Pickleball ball rules: indoor vs outdoor balls and what the rulebook requires
Short answer: The 2026 USA Pickleball rulebook says all approved balls are acceptable for indoor or outdoor play. It notes that the ball with larger holes is customarily used indoors and the one with smaller holes outdoors.
Rule 3.C
- Usage (3.C.1). All approved balls are acceptable for indoor or outdoor play.
- Design (3.C.2). Approved by USA Pickleball as described in the Equipment Standards Manual. The complete approved list is on the USA Pickleball website.
- Colour (3.C.3). One uniform colour except for identification markings. Colours may vary.
- Brand (3.C.4). A manufacturer or supplier name or logo printed or embossed.
- Construction (3.C.5). Durable material, molded, smooth and free of texturing. A slight ridge at the seam is allowed if it does not significantly affect flight.
Damaged balls
Under rule 10.G, when a ball breaks, cracks or goes soft, play continues until the end of the rally. The ball is replaced if all players agree. If all players agree a broken or cracked ball affected the rally, it is replayed.
Sources
Sources checked 14 Oct 2026. Header photo: A single yellow-green perforated pickleball on a wooden surface, by E is for Ian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
