When looking for pickleball balls to buy you want to first check the material its made of.
Firmness: A ball should be firm and resistant to denting. If you can easily press your finger into the ball and create an indentation, then it's likely the ball will be prone to dead spots and not bounce properly.
Holes: Second, you want to make sure the holes in the ball are evenly dispersed and clean cut. The holes are what deliver balance, so if anything is off the chances of the ball wavering or "waffling" in the air are increased. Some balls are cut with more holes than others, and other balls are cut with bigger holes than what you might normally see. These minor details can ultimately dictate how fast a ball plays—more numerous, tighter hole cuts usually result in a fast ball.
Rotational vs. Injection Molded: If you are playing at a competitive level, it's worth checking the molding process of the ball. A rotational molded pickleball is made by the plastic being put into a gyrating process and forming the ball with no seam. These balls are usually faster and and last longer, yet they are more expensive due to the production process. Injection molded involves a process where the ball is formed in two parts and then molded together. An injection molded ball is bouncier and cheaper, yet they are prone to splitting over time as that ball gets more wear and tear.
