What is a Pickleball Made Of? Know which one to buy!
If you love playing Pickleball, then you must have wondered at some point what is a Pickleball made of.
Well, Pickleball balls are made of soft plastic, hard plastic, and even foam. In fact, it is made up of different materials based on different scenarios and situations.
When the Pickleball court surface is rough and wind resistance is high, it requires very durable and heavy Pickleball, which can be made of hard plastic.
And when the court surface is soft and wind resistance is low, Pickleball can be made of soft plastic.
Apart from soft and hard plastic, Pickleball can be made of many different materials, such as resins and polymers.
This difference is based on the intended use of the balls.
So if you have time, then check out what are the criteria that a Pickleball must fulfill so that it can be used in indoor and outdoor Pickleball courts.
What is a Pickleball made of?
Indoor Pickleballs:
Indoor courts have less wind resistance, and the court surface can be made of wood or tiles, which creates a high bounce problem.
So the Pickleball should be made of such material that will not be too bouncy, and at the same time, the weight of the ball will be lighter as the wind resistance is low.
And this is why indoor Pickleballs are made of softer plastic. Specifically speaking, indoor Pickleballs are made of LDPE (low-density polyethylene) plastics.
Another reason for using soft plastic for indoor pickleball courts is soft court surfaces, and indoor courts surface is not hard and rough.
How the use of soft plastic affects the Pickleball ball?
Soft plastic pickleball weighs around 0.8 ounces or 22.68 grams. And while playing on an indoor court bounce, soft plastic makes the ball bounce less to give the player more control while he is serving.
Besides, the balls have fewer but bigger holes that also increase the chance of losing control of the shots and give better control and power in each shot.
The lightweight, softness, and less wind resistance make the ball perfect for power shots and also make the ball much more durable compared with outdoor Pickleball.
Outdoor Pickleball:
Outdoor courts have high wind resistance, and the court surface can be made of concrete which is rough and damaging too.
Besides, the outdoor court requires more bouncy balls because the court is not in favor of bouncing the ball.
So the Pickleball should be made of such material that will be bouncy, and at the same time, the weight of the ball will be high enough to overcome wind resistance and, at the same time, will be durable enough to survive rough court surfaces.
And this is why outdoor Pickleball balls are made of harder, more durable, and heavier plastic.
To be specific outdoor Pickleball balls are made of Polypropylene (PP). The use of this plastic makes the ball more rigid and durable to withstand intense pressure on the ball.
How the use of hard plastics affects the Pickleball ball?
The use of hard plastics makes the ball slightly heavier too. These balls weigh around 25.51 grams per ball which makes them slightly heavier.
This slightly extra weight helps the ball come off the paddle faster. Not just that, the weight difference helps the ball to perform better in windy outdoor situations.
The durability and weight make the ball suitable for more intense playing and power shots. The use of hard plastic makes outdoor Pickleball much noisier when you are playing on a concrete or asphalt Pickleball court.
These balls have 40 holes compared with 26 holes in indoor Pickleball, providing better balance.
The mysterious noiseless Pickleball:
Your wooden paddle, concrete outdoor Pickleball court, and Pickleball made of hard plastic can create loud enough noise to annoy you and your player.
But there are some Pickleballs that are noiseless. Pickleball manufacturer Gamma manufactured noiseless Pickleball out of foam.
While these balls provide provides better longevity, you cannot expect better shots from this ball. Pickleball which is made of foam is not allowed in any official Pickleball match or tournament as it violates rules made by USA Pickleball.
However, if you are playing just for fun and do not like too much noise, then this Pickleball can be a good option.
FAQ on What is a Pickleball made of?
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Is there any size difference in Pickleball?
There is indeed a size difference; the diameter of the Pickleball may vary between 2.874 – 2.972 inches according to their type.
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Does outdoor Pickleball have a shorter life?
Yes, outdoor Pickleball has a shorter court life compared with indoor Pickleball. Because of the hard court surface and more pressure on the ball, outdoor balls tend to last shorter compared with indoor Pickleball.
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What color Pickleball is best for indoor play?
The most commonly used Pickleball colors include Yellow, Orange, and White. But out of these threes, Yellow gives the highest contrast against the Pickleball court surface. So the best color for Pickleball is yellow.
Key takeaway:
In a nutshell:
Now that you know which Pickleball ball should be used for which surface, buying a Pickleball will be easy-peasy for you!
And as you know what is a pickleball made of, you can also learn how long does a Pickleball paddle last? Find out!
