Glossary
Outdoor ball
A harder ball with more, smaller holes that resists wind. It bounces faster and can crack in the cold.
Outdoor pickleball balls are molded with more numerous, smaller holes than indoor balls, usually around 40, and are made from a slightly harder plastic. That construction is built to resist wind interference and to hold its flight better on courts exposed to the open air.
Because they are harder, outdoor balls tend to bounce faster and lower than indoor balls, and they can feel noticeably livelier off the paddle. They also tend to be less forgiving in cold weather, where the plastic can become brittle and prone to cracking, so many players swap to a fresh set of balls once temperatures drop.
A common mistake is using an outdoor ball on an indoor gym floor, or the reverse, and blaming a paddle or a lost step in footwork for what is really just the wrong ball for the surface. Outdoor balls also wear down against rough asphalt or concrete courts faster than indoor balls wear against a smooth gym floor.