Padel Ball Brands Compared: 7 Balls You Will Meet in Bangkok

Quick take. Every approved padel ball has to pass the same size, weight and bounce test, so the differences between brands are smaller than the marketing suggests. What changes is the feel: some balls are built for control, some for speed. In hot, humid Bangkok, start with a control-first or all-round ball, compare new balls with new balls, and read the full name on the tube before you buy.

Every padel player has an opinion about balls, and most of us have never read what the makers say about them. Padel player and creator @kellykimpadel recently posted a neat guide to seven brands on Instagram, and it got us talking. So here is our own version for Bangkok: the seven balls you are most likely to meet on court here, what each maker says about its ball, and how to choose.

What every padel ball must do

The International Padel Federation (FIP) sets the rules for the ball. A new ball must:

Rule	What the FIP allows
Diameter	6.35 to 6.77 cm
Weight	56.0 to 59.4 g
Bounce	135 to 145 cm, dropped from 2.54 m onto a hard surface
Pressure inside	4.6 to 5.2 kg per 2.54 cm²
Colour	White, yellow or another colour that stands out against the court

Above 1,000 metres a slower, lower-bouncing ball is allowed. Bangkok sits at sea level, so every game here uses the standard ball. Padel balls also look like tennis balls but are not the same: they are a little smaller and softer inside, which is why a tennis ball plays wrong on a padel court.

The seven balls, one by one

What follows is what each maker says about its own ball, not a lab test. Nobody publishes independent speed numbers for every model, so treat words like "fast" and "control" as the maker's aim, not a measured ranking.

HEAD Padel Pro+

HEAD makes two balls that are easy to mix up. The Pro+ has a thinner rubber wall, which HEAD links to better control, and it is aimed at players who care about placing the ball. The Pro S+ is firmer with a higher bounce, for a faster game. Both have a core built to hold its pressure longer and a felt made for padel. HEAD has been the official ball at Premier Padel events such as the Gijón P2.

Wilson Premier Padel

The official ball of the Premier Padel tour comes in two versions. Wilson says the standard Premier Padel ball is made for hot, humid conditions and high altitude, and slows the game down on fast courts. The Premier Padel Speed is for slow courts and cold weather, and plays livelier. Both use Wilson's Dura-Weave felt in a bright colour that is easier to follow. For Bangkok's heat and humidity, the standard ball is the one Wilson designed for.

NOX Pro Titanium

NOX describes the Pro Titanium as a pressurised ball with high elasticity and stable pressure, built to last, for both training and tournaments. "Elasticity" means how the ball squashes and springs back when you hit it; "stable pressure" means it is designed to lose its bounce more slowly.

Bullpadel FIP Next Pro

Bullpadel calls the Next Pro a maximum-speed ball that makes rallies quicker, and says it is the ball used by the FIP. It has a high-density rubber core to help it keep its pressure, natural felt for a softer touch, and Bullpadel lists it for low-altitude play, which suits Bangkok.

adidas Speed RX

adidas sells the Speed RX as a light ball made of high-density rubber, built to last. It lists a weight of 58 g, in the middle of the FIP range. Despite the name, "Speed" is a product name, not a measured result.

Babolat Court Padel

Babolat describes the Court Padel ball as comfortable and durable, approved by the FIP.

Dunlop Pro Padel

Dunlop says the Pro Padel has a core made for padel and a hard-wearing synthetic cloth, with more pace and response than a standard ball. It is FIP approved and aimed at clubs, leagues and competitions, and the tube has a paper lid.

How to choose your next tube in Bangkok

• Learning? Choose time over pace. A control-first or all-round ball gives you a split second more to get ready, so rallies last longer. Save the fastest balls for when your game can use them.
• Think about the heat. Most Bangkok courts are hot and humid all year. Play a set before you judge a new ball, because it can feel different once it has warmed up.
• Compare new with new. A ball loses pressure as it is played, and its felt wears. Old balls of your favourite brand will feel slower than a fresh tube of anything, so only compare fresh balls.
• Read the full name. Pro+ and Pro S+, or Premier Padel and Premier Padel Speed, are different balls in nearly the same tube. Check the exact model before you pay.
• Ask the club. Many clubs sell one or two balls at the front desk, and that is often what your regular group plays with.

Where to buy padel balls in Bangkok

The pro shop at No Drama Padel stocks adidas, Babolat, Bullpadel, HEAD, NOX and Wilson, and most clubs sell balls at the desk. Lazada and Shopee are handy for balls too: check the seller's ratings. For current prices, see our padel ball price guide and where to buy padel gear in Bangkok. Find a court near you on the list of Bangkok courts.

Which ball does your group swear by? Tell us when you join the Bangkok Padel Community on Facebook.

Sources

• A mini guide to 7 padel ball brands (@kellykimpadel on Instagram)
• FIP Rules of Padel (International Padel Federation)
• HEAD Padel Pro+ and Pro S+ (Padel Addict)
• Introducing the new Wilson Premier Padel balls (Wilson)
• NOX Pro Titanium (Padel Nuestro)
• Bullpadel BP FIP Next Pro (Bullpadel)
• Speed RX balls (adidas)
• Babolat Court Padel (Tennis Warehouse Europe)
• Pro Padel (Dunlop)

Ball photos: product images from HEAD, Premier Padel, NOX, Bullpadel, All For Padel, Babolat and Dunlop, as shared in @kellykimpadel's post. Graphics: Bangkok Padel Community.