After testing the best pickleball balls available, the Franklin Sports X-40 impressed me the most compared to other outdoor balls. As for indoor balls, it was the PCKL Optic Indoor balls.
But this just scratches the surface of the many top pickleball balls that are up for grabs. As a brief snippet before I get into the reviews, here are the best pickleball balls:
Consider reading each review fully to ensure you get the correct ball for your needs. At the end, you’ll also find a buyer’s guide to help you with what to look for in a pickleball ball.
PingPongRuler is independent and not pressured by manufacturers to recommend products. We were not paid for the reviews in this article. These pickleball balls were selected by our team, who have over 25 years of experience playing sports like pickleball and ping pong and hundreds of hours reviewing products. We may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase something through our retail links.
For these pickleball ball reviews, I tested a variety of pickleball balls for indoor and outdoor play. I used the following criteria to rank each ball.
Official ball for US Open Pickleball Championships
4 colors to choose from
Cons
None
Rating: 9.8
As a well-known pickleball ball manufacturer, it should be no surprise that a Franklin Sports product makes this list. The X-40 is a highly popular outdoor pickleball ball that is USA Pickleball-approved. It’s even the official ball for the US Open Pickleball Championships, which speaks a lot about its quality.
The X-40 is a rotationally molded one-piece sphere that ensures it is both strong and durable. Unlike two-piece balls, it does not contain excessive material where the two halves join. Available in 4 bright colors, you’ve got a good selection to choose from. You can also buy the X-40 in 3, 12, or 100 quantities. I recommend buying in bulk to save money.
Overall, this is the best outdoor pickleball ball, in my opinion. It has no clear negatives: it’s well-priced, plays well, and lasts long. Therefore, it’s a great choice, irrespective of whether you undertake casual or tournament play.
Not yet sure which pickleball paddle you should buy? Check out our guide to the top pickleball paddles!
Official ball for US Open Pickleball Championships
3 colors to choose from
Cons
Durability
Expensive
Rating: 9.6
The Dura Fast 40 is another one of the best-quality pickleball balls that has seen heavy use on large stages. It, too, was used in the US Open Pickleball Championships. Still, it has also received use at other events such as the USA Pickleball National Championships and the Tournament of Champions.
Where the Dura Fast 40 excels is in terms of performance. It is the favored ball of elite players because it feels the best to play outdoors. It is a true one-piece pickleball ball, but it feels harder and plays faster. However, to me, it does have a glaring issue, and that is its durability. It only lasts a few games, which makes these balls very expensive.
Moreover, tournaments are increasingly adopting the X-40 over the Dura Fast 40, which lessens its appeal. Therefore, in my opinion, the X-40 is clearly a better buy. Only players who favor a faster game and don’t mind spending considerably more money should choose the Dura Fast 40 over the X-40.
Slightly behind the top balls in terms of performance
Rating: 9.4
You may not be familiar with the brand Asbocer, but they make some excellent pickleball balls! I found them to be fast and durable, and only slightly behind the Franklin Sports X-40 and Dura Fast 40 in terms of performance.
What makes these an excellent pickup is their price tag. They cost less than half of what the X-40 and Dura Dast 40 do per ball, and I think this is an excellent trade-off. For beginners or intermediate players looking for a high-performing and well-valued outdoor ball, you’ll struggle to find better.
Official ball for Tyson McGuffin Signature Pickleball Camps
Available in four different quantities
Cons
A little light for an outdoor pickleball ball
Rating: 9.1
In at fourth, I have the Tourna Strike outdoor pickleballs. What immediately caught my eye about this set was its remarkably low price tag and the fact it’s approved for tournament play. It’s rare for a ball to tick both of these boxes, so it’s certainly one you should consider (you could even use these as practice balls as they are so cheap!).
In fact, it’s the official ball for the Tyson McGuffin Signature Pickleball Camps. These camps are overseen by pickleball player Tyson McGiffin himself, and as a 5x Grand Slam champion, he knows a thing or two about pickleballs. So if he rates Tourna Strike balls, chances are you will, too.
I also like the various quantity options in which you can pick these balls. From just 12 balls to 200, you may not have color options, but you do have a lot of control over how many balls you can purchase.
My only complaint about this ball is that it is a little light for outdoor play. At 24.5 g it is more susceptible to wind interference than the likes of the Franklin Sports X-40 and Dura Fast 40 balls which both weigh 26 g. Other than that, though, they provide excellent value for penny pinchers.
You can also consider buying a pickleball set that provides two to four paddles and at least two balls.
5. Onix Pure 2 Outdoor Pickleball Balls — Best for Durability
Another one of the best outdoor pickleballs you may be familiar with is the Pure 2 by Onix. Now Onix sells several different pickleball balls, and it can be challenging to differentiate them. The Pure 2, for instance, has two different versions: the indoor and outdoor.
The outdoor Pure 2 is popular for its durability. In fact, it’s the most durable pickleball ball on the market. This is largely because it is much softer than other balls, making it less prone to cracking. However, this means that it is much slower and bounces higher than most outdoor balls do. As a result, it’s far from the best ball for pickleball if you are a serious, competitive player. It is also not USA Pickleball-approved.
I recommend these long-lasting balls for older players who play more casual pickleball. The slower game and higher bounce give these players more time to react to keep the rally going.
My favorite pickleball ball for indoor play is the PCKL ball. The reason I choose this over the rest is because it carries speed well; it just feels springier than the rest. This contrasts with other indoor balls that lose a lot of speed from the initial strike, leading to a lower bounce and a shorter second bounce position.
I also found them to be fairly durable, which is a plus. Just know they can sometimes crack if a player strikes them particularly hard. Overall, considering they are USA Pickleball-approved and high-quality, I think they are a great purchase for competitive play.
Franklin Sports topped the list for the best outdoor balls, and they are not far off with their indoor court balls either, placing second. They provide superb value at less than $3 a ball in their 3-pack, and you get even more bang for your buck if you purchase one of the bigger bundles.
Besides the alluring cost, I was also impressed by the range of colors on offer, which beats out the rest of the indoor balls I looked at. Yet, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The balls are much darker in person than in the product photos. They are still pretty visible; the blue balls are my favorite as they stand out the most against the court.
Regarding play, the X-26 balls are slower than some of the other models I tested, such as the Onix Fuse balls. Therefore, they could be a good purchase for players who prefer a slower game, much like the Onix Pure 2.
I feel conflicted about placing the Onix Recruit in third place, as it has the makings of a first or second-place ball. However, considering it’s not USA Pickleball-approved, I simply can’t place it above third. While it performs excellently and feels like a top ball, many players will likely demand a USA Pickleball-approved ball for match play.
There’s no doubt it’s my favorite ball from the brand. It feels superior to Onix’s outdoor ball and is also the cheapest of their three balls that made this list. Surprisingly, it’s also pretty durable too! Rather than cracking, you may start to notice soft spots after prolonged play. This marks the time to switch out balls.
If you’re not worried about having USA Pickleball-approved balls, I strongly recommend you give this set a go. They really surprised me.
4. Onix Fuse Indoor Pickleballs — Best Indoor Quality
If you enjoy indoor play, the Fuse indoor ball is likely the best one to buy if money is no object. As before, with the Onix Pure 2, there’s a little bit of confusion surrounding this Onix ball. The Fuse is available as indoor or outdoor balls. Both are USA Pickleball-approved. This confusion, it seems, also extends to the seller. Some buyers reported receiving outdoor pickleball balls instead of indoor ones. However, this is only for select cases — I recommend using our link to ensure you get the right set.
Besides being USA Pickleball-approved, the Fuse indoor performs similarly to outdoor pickleball balls. This is great for players who dislike lighter indoor balls. And while being quite expensive, I found they last for a fairly long time, making them much cheaper than the outdoor Dura Fast 40. Therefore, the Onix Fuse ball is one of the best indoor pickleball balls available on the market today and an excellent set to buy if quality is your top priority.
Jugs balls are among the best indoor pickleball balls on the market, with stock consistently flying off the shelves. They are rather inexpensive, costing less than $2 per ball. What’s more, they are also USA Pickleball-approved, so both value and performance are top-notch.
The only issues I noticed are that the seams can be rough, and the balls scuff easier than most. Overall, I wouldn’t consider this much of an issue, though. If you’re looking to save money by investing in cheap balls, I’m certain these won’t disappoint.
I recommend purchasing the lime green set instead of white as they are more discernible indoors — light walls and floors can make it easy to lose sight of the balls.
Pickleball balls are available in a range of different colors which gives you a lot of variety to choose from. USA Pickleball (USAP) is pretty relaxed when it comes to colors. All they require is that the ball has a uniform color except for the identification stamps.
I recommend selecting balls that are bright and easy to track while you are playing. You want a ball that is easy to play with under any conditions, be it a blisteringly sunny day or a low-light session.
Diameter
According to USAP, the diameter of a pickleball must measure between 2.87” and 2.97”. I recommend around 2.8” for an indoor pickleball ball, and for an outdoor ball, a little wider at approximately 2.9”.
Weight
USAP rules also stipulate that pickleballs must weigh between 22.1-26.5 g (0.78-0.935 oz). As you can see, they allow for quite a bit of variance. I recommend going for lighter balls indoors and heavier balls for outdoor surfaces. Heavy balls are less susceptible to influence from the wind.
Cost
Most pickleball balls tend to be well-priced, given how long they last. You can expect to pay anywhere from $8 – $25 per pack of three balls. However, I recommend purchasing in larger quantities to decrease your price per ball.
Durability
Pickleball balls for the outdoors have much lower longevity than indoor pickleballs. This is because of their composition and the fact that outdoor terrain is much tougher. There is also a lot of variation among outdoor balls, as some crack while others gradually become less bouncy over time.
Dura Fast 40, for example, lasts for around 2 hours of playtime and tends to crack. Onix Pure 2, by comparison, tends to last for several weeks and gradually develops soft spots. This means you can use these balls even longer if necessary. But we recommend switching them out when you notice the quality decline.
Remember, if you don’t mind buying pickleball balls in bulk, you can save a lot of money. This can minimize durability issues somewhat.
Indoor vs Outdoor Pickleball Balls
Given that you play pickleball indoors and outdoors, it only makes sense to have the correct ball, depending on whether you prefer indoor or outdoor play. As indoor balls are not exposed to the weather, they do not need to combat the wind. As such, they have 26 larger holes instead of outdoor balls that have 40 smaller holes. These 14 fewer holes make it easier to maintain high levels of control.
Spin is another quality where you notice a discernible difference between the two balls. Indoor balls have a textured surface, which makes it easy to produce spin. On the other hand, outdoor balls have a smoother surface to mitigate damage from harsher ground.
However, while this does increase durability, they still fall comfortably short of indoor balls as they are exposed to the harsher outdoor courts. By comparison, indoor surfaces cause less damage as the ground is gentler on the ball.
View the table below for a full list of the differences between indoor and outdoor balls.
Indoor Balls
Outdoor balls
Number of holes
26
40
Weight
Lighter
Heavier
Hardness
Softer
Harder
Control
Easier
Harder
Spin
Easier
Harder
Noise
Quieter
Louder
Lifespan
Longer
Shorter
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Difference Between Pickleball Balls?
Indoor balls are very different from outdoor balls. Indoor balls have 26 holes, whereas outdoor balls have 40 to allow them to combat the wind more effectively. You will also find that indoor balls are softer, lighter, and produce more spin than their outdoor counterparts.
How Do You Pick a Pickleball Ball?
Some of the top qualities I recommend seeking in your pickleball are that it is USAP-approved (eligible for tournament play), highly visible, well-priced, and lasts a long time. The best pickleball balls possess all of these qualities, but they are hard to come by.
What Is the Top Pickleball Ball for Beginners?
The best pickleball balls for beginners are the Franklin Sports X-40s. They are the official pickleball of the US Open Pickleball Championships and for good reason. While they are generally more popular with serious pickleball players, their reasonable price tag makes them great for beginners too.
Can You Use Outdoor Pickleball Balls Indoors?
Using outdoor pickleball balls indoors is not advisable as they do not have a textured surface. This means they skid on the floor, giving them a less consistent bounce. They also do not bounce as high, which leads to less exciting games.
Can You Use Indoor Pickleballs Outdoors?
You should not use outdoor pickleballs indoors. Mainly because indoor balls have 14 fewer holes than outdoor balls, meaning they are far less resistant to the wind. This makes them much harder to play with and makes games more frustrating.
Do Pickleball Balls Bounce?
Pickleball balls have strict requirements when it comes to bouncing. To be USAP-approved, they must have a consistent bounce between 30” and 34” when dropped from a height of 78”. Of course, many balls do not make this cut, with some bouncing below and above this requirement.
What Are Pickleball Balls Made Of?
Pickleball balls are made from rigid plastics to prevent cracking, the hardness varies from brand to brand. Outdoor models generally utilize more robust materials to tackle tougher outdoor conditions. Indoor balls are not quite as hard, but they certainly do not use soft plastic.
So What Are the Best Pickleball Balls?
For outdoor play, the best pickleball ball is the X-40 by Franklin Sports. Put simply, it doesn’t have any weak areas. It’s approved by USAP and has quickly become the standard tournament ball. It’s also very high-quality and lasts for a damn long time. This makes it a better buy than the Dura Fast 40, which sees less use and doesn’t last for as long as I would like.
For indoor pickleball balls, it’s a tougher call. In my opinion, the PCKL Optic Indoor pickleballs are the best overall. They are fun to play with, durable, and USAP-approved. However, Jugs pickleball balls are a great option if you’re a casual player and want to get more for your hard-earned bucks.
Freelance writer. Table tennis enthusiast. Lover of all things online. When I’m not working on my loop game I’m probably binge-watching some fantasy show.
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