Padel ball vs tennis ball: they look almost identical, but they are not the same ball. A padel ball is a felt-covered pressurized rubber ball that is slightly smaller and held at a noticeably lower pressure than a tennis ball. The two weigh the same and pass almost the same drop test on paper, yet in play a tennis ball feels livelier and comes off the glass faster.
Below you will find the rulebook numbers side by side, what the differences mean on a padel court, and whether tennis balls are a fair substitute. If you just need balls, the best padel balls guide covers every option.
Need padel balls now? The Wilson Premier Padel Speed ball and the Wilson Padel X3 are both widely available in three-ball tubes. Our full guide compares more options.