Are 48-Hole Pickleball Balls Tournament Legal? (USAP Rules + What to Do)

If you’ve seen 48-hole “pro” pickleballs and wondered whether they’re tournament legal, you’re not alone.

The confusion comes from one simple reality.

“Tournament legal” does not mean the same thing in every event.

Here’s the clean way to think about it.

For USA Pickleball (USAP) sanctioned play, a ball must meet USAP equipment standards, and the standard specifies a ball with 26 to 40 circular holes.

So a 48-hole ball is not eligible for USAP-sanctioned competition under those specs.

For non-sanctioned tournaments, leagues, and many private events, the organiser can set the ball policy.

Some high-profile events have publicly adopted a 48-hole ball as their official ball.

In those cases, a 48-hole ball can be allowed because the event is not following USAP’s sanctioned equipment requirements.

Now let’s make this practical.

USAP’s Equipment Standards Manual defines ball requirements used for approval.

In the “Design” section, USAP states the ball must have a minimum of 26 to a maximum of 40 circular holes.

USAP’s Official Rulebook points you back to that standards manual for ball design approval and also describes general construction expectations (durable molded material, smooth surface, seam ridge allowed if it does not significantly impact flight).

What that means in plain English:

• If the event is USAP sanctioned, it is expected to use a USAP-approved ball that aligns with those standards.
• A 48-hole design cannot meet the “26–40 holes” requirement, so it cannot be approved under that standard as written today.

For a quick breakdown of 26 vs 40 vs 48 hole counts, see Pickleball Ball Hole Count Rules.

Not every tournament is USAP sanctioned.

In practice, you will see at least three buckets of events:

These are the most strict about using approved equipment standards.

If your event is sanctioned, assume a 48-hole ball is not permitted, unless the organiser states otherwise and can reconcile it with the sanctioned equipment policy.

Some organiser-run series set their own ball policy.

A major professional tour has publicly announced a 48-hole ball as its exclusive event ball for its tournaments and events.

If you want to understand why some players prefer 48-hole balls for stability and speed, read What Makes a 48 Holes Pickleball Ball Different.

That is a strong signal that “tournament ball” can be a tour policy, not a USAP approval statement.

Many leagues simply choose “the ball we all use here” for consistency, durability, and availability.

This is where 48-hole balls often show up, especially when players want a faster, more stable outdoor flight.

When you’re deciding whether a 48-hole ball is acceptable, don’t guess.

Ask these questions.

1. Is the event USA Pickleball sanctioned?

• If yes, start from the assumption that the ball must align with USAP equipment standards.

2. Does the event publish a specific ball model?

• Many organisers name the exact model to avoid disputes.

3. Does the organiser require a “USA Pickleball Approved” ball?

• USAP’s standards manual references “USA Pickleball Approved” marking/seal expectations (often on packaging, and in some contexts on the ball or packaging).

4. If it’s not sanctioned, what’s the written ball policy?

• If it’s an organiser-defined event, their rules override informal assumptions.

If you can’t get a clear answer, treat it like this:

• Sanctioned or “USAP-approved only” → choose a compliant 26–40 hole ball.
• Unsanctioned / organiser-defined → follow the organiser’s model choice, even if it’s 48-hole.

If you manage courts, leagues, or a facility shop, your goal is simple.

Avoid player arguments.

Avoid “surprise” at check-in.

Use a policy like one of these:

We use USA Pickleball equipment-standard balls for all league and tournament play.

This stays aligned with the 26–40 hole requirement stated in the USAP standards.

League matches use the published match ball.

Open play allows any ball agreed by both sides.

This stops the endless “is this legal?” debate.

For this event, we use Ball X as the official ball.

Players must use the event ball for all matches.

This is effectively how many organiser-defined tournaments work.

A 48-hole ball is typically purchased for one of these reasons:

• You want a consistent, stable flight in premium outdoor play.
• You want a fast feel and true bounce that matches certain higher-level environments.
• You’re running a private league that prioritises performance consistency over standard approval labels.

If you are building a private-label line, what matters more than internet arguments is this:

• Can you hold diameter tolerance, weight tolerance, and roundness control consistently at scale?
• Can the factory show you hardness, bounce, and compression testing in a repeatable QC process?

That’s exactly why our Pro 48-hole ball page includes a full spec table (74 ± 0.5 mm, 26 ± 0.3 g, Shore D 58, 2-piece injection molded, modified TPE) and production/QC positioning for OEM buyers.

If you want to review specs or request samples, start here: Pro 48 Holes Pickleball Ball (OEM Specs & Quotes).

Under USAP’s current equipment standards, the ball design requirement specifies 26–40 circular holes, so a 48-hole design does not fit that requirement.

Yes, if the event is organiser-defined (not USAP sanctioned) and the tournament rules allow it. Some major events have publicly selected a 48-hole ball as their official ball.

Check the event listing, tournament page, or ask the tournament director directly.

If it’s sanctioned, the event is expected to follow USAP equipment standards.

Ask for tolerance targets (diameter/weight), QC testing (hardness, bounce, compression), defect control (out-of-round, seam consistency), and sample validation before mass production.