Pickleball balls can be a crazy market and pretty daunting to learn which are "good" and what type you need for a specific type of play.
So for our list of the top five pickleball balls I'll be covering the best balls for all different players, playstyle and different needs like drilling, tournaments, rec play, and more.
I'll also be going over the different types of balls, and what makes a ball indoor, outdoor, certified for tournament play and some other bonus things you should know.
The first question I want to answer is this: Does it really make a difference what pickleball balls I purchase?
The answer is yes.
As I mentioned, there are specific indoor and outdoor balls, but then there is also the saying that we all know and love: you get what you pay for.
A lot of balls can end up going "dead" and losing their bounce and pop after a short period of time if you opt to buy the wrong ball because of a cheaper price.
So the next question becomes: What is the difference between an indoor pickleball ball and an outdoor pickleball ball?
The main difference between an indoor pickleball ball and an outdoor pickleball ball is the amount of holes they have which will cause them to have a different bounce on the court.
An indoor pickleball will typically have 26 holes while an outdoor pickleball ball will typically have 40 holes.
Paddletek also says: "Climate and court surface affect ball choice, which in turn affects weight, hardness, texture, and durability."
The final question to answer is: What makes a pickleball ball good enough for tournament play?
The best way to tell if a ball is good for tournament play is to check if it is USAPA Approved. That means that the USA Pickleball Association specifically approved that type of ball as good enough for tournament level play.
Typically the balls that are most relied on for tournament play are the balls you'll see come in at the first slot, The Dura Fast 40 Pickleball Balls, but there are some other great options for all different game types as well.
That said, I do think it's fair to mention that the margins on pickleball balls are fairly high, and the price can get a bit crazy depending on how many balls you'd like to have on hand for games and drilling.
With that in mind I like to have specific pickleball balls for drilling completely separate from my open (recreational) play or high level play balls, and I'll break those choices down a bit more below.
The Top Five Pickleball Balls
The Top Five Best Pickleball Balls
Number One: Dura Fast 40 Outdoor Balls
The Best Pickleball Ball for Outdoor Tournaments
Coming in at number one on our list of the best pickleball balls is the Dura Fast 40 Outdoor Balls.
These balls are the go-to balls for tournament play, and the ball that you'll generally see a lot of players relying on for outdoor high level play.
They can get a bit pricey, but if you find them on sale or a good deal live with some stock then I'd definitely recommend grabbing a few handfuls of these to have on hand when you really want to get some good games in.
The Top Five Best Pickleball Balls
Number Two: Onix Pure 2 Indoor Balls
The Best Pickleball Ball for Indoor Tournaments
Price Per 3: $8.99
Price Per 6: $16.99
Price Per 100: $230
Price Per Ball: $3 / $2.80 / $2.30
Purchase on Amazon: Click Here
Next up on the list of the best pickleball balls are the Onix Pure 2 Indoor Balls for indoor tournaments.
You'll generally see more outdoor tournaments than you will indoor tournaments, but these are generally the preferred choice when it comes to heading inside and getting some really good games in.
They also come at a great price once you start buying in sets of 6 or higher, so I'd recommend grabbing a bunch of them if you do think you'll need them.
The Top Five Best Pickleball Balls
Number Three: Franklin Sports X-40
The Best Pickleball Ball for Buying in Bulk and Drilling
Price Per 3: $8.99
Price Per 12: $26.75
Price Per 100: $200
Price Per Ball: $3 / $2.22 / $2
Purchase on Amazon: Click Here
At number three on the list of the best pickleball balls is our best balls for buying in bulk and even for drilling: the Franklin Sports X-40 pickleball balls.
I see a ton of players swear by these balls and even choose them over the Dura Fast 40 outdoor balls for some lower level tournament play so it makes it slightly cheaper to be able to pick up a ton of balls and run a great outdoor tournament.
I personally keep these balls on hand with 12-24 at a time for when I want to get some good outdoor games in with friends at a higher level play than just drilling.
The Top Five Best Pickleball Balls
Number Four: Pro Aviana
The Best Pickleball Ball for Drilling (Budget Bulk Option)
At number four on our list of the best pickleball balls I wanted to share an alternative to the bulk option above with a brand that is a little less known and not really shared that much on other lists (from what I've seen): The Pro Aviana Outdoor Pickleball Balls.
They are USA Pickleball approved and have great prices for bulk buying.
Even their set of a dozen comes in far less expensive than other balls and if you grab 48 of these it drives the price down to nearly half what you'll pay for other brands.
I personally drill with these and keep 50 or so in a hopper to work on my serve, backhand drives and other shots with my fiance, and they have been a great option for us to save some money restocking and drilling outside.
The Top Five Best Pickleball Balls
Number Five: Selkirk SLK Hybrid
The Best Pickleball Ball for Hybrid Pickleball Option
The last one on the list for our best pickleball balls are the Selkirk SLK Hybrid pickleball balls.
I personally don't really purchase hybrid balls as I'm mainly playing outside if I need my own balls (the recreation center I play at that is indoors provides the balls), but I know a lot of people have asked about hybrid options so I wanted to make sure I shared one that I know other people have enjoyed playing with.
I would say the better option is to just go with indoor or outdoor balls, but if you're going to find yourself switching back and forth a lot, then this is a great option to consider.
The Top Ten Pickleball Balls For All Uses
The Top Five Best Pickleball Balls - Runner Ups (Other Great Options, In No Specific Order):
- PCKL Elite 40 - Best New Overall Pick
- Top Ball Outdoor Pickleballs - Great Outdoor Option
- Gamma Sports Photon Pickleballs - Great Rec/Intermediate Play Option
- Onix Pure 2 Outdoor Pickleballs - Great All Weather Balls
- EasyTime Indoor and Outdoor - Great Budget Option
- Jug Pickleball Balls - Good Budget Indoor Rec Play
The above list shows the top five pickleball balls for all different types of play, but I added a runner up section that provides even more really great options.
I've heard from some local players that they love the PCKL Elite 40 balls and some others that only ever go with Top Ball and Jug Pickleball balls because they're able to find great deals for them.
So overall I hope this list can guide you slightly, but you do have a ton to choose from and if you go with any on this list you should be good to get out there and starting hitting.
And I'd love to know: What are your preferred pickleball balls for indoor, outdoor and drilling?
