In official competitions of paddle, only balls approved by the International Federation of Padel (FIP) are allowed. The regulations provide for two types of balls with specific characteristics: the standard ball and the high altitude ball. These balls must meet strict criteria in terms of weight, diameter and bounce, thus ensuring a fair and high-quality game for players. In this article, we present the essential technical specifications to know.
Balls approved for padel competitions
According to Rules of the Game Padel, balls used in official competitions must meet precise performance standards. ball shall be a rubber sphere with a uniform, colored outer surface blanche ou yellow.
Technical characteristics of the balls:
- Mass (weight) : 56,0 to 59,4 grams
- Size (Diameter): 6,35 to 6,77 cm
- Rebound : 135 to 145 cm (type 1), 121,92 to 135 cm (type 2)
- Internal pressure : Between 4,6 kg and 5,2 kg per 2,54 cm²
- Front deformation : 0,56 to 0,74 cm
- Back warp : 0,80 to 1,08 cm
- Colour : White or yellow
In competitions held at altitudes above 800 m, another type of ball is used, with a bounce between 121,92 cm and 135 cm.
Technical specifications of padel balls
There are two types of balls depending on the playing conditions:
- Standard ball (type 1)
- High altitude ball (type 2)
Pressureless balls should be acclimated for at least 60 days before use, especially for high altitude tournaments.
Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.