Bullets padel are they different from tennis balls? At first glance no, but in detail we can see that they may be sisters, each has its own character.

For a person who has never practiced racket sports, the balls of padel and the tennis balls are exactly the same. Same shape, same color, in short, nothing differentiates them at first glance.

But it is when we grab them and start talking on the track or on a tennis court that we realize their differences.

Pressure

This is the first difference that we notice. The tennis ball is much harder than a tennis ball. padel. This pressure difference is due to the desired clearance difference; slower at padel than tennis. A bullet padel at a pressure between 4.6 and 5.2kg for 2.54 cm2 while the tennis ball, for 2.52cm2, supports more than 8kg.

Size

Although very similar, the two balls are not necessarily the same size. The ball of padel may be slightly larger than that of tennis. At padel, the ball will have a diameter between 6.35cm et 6.77cm while in tennis the diameter will be between 6.35cm et 6.67cm.

The weight

It's a bit the same as before. Same minimum weight but the ball padel may be slightly heavier due to slower play. Minimum weight of 56g going up 58.5g for tennis and 59.5g for the padel.

Rebound

With 2cm near the two balls must offer the same rebound when they are released from a height of 2.54m. We are talking about a rebound between 135 and 147cm. This value varies depending on the atmospheric pressure, depending on whether you are playing near the sea or in the mountains.

The color of the balls

On this point the padel is much cooler than tennis. Except in official competition where the balls must be white or yellow, during unofficial tournaments or during your games with friends, you are free to use the balls you want ... as long as they are of padel of course.

The felt

Made of the same material in both sports, the felt of a tennis ball must be much more resistant than that of a tennis ball. padel because the strings of the racket will “file” it much faster. At padel, the balls will be rather “hairy” with a “ruffled” felt which will slow down the travel of the ball as well as its bounce.

 

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.

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