Sports around the world use many kinds of balls, each designed for the way the game is played. Some balls are round for kicking, others are oval for carrying, and some are small and light for hitting with bats or rackets. Knowing the different types of sports balls with their names and pictures makes it easier to talk about games, learn new rules, and even shop for equipment.
By learning the names of balls in sports, students, fans, and players can connect better with sports in school, professional matches, or casual play.
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Common Balls Used in Sports Worldwide
Sports use many different balls that vary in size, shape, weight, material, and surface design. Learning common sports ball names helps children and English learners build sports vocabulary and recognize the equipment used in popular games around the world.
Football
A football is a round ball used in association football, also called soccer. Players kick, pass, and control it while trying to score goals.
Basketball
A basketball is a large round ball with a textured surface that helps players grip it. Players dribble, pass, and shoot it through a raised hoop.
Tennis Ball
A tennis ball is a small lightweight ball covered with fuzzy felt. Players hit it across a net with tennis rackets.
Cricket Ball
A cricket ball is a hard round ball covered with leather and stitched around the middle. Bowlers deliver it toward the batter during cricket matches.
Baseball
A baseball is a small hard ball with a leather cover and raised stitching. Players throw, catch, and hit it with a bat.
Volleyball
A volleyball is a lightweight round ball with a soft outer surface. Players hit it over a net using their hands and arms.
Golf Ball
A golf ball is a small hard ball covered with tiny dimples. Golfers strike it with clubs and aim to reach each hole in as few shots as possible.
Rugby Ball
A rugby ball has an oval shape with pointed ends. Players carry, pass, kick, and ground it during rugby matches.
American Football
An American football has an elongated oval shape and pointed ends. Players throw, carry, catch, and kick it during the game.
Table Tennis Ball
A table tennis ball is a very light hollow ball made for fast play on a small table. Players strike it with paddles across a low net.
Handball
A handball is a small round ball that players pass, bounce, and throw by hand. Teams try to score by throwing it into the opposing goal.
Water Polo Ball
A water polo ball is a textured waterproof ball designed for easy gripping in wet conditions. Players pass and throw it while swimming.
Bowling Ball
A bowling ball is a heavy round ball with finger holes. Players roll it down a lane toward a group of pins.
Billiard Ball
Billiard balls are small hard balls used in games such as pool, snooker, and carom billiards. Players strike them with cues on a felt-covered table.
Hockey Ball
A field hockey ball is a hard round ball with a smooth or slightly dimpled surface. Players move it across the field with hockey sticks.
Lacrosse Ball
A lacrosse ball is a small solid rubber ball. Players catch, carry, pass, and shoot it with netted lacrosse sticks.
Squash Ball
A squash ball is a small hollow rubber ball designed to bounce differently according to its type. Players hit it against walls with squash rackets.
Racquetball
A racquetball is a hollow rubber ball used in an indoor court game. Players strike it against the front wall with rackets.
Softball
A softball is larger than a baseball and has a leather or synthetic cover. Players throw, catch, and hit it in softball games.
Netball
A netball is a round ball similar in size to a basketball but designed for netball. Players pass it by hand and shoot it through a raised ring without a backboard.
List of Different Types of Balls in Sports with Names
Sports use many kinds of balls, and each game has its own design and purpose. From basketball to cricket, every ball is made to fit the way the sport is played. Below are the different types of balls in sports with details of each.
Ball Games Played with the Foot (Football Sports Balls)
Sports played with the foot use round or oval balls for kicking, passing, or running. The size, bounce, and material depend on the sport.
- Football Ball – Oval, leather or synthetic, used in American football for throwing and kicking.
- Soccer Ball – Round, stitched in panels, made for passing, dribbling, and goal scoring.
- Rugby Ball – Larger than a football, oval with rounded ends, designed for running and ground passes.
- Australian Rules Football Ball – Oval, rounder ends, created for long-distance kicking.
- Futsal Ball – Smaller than a soccer ball, low bounce, made for indoor court control.
Ball Games Played with the Hand (Hand Sports Balls)
Hand-played sports need balls that are light enough to throw but durable for fast movements.
- Basketball – Large, textured surface for dribbling, passing, and shooting into hoops.
- Volleyball – Lightweight, soft panels, made for spiking and passing over nets.
- Handball – Smaller ball, grippy surface, built for quick passes and fast goals.
- Netball – Similar to basketball but lighter, used in passing and shooting without a backboard.
Bat-and-Ball Sports (Striking Balls)
These sports need hard, dense balls that can handle fast hits and field play.
- Cricket Ball – Hard leather, stitched seam, made for bowling and batting.
- Baseball – White with red stitching, used for pitching, batting, and fielding.
- Softball – Larger and softer than baseball, pitched underhand.
- Rounders Ball – Small, lightweight, played with wooden bats in schools or parks.
- Polo Ball – Hard, smooth, designed for striking with mallets while riding horses.
Racket and Paddle Sports Balls
These games use light balls or ball-like objects for striking with rackets or paddles.
- Tennis Ball – Pressurized, covered in felt, bouncy for outdoor and indoor courts.
- Table Tennis Ball (Ping Pong Ball) – Very small, hollow, fast-moving on tables.
- Squash Ball – Rubber, low bounce, made for indoor wall rallies.
- Racquetball – Bigger and bouncier than squash balls, used indoors.
- Badminton Shuttlecock – Feathered or plastic, not a ball but plays the same role.
Precision and Target Sports Balls
These games need small, heavy, or uniquely designed balls for accuracy and control.
- Golf Ball – Small, dimpled surface, built for long-distance shots.
- Billiard Ball / Pool Ball – Hard, shiny, used with cues on green tables.
- Snooker Ball – Similar to billiards but slightly smaller and used in professional snooker.
- Bowling Ball – Very heavy, with finger holes, rolled to knock down pins.
- Bocce Ball – Solid, smooth, thrown to get close to a target ball.
Water and Beach Sports Balls
These balls float, resist water, and are easy to grip when wet.
- Water Polo Ball – Textured for grip, made to float in pools.
- Beach Ball – Inflatable, colorful, used for fun on sand and beaches.
- Lacrosse Ball – Small, solid rubber ball used with sticks to pass and score.
Winter and Ice Sports Balls
Cold-weather sports use balls or ball-like objects for sliding on ice.
- Ice Hockey Puck – Flat rubber disk, used as a ball-equivalent on ice.
- Broomball Ball – Round, rubbery, made for playing on ice with sticks.
Recreational and Training Balls
These balls are used for casual games, fitness, or practice.
- Dodgeball – Soft and safe, used for throwing games indoors or outdoors.
- Kickball – Larger than soccer balls, played in playgrounds with bases.
- Exercise Ball – Large, inflatable, used for workouts, stretching, and balance.
- Yoga Ball – Similar to exercise ball, helps with posture and stability training.
- Medicine Ball – Heavy, solid, made for strength workouts and athletic drills.
FAQs
There are dozens of sports balls, including round, oval, and specialized ones. Common examples include soccer balls, basketballs, cricket balls, tennis balls, golf balls, and many more designed for specific games.
A soccer ball is larger, lighter, and designed for outdoor play, while a futsal ball is smaller, heavier, and has less bounce, making it better for indoor courts and close control.
Each sport has unique rules and playing conditions, so balls are designed for the right weight, bounce, size, and material to suit the game. For example, tennis balls bounce, cricket balls are hard, and volleyballs are lightweight.
The bowling ball is one of the heaviest, weighing between 6–16 pounds (2.7–7.3 kg), depending on the player’s choice. Medicine balls used in training can be even heavier.
In ice hockey, the puck is not a ball but is often grouped as a “ball-equivalent” because it serves the same function—being struck, passed, and scored with during the game.
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