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This page explains what governing bodies, standards bodies and researchers publish. It is not a substitute for lessons from a qualified coach or for medical advice.
The approved list
Rule 3.C of the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook says the full list of approved balls is posted on the USA Pickleball website, and that every approved ball may be used indoors or outdoors. The tournament director chooses the tournament ball from that list (Rules 3.C.1 and 16.G). The Equipment Standards Manual (ESM), Revision 3.0 (January 2025), says equipment used in a tournament played under the rules must be on the "USA Pickleball Approved" list, that approval implies no other approval or endorsement, and that USA Pickleball strongly recommends recreational equipment meet the same specifications. The full ball list was not read for this site, so no count is given.
Ball designs go through the same process as paddles: testing in labs hosted at Element U.S. Space and Defense, review by USA Pickleball's Equipment Evaluation Committee, and approval for sanctioned play by the USA Pickleball Board. The 2026 Change Document lists no change to the ball specification among the entries found.
What the rulebook requires (Rule 3.C)
- The ball design must be approved by USA Pickleball as the ESM sets out (3.C.2).
- The ball is one uniform colour, apart from identification markings; the colour itself may vary (3.C.3).
- It carries the maker's name or logo (3.C.4).
- It is made of durable material moulded with a smooth surface and free of texturing, with at most a slight ridge at the seam (3.C.5).
Figure 3-2 of the rulebook shows two balls: one with larger holes, which it describes as customarily used indoors, and one with smaller holes, customarily used outdoors. That describes custom, not a rule: as above, any approved ball may be used in either setting.
The specification (ESM Rev. 3.0, section 2.D)
| Property | Requirement | ESM clause |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 2.87 to 2.97 in (7.29 to 7.54 cm) in diameter; out-of-round variance no more than plus or minus 0.020 in (0.51 mm) | 2.D.3 |
| Weight | 0.78 to 0.935 oz (22.1 to 26.5 g) | 2.D.4 |
| Bounce | 30 to 34 in (76.2 to 86.4 cm), measured to the top of the ball, when dropped from 78 in (198.1 cm) onto a granite plate at least 12 by 12 by 4 in, at 70 degrees F plus or minus 5 | 2.D.5 |
| Compression | Average under 43 lbf, two tests per ball, under ASTM F1888-09 | 2.D.6 |
| Hardness | 40 to 50 Durometer D, now recorded for data only and no longer a compliance requirement | 2.D.7 |
| Holes | 26 to 40 circular holes, spaced to suit flight characteristics | 2.D.8 |
The ball in the paddle tests
USA Pickleball's paddle tests also use balls. The spin rate test that applies to paddles submitted from 1 October 2026 uses an instrumented test ball developed with Franklin, according to USA Pickleball's update on the test (about July 2026). The paddle power (PBCoR) test fires a test ball at the paddle from an air cannon. Both are explained on pickleball paddles and approval.
Professional play
The separate UPA-A list used for PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball professional play is reported as a paddle standard. No UPA-A ball rule was recorded for this site, so whether the professional tours use a different ball list is not stated here.
Recalls
No US CPSC, Health Canada or EU Safety Gate recall of a pickleball ball was found in searches made on 26 October 2026. Those searches were web searches, not queries of each regulator's database, so not finding one is not proof that none exists. See recalls.
Sources
- USA Pickleball, 2026 Official Rulebook (copy hosted by Pickleball Canada)
- USA Pickleball, Equipment Standards Manual, Revision 3.0 (January 2025)
- USA Pickleball, 2026 Rulebook Change Document (17 December 2025, edited 30 January 2026)
- USA Pickleball, Update Regarding the USA Pickleball Spin Rate Test and Implementation Timeline (about July 2026)
- USA Pickleball Equipment Evaluation Committee, NPRM 24-002 on PBCoR testing (1 October 2024)
- US CPSC, recalled products