Padel Balls

Yes. A padel ball runs slightly smaller than a tennis ball, 6.35 to 6.77 centimetres against 6.54 to 6.86, and plays at a lower internal pressure, close to 11 psi against roughly 14 for a fresh tennis ball. That difference is what keeps the bounce controlled on a court with glass and mesh walls in play, rather than firing off them the way a full-pressure tennis ball would. Weight is actually the one spec that matches, both sit in the 56 to 59.4 gram range, so size and pressure are what to check if you're not sure which ball you're holding.

No. Padel is played with a pressurized ball similar to a tennis ball, just smaller and softer. Pickleball uses a hollow, perforated plastic ball, closer in feel to a wiffle ball, with no internal pressure to lose over time. The two sports also differ in court size and wall play, but the ball is the fastest way to tell which one you're holding.

A tube of three padel balls typically runs from about $9 to $18 CAD, depending on the tier. Training and recreational tubes sit toward the lower end, while match and tournament grade balls, built with denser rubber cores that resist pressure loss, land at the higher end. Buying by the case brings the per-tube cost down for clubs or anyone going through balls quickly.

A fresh tube holds its pressure for roughly three to five casual sessions before the bounce noticeably drops off. At match intensity the same tube can go flat after a single outing, which is why competitive players open a new tube per match and keep the older balls for warm-ups. Storing spares in a sealed tube between sessions slows the pressure loss, though it won't bring back a ball that's already gone soft.

Padel Nation carries padel balls, including Bullpadel's Premium Pro and NEXT tubes, and ships across Canada. General sporting goods stores stock tennis balls almost everywhere, but padel-specific balls are harder to find outside dedicated padel or racquet sport retailers, since the diameter and pressure specs differ from tennis.