Can I Use Tennis Balls for My Next Padel Match?
This is a common question since padel is very similar to tennis. If you are new to padel you wouldn’t know which is which because at first glance, they both look the same! Let’s talk about the difference between padel balls and tennis balls.
Padel versus tennis ball: what’s the difference?
In reality, the only difference between tennis and padel balls is the initial internal pressure. Fresh tennis balls have a pressure of 14 psi, whereas new padel balls have a pressure of 11 psi. They’re produced with the same components, in the same proportions, and by the same companies.
Cut from the same fabric but not exactly the same
Tennis and padel balls have a lot in common, as do most other things that are connected in some way.
The ITF sets the rules for tournament-legal tennis balls, whereas the WPT sets the rules for tournament-legal padel balls.
Tennis balls and padel balls are made in the same factory by the prominent racquet sports companies.
That’s because the core and fuzzy outer layer of tennis and padel balls are made of the same materials. Tennis and padel balls utilize the exact amounts of these essential ingredients. Thus their weight is the same.
It is the internal pressure of the balls that differs. Tennis balls have a maximum pressure of 14 psi, whereas padel balls have a maximum pressure of 11 psi. The tennis ball’s diameter increases somewhat as a result of the increased pressure on it.
A fresh tennis ball bounces an inch higher in the official bounce test due to the added pressure. On the other hand, tennis balls and padel balls have the exact minimum bounce height requirement before they are considered flat.
Tennis balls that fail the bounce test due to inadequate pressure may very quickly be labeled as padel balls, particularly those marketed as off-brand by major sports shops, I suspect. I may be wrong about this. It would save the company money by reducing waste.
Size Matters
The diameter of a tennis ball must be in the range of 6.54cm to 6.86cm. A padel ball’s diameter ranges from 6.35cm to 6.77cm.
An expanded tennis ball’s outside diameter corresponds to a more giant tennis ball’s inside diameter when the tennis ball is brand new.
Differences in Body Mass
To play tennis, you’ll need a ball that’s between 56.0 grams and 59.4 grams in weight. A padel ball’s mass must be in the range of 56.0 grams to 59.4 grams.
As you can see, the weight of a padel ball and a tennis ball is the same.
Squeezing it in: disparity in Internal Pressures
When the seal on the canister is broken during tournament play, the ITF mandates that fresh tennis balls have an internal pressure of 14 psi (8.165kg per 2.54 square cm).
Tennis balls, interestingly, have no minimum pressure requirements. The bounce test is the only time this restriction applies. That’s probably to account for things like temperature, air pressure, and even the court’s elevation.
To play padel, the ball’s pressure must be between 10 and 11 pounds per square inch (4.6 Kg and 5.2 Kg per 2.54 square cm).
The Special Padel Ball for High Altitude Use
If you’re playing padel at a greater altitude than 500 meters above sea level, you should use a “high altitude” ball. When it comes to weight and diameter, the high-altitude padel ball is identical to the regular padel ball. When thrown from a height of 254cm, the bounce height of a high-altitude padel ball is restricted from 121.92cm to 135cm.
A high-altitude padel ball was needed for the World Padel Tour event in Mexico City in 2019 because of the city’s elevation of more than 2000 meters. Despite this, many of the athletes found it difficult to adjust to the higher bouncing altitude.
Is It Okay To Play Padel With Tennis Balls?
I’m sure padel purists would scream in horror at the idea. To begin with, tennis balls straight from the container would be much too bouncy to use on a padel court.
Even if your tennis balls are worn out but still have some bounce, utilize them for a casual game if you don’t have any other options. If you’re switching from tennis to padel, it may definitely offer fresh use to an old tennis ball basket. Keeping your sealed tournament-ready padel ball cans safe will allow you to use them more often while playing more competitive padel games.
