How Many Holes Does a Pickleball Have and Why It Matters

A standard pickleball has either 26 or 40 holes, depending on whether it is built for outdoor or indoor play. Outdoor balls use 40 smaller holes, while indoor balls use 26 larger ones.

That hole count is not a random design choice. It changes how the ball flies, how much wind pushes it around, and how it feels off your paddle.

Outdoor balls: 40 holes

Outdoor pickleballs have 40 smaller, tightly spaced holes and a harder, heavier plastic shell. The extra holes and stiffer material help the ball cut through wind and hold a truer flight path outside.

The trade-off is a harder feel and a livelier bounce. Outdoor balls also crack more often in cold weather because the plastic is less forgiving.

Indoor balls: 26 holes

Indoor pickleballs have 26 larger holes and a softer, lighter plastic. With no wind to fight, the bigger holes and softer shell give a slower, more controllable ball that grips the paddle a little longer.

Players who love dinks and touch shots often prefer the indoor feel. It rewards placement over raw pace.

The full breakdown of construction and feel lives in our guide to pickleball balls, indoor vs outdoor.

Why the hole count matters for you

Using the wrong ball for the setting is one of the most common beginner mistakes. An indoor ball outside gets shoved around by the lightest breeze, and an outdoor ball inside can feel unpleasantly hard and fast.

If you play both settings, keep a few of each in your bag. The performance gap is covered in detail in indoor vs outdoor pickleball balls.

When you are ready to stock up, our tested picks for the best pickleball balls sort the durable ones from the ones that crack early.

Count the holes before you buy, and match the ball to where you actually play.