What distinguishes padel balls from tennis balls?

Tennis and padel balls are made using similar materials and manufacturing processes, but they differ in their construction and design.

Let’s examine the variations between padel and tennis balls. Even if they are similar in certain ways, they differ in other ways as well.

Internal Force:

Tennis Balls: The standard internal pressure of new tennis balls is 14 psi, or pounds per square inch.
Padel Balls: Conversely, brand-new padel balls have an 11 psi internal pressure.
Manufacturers use the same ingredients in the same proportions to create both kinds of balls.

Difference in Diameter:

Tennis Balls: The diameter of a tennis ball must fall between 6.54 and 6.86 centimeters.
Padel Balls: The diameter of a pdal ball should be between 6.35 and 6.77 cm.
A tennis ball’s increased diameter results from its initial higher pressure.

Weight:

Padel balls and tennis balls ought to weigh between 56.0 and 59.4 grams. There is no distinction in weight between the two.

Components and Production:

The core and fuzzy outer layer of tennis and padel balls are constructed of the same basic materials.
The manufacturers that create both kinds of balls are frequently used by major racquet sports brands.
The World Padel Tour (WPT) sets rules for padel balls, whereas the International Tennis Federation (ITF) sets rules for tennis balls used in tournaments.

Jumping Action:

In the official bounce test, a new tennis ball bounces approximately one inch higher than a padel ball because of the increased pressure.
Padel balls and tennis balls, however, have the same minimum bounce height requirement before being labeled as flat.

Recognizing the Distinctiveness:

Padel and tennis balls are extremely similar in appearance, therefore it requires a skilled eye to tell them apart.
When tennis balls don’t pass the bounce test, they can be rebranded as padel balls. This is especially likely to happen to balls that big-box merchants sell off-brand.

In conclusion, although having similar construction and material qualities, padel and tennis balls differ in terms of internal pressure, diameter, and bounce behavior. The ball you’re playing with may be more than what first meets the eye, so pay attention to it the next time you’re on the court!