017.
FIP certification is a paid two-year approval that starts at €6,000 for a brand's first model. Our padel balls guide lists the full fees.
Tennis features an established certification network. In an equipment report dated November 2019, the ITF reported that approximately 300 brands of tennis balls held official approval.
High-altitude regulations reveal discrepancies within padel documentation. The 2026 FIP Rules of Padel allow an alternate ball with a rebound between 48.0 and 53.1 inches (121.92 and 135 cm) above 3,281 feet (1,000 m). However, an extract in the FIP Balls document lists that altitude threshold at 2,625 feet (800 m).
Technical notes in that same FIP publication set the threshold at 4,000 feet (1,219 m) and above. In tennis, the ITF defines a High Altitude tennis ball with a 48.0 to 53.1 inch (122 to 135 cm) rebound. Tennis specifications categorize balls clearly based on surface speed, recommending Type 1 for slow clay and Type 3 for fast courts.
Tennis Balls on a Padel Court
Tennis balls cannot be used in FIP competitions, because only FIP-certified balls are allowed there.
The LTA says padel balls are slightly less pressurised, so they do not bounce as high or as fast as tennis balls.
Retailer PadelShop.com says that a tennis ball bounces too high on a padel court and comes back too fast off the glass walls. For details on how wall rebounds function in matches, review our guide to padel rules.
The FIP ball rule covers FIP competitions, so it does not decide what you use in a casual game.
A shared FIP and ITF ball specification would change our answer.
Prices
On October 8, 2026, Babolat Court X3 padel balls cost $6.50 per can of three in the US, and the Wilson Premier Padel ball cost $169.00 for a 72-ball case.
Our padel balls guide compares more models and prices, and our padel vs tennis comparison covers the rest of the equipment. Before an FIP event, buy a can that lists FIP approval, such as the Babolat Court X3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use tennis balls for padel?
You cannot use tennis balls in official padel tournaments because the FIP mandates certified padel balls. The LTA says padel balls are slightly less pressurised, so they do not bounce as high or as fast as tennis balls.
Can you play padel with tennis balls?
No rule stops you in a casual game, but FIP competitions require FIP-certified balls. Retailer PadelShop.com notes that tennis balls bounce too high on a padel court and rebound too fast off the walls.
What is the difference between a tennis ball and a padel ball?
The main differences involve diameter limits, rebound heights, and internal pressure rules. Padel balls allow a smaller minimum diameter (2.50 inches, or 6.35 cm, against 2.57 inches, or 6.54 cm) and a lower maximum rebound. Both share a weight band of 1.98 to 2.10 ounces (56.0 to 59.4 g).
Are padel balls smaller than tennis balls?
Padel balls can be smaller at the bottom of their legal size range. A padel ball spans 2.50 to 2.67 inches (6.35 to 6.77 cm), and a Type 1 or 2 tennis ball spans 2.57 to 2.70 inches (6.54 to 6.86 cm). A ball between 2.57 and 2.67 inches fits both rules.
Do padel balls have less pressure than tennis balls?
Padel balls generally have lower internal pressure than standard tennis balls. The LTA describes padel balls as slightly less pressurised so they do not bounce as high or as fast. PadelShop.com estimates padel ball pressure at 10 to 11 psi compared to around 14 psi for tennis balls.
Can you use padel balls for tennis?
Padel balls are certified by the FIP, not the ITF. The FIP's maximum rebound of 57.1 inches (145 cm) is lower than the ITF Type 2 maximum of 57.9 inches (147 cm), and the ITF approves about 300 tennis ball brands (November 2019).
What makes a padel ball FIP approved?
A padel ball earns FIP approval by passing laboratory tests for mass, diameter, bounce, and deformation. Manufacturers pay certification fees every two years to maintain approval on the official competition calendar. Only certified balls appear in Premier Padel and CUPRA FIP Tour events.
