Padel balls vs tennis balls: the official differences

FIP sets the requirements for padel balls. The ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 distinguish type 1 (fast), type 2 (medium) and type 3 (slow) tennis balls, so there is no single tennis specification.

The drop heights are equivalent: FIP uses 2.54 m and ITF uses 254 cm. Their permitted bounce ranges overlap, so the rules do not mean every padel ball rebounds lower than every tennis ball. Racket dimensions are covered separately in the racket size rules guide.

• Diameter: FIP specifies 6.35–6.77 cm for padel; ITF specifies 6.54–6.86 cm for type 1 and type 2 tennis balls, and 7.00–7.30 cm for type 3.
• Weight: FIP and ITF both specify 56.0–59.4 g.
• Padel bounce: FIP requires a new ball to rebound 135–145 cm when dropped onto a hard surface from 2.54 m.
• Tennis bounce: ITF specifies 138–151 cm for type 1 and 135–147 cm for type 2 and type 3, using a 254 cm drop.

FIP specifies padel ball internal pressure as 4.6–5.2 kg per 2.54 square cm. Decathlon says padel balls have significantly lower internal pressure than tennis balls. That is a separate comparison from the official rebound ranges, which overlap.

Pressure is not the whole explanation for bounce. HEAD says the rubber provides a spring effect that weakens with impacts, meaning rebound can deteriorate even when pressure is maintained. Decathlon also distinguishes pressurised balls from non-pressurised, or pressureless, balls whose flexible core provides bounce without relying on internal air pressure.

For play under FIP rules, the ball must meet FIP’s padel requirements. The shared weight range does not make a tennis ball automatically suitable: diameter, rebound and internal pressure also matter. Use the padel balls guide alongside those requirements when choosing.

Decathlon describes non-pressurised padel balls as slower through the air, giving beginners more time to position themselves. It describes pressurised balls as livelier and faster, intended for experienced or expert players. These are Decathlon’s buying descriptions, not separate FIP bounce categories.