How to choose your padel ball?

Choosing the right ball for padel is not easy, especially since the ball also looks like a tennis ball! Are you looking for a ball for beginners or for intensive use? A ball with or without pressure? Follow the guide to select the right ball.

Padel balls

The characteristics of the padel ball :

- Speed and Bounce: The lower the pressure, the slower the ball will be and the less bounce it will have. Conversely, the ball will be livelier if the pressure is high.

- Control: The control during impact with the ball depends on the fiber wrapping the ball; if its natural fiber content is high, then it will provide better control.

- Durability: In contrast to control, the more synthetic the composition of the fiber wrapping the ball, the longer the ball will last over time.

Choosing the right padel balls

The choice of your ball will mainly depend on your level of play. That's why we recommend certain types of balls based on your level of expertise:

For occasional practice

Recommended for beginner players. For occasional play, you should focus on the bounce offered by the ball. Therefore, non-pressurized balls will be most suitable for occasional play. A slow bounce will facilitate exchanges and provide you with good hitting comfort.
For regular practice

Recommended for experienced players. For regular practice, durability is a priority so you can fully enjoy your padel sessions. Therefore, pressurized balls will be perfectly suited to your needs. These balls are livelier with a good bounce.
For intensive practice

Recommended for expert players. For intensive practice, you'll need the ball to have more speed, hence the interest here in choosing a pressurized and hard ball with excellent bounce and one that allows for spin.

For occasional practice and beginner padel players: Non-pressurized padel balls

If you If you're just starting to play padel, you're looking to learn the different types of shots, to be able to sustain a rally without constantly hitting the glass or bouncing the ball off the net.

Naturally, this ball won't work miracles, but it will help and support you a lot, thanks to its quality bounce.These balls are slow; therefore, their bounce will give you a few extra milliseconds, which are essential for learning how to position your body and padel racket for a smash, a drop shot, or any other type of padel shot.

At Decathlon, we have a model of balls suitable for players starting padel. These are sold in packs of 3 and are not presented in a tube but in a cardboard box. This means that these are non-pressurized balls with a flexible core, making them easier to control. a person who is just starting to play padel, you are looking to learn the different types of strokes, to be able to hold a rally without always hitting the glass or having the ball bounce against the net. Logically, this ball will not work miracles, but it will help and support you a lot, which is due to its quality in the rebound.

These balls are slow, so their bounce will allow you to gain a few thousandths of a second which are essential to learn how to position the body and the padel racket for a smash, a drop shot or any other type of padel strokes.

At Decathlon, we have two different balls adapted to the player who is starting with padel. These are sold in packs of 3 and they do not come in a can, but in a cardboard box. That means that they are balls without pressure and that have a flexible core, so it is easier to control them.

It is advisable to bring at least 12 balls to the course to avoid having to pick them up every three strokes, because the repetition of the stroke is what will improve your technique.

For regular practice and experienced padel players: Pressurized padel balls

"It's a ball that offers great control and durability while being fast. It's a very balanced ball, designed for advanced-level players who have been playing for longer, have mastered their shots, and want to progress in the sport.It would be the step between the previous padel balls and the one we'll discuss below for expert players."

For intensive practice and expert padel players: Pressurized SPEED padel balls

This is a ball The Kuikma PB Speed ball is designed for advanced players who want to play a fast-paced game in locations where the temperature is (less) low, at sea level, with higher humidity. Therefore, it is ideal for expert players. offers great control and resistance while being fast. It is a very balanced ball, designed for players with an advanced level, who have been playing for a longer time, have mastered their strokes and want to advance in the sport.

This would be the step in between the previous padel balls and the one we discuss below for expert players.

For intensive practice and expert padel players: Pressurized CONTROL padel balls

The Kuikma PB Control ball is a premium ball, approved by the FIP, which is perfectly suitable for padel players looking for a ball with a good balance between liveliness, control, and durability.Designed for the expert padel player who wants to maintain control of the ball in fast-paced playing conditions (high temperature, altitude).

Apart from the price, the similarity with the previous one is that it is also sold without pressure. It is a ball that maintains the height of the rebound over many games.

How do the playing conditions affect the ball ?

The 3 key factors that affect the behavior of a ball:

Temperature

The lower the temperature, the lower the speed of the ball.
Altitude

The higher the altitude, the higher the ball speed.
Humidity

Humidity makes the ball heavier and therefore slower.

Ready to play?

After this sports advice on which padel balls we recommend for you, we hope to see you soon on the padel court! Don't forget to share your padel picture with #kuikmapadel and you might appear on our wall of fame!