SELECTING THE RIGHT BALL, INDOOR vs OUTDOOR, ORANGE vs WHITE

SELECTING THE RIGHT BALL,  INDOOR Vs OUTDOOR, COLOR  Vs OPAGUE

2018 REVISED USAPA/IFP Pickleball Official Tournament Rulebook, Ball selection is clearly the responsibility of the Tournament Director.  However in non-officiated play, the USAPA has suggested that ball selection be made from the Approved Balls List taking into the  consideration the safety, visual capabilities, styles of play and the skill levels of players.

2018 REVISED USAPA/IFP Pickleball Official Tournament Rulebook, Section 2, COURT and EQUIPMENT Rule 2.D. Ball Figure 2-2 footnote.  Figure 2-2 display a ball customarily used for indoor play, and a ball customarily used for outdoor.

HOWEVER, ALL APPROVED BALLS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR INDOOR OR OUTDOOR PLAY. 

An outdoor court surface on an indoor court indoors does not require the use of an outdoor ball. Nor does an outdoor court require the use of an outdoor ball. 

According to THE OFFICIAL PICKLEBALL HANDBOOK by Mark Friedenberg, "the indoor tournament ball is a light weight plastic sphere with 26 perforated holes, that comes in several different colors,  but tournament colors are white or yellow." 

"Friedengerg," cites that "the outdoor tournament ball is slightly larger in diameter, and has 40 smaller perforated holes of which 16 measure 1/4" in diameter, and 24 holes are 3/16" in diameter. The outdoor tournament ball is white or yellow,

Prem Carnot’s, the Pickleball Guru, cites “HOW TO PLAY THE CONDITIONS: INDOOR AND OUTDOOR.” “The outdoor ball is heavier with harder plastic and smaller holes. These features allow for increased wind resistance, increased durability, and increased bounce. 

In contrast, indoor balls have softer and lighter plastic with larger holes to provide more accurate shots and a better bounce on a surface, not affected by the heat cold of the outdoor enviornment.

Ball color selection is an important consideration that can affect the game play with regard to player visibility.  Players with sight deficiencies often see orange color balls better than milky colored white balls. Ball color should made to maximize player visibility. A Proven color that best stand out on most any court surface are orange.

Based on the "Rule of Reasonable Assumption," one could  make the observation that the heavier and harder outdoor balls, when played indoors, will favor hard hitting back court styles of play, over the softer finesse styles executed at or near the net,  especially when there is no wind factor indoors.. 

Now-a-days, the same synthetic materials are used to cover indoor and outdoor court surfaces. Other considerations are player safety,  and player visibility impairments.  A hard hit, heavier, denser outdoor ball that strikes another player in their upper or lower torso, can cause far more trauma than a softer indoor ball. Overall ball visibility tests have shown the orange colored balls to be much more visibility to the general player population than the milky white balls, or the faded yellow colored balls.    

Considering these findings, choosing an USAPA Approved Indoor Ball as opposed to an outdoor ball, to play indoors, whether the surface is synthetic or hardwood is logical  and reasonable conclusion.