Quick Answer: HEAD sells two current padel match balls: the Padel Pro S+, a firmer and faster ball with what HEAD says is a 15% thicker natural rubber core, and the Padel Pro+, a thinner-walled control ball. Both cost $7.49 per can at PadelUSA (October 29, 2026). Buy the Pro S+ for sea-level, cold or indoor play, and the Pro+ for hot outdoor courts and high-altitude cities such as Denver, which is exactly how HEAD itself splits them.
Most padel players in the US meet HEAD balls before they ever think about which ball theyâre using. The Pro S+ is the default can at a lot of clubs, and itâs the top pick in our best padel balls guide. What most buyers donât realize is that HEAD sells two different flagship cans that look almost the same on a shelf, and that theyâre built for opposite conditions. This guide covers HEADâs real 2026 ball lineup, the actual difference between the Pro+ and the Pro S+, current US prices, and the retailer mix-up that can put the wrong ball in your cart.
By the numbers
- 15% thicker core: HEADâs product page says the Pro S+ uses a 15% thicker natural rubber core for pressure retention and longer-lasting, faster play. The Pro+ uses a thinner synthetic rubber core aimed at control.
- $7.49 per can, either model: PadelUSA lists the Pro+ and Pro S+ at the same prices on October 29, 2026: $7.49 for one can, $19.00 for three cans and $164.95 for a box of 24.
- 135 to 145 cm: the International Padel Federation (FIP) requires a standard padel ball to rebound 135 to 145 cm when dropped from 2.54 m, weigh 56.0 to 59.4 g, and measure 6.35 to 6.77 cm across. Its separate high-altitude ball type rebounds 121.92 to 135 cm.
- October 29, 2024: HEAD launched the Pro+ and Pro S+ as updates to the Pro and Pro S, with the stated goal of better durability through pressure retention (Padel Alto launch report).
- At least 5 Premier Padel events, not the whole tour: HEAD was the official ball at Gijon P2, Santiago P1 and Bordeaux P2 in 2025, then Gijon P2 and the Valencia P1 in 2026. Wilson holds the tour-wide official-ball license.
HEAD padel balls at a glance
| Ball | Role | Core (per HEAD) | HEAD's recommended conditions | US price (PadelUSA, Oct 29) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAD Padel Pro S+ | Speed / tournament | 15% thicker natural rubber; firmer, higher bounce | Colder locations, sea level | $7.49/can |
| HEAD Padel Pro+ | Control | Thinner wall, synthetic rubber | Warmer locations, higher altitude | $7.49/can |
| HEAD Padel Team | Club and training | Pressurized; no detailed spec published by HEAD that we found | Not stated | Not listed at PadelUSA |
| HEAD Padel Pro / Pro S (old) | Predecessors | Replaced in October 2024 | n/a | Leftover marketplace stock only |
1. HEAD Padel Pro S+: the best HEAD ball for most US players
HEAD Padel Pro S+
- Firmer, higher-bouncing ball: HEAD built it for faster rallies and quicker overheads.
- 15% thicker natural rubber core, which HEAD says holds pressure longer.
- HEAD's pick for cold courts and sea level, which covers most US coastal clubs and winter play.
- The women's match ball at HEAD's exclusive Valencia P1 in June 2026.
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The Pro S+ is the can most US players should default to. Most American padel courts are near sea level, a lot of the newer clubs are indoors, and outdoor courts in the Northeast and Midwest get cold from October on. Those are the conditions HEAD designed this ball for. A cold ball loses pressure and plays flat, so a firmer, livelier ball keeps the bounce inside a normal range for longer.
It is a fast ball. If your group is still learning to defend off the back glass, the extra pace can make lobs land long and smashes harder to retrieve. Thatâs not a reason to avoid it, but itâs worth knowing why your rallies feel quicker than they did with a softer club ball.
2. HEAD Padel Pro+: the control pick for heat and altitude
HEAD Padel Pro+
- Thinner wall makes the ball easier to control, according to HEAD.
- HEAD's recommendation for warmer locations and higher altitudes.
- Official ball of the Spanish Padel Federation, per HEAD's launch material.
- The men's match ball at HEAD's exclusive Valencia P1 in June 2026.
Heat and thin air both make a padel ball fly faster and bounce higher. Thatâs why HEAD points players in hot or high places to the Pro+ rather than the Pro S+. A ball thatâs already firm and fast becomes hard to keep in the court in a Phoenix summer or at Denverâs elevation. The Pro+ gives back some of that control.
The FIP actually recognizes this problem in its rules. It allows a separate high-altitude ball, with a lower 121.92 to 135 cm rebound, for courts above 1,219 m (about 4,000 ft). Denver sits at about 5,280 ft and Salt Lake City at about 4,200 ft, so both are above that line. We didnât find a dedicated HEAD high-altitude model in the 2026 lineup, so the Pro+ is the closest HEAD answer for mountain-state clubs. It isnât a certified high-altitude ball.
3. HEAD Padel Team: the club ball you probably wonât find in the US
HEAD also makes the Padel Team, a pressurized ball sold in 3-ball cans and bulk boxes and marketed at club and training players. Retailers in Europe and India stock it, but we couldnât find it at PadelUSA, the US padel specialist we priced this guide against, in October 2026, and HEAD hasnât published a detailed spec for it that we could find. If your club already orders it in bulk, itâs a reasonable practice ball. For match play, the Pro S+ or Pro+ is the safer buy, and itâs what youâll actually find on US shelves.
The listing mix-up: check the name on the can
Hereâs the trap we found while checking prices. PadelUSAâs product page for the Pro+ uses the same description as its Pro S+ page, word for word. Both say the ball is âengineered for faster ralliesâ with âsuperior hardness and rebound.â That matches HEADâs description of the Pro S+, but itâs the opposite of how HEAD describes the Pro+, which is the thinner-walled control ball.
That doesnât make either ball a bad buy. It just means a retailerâs bullet points arenât a reliable way to tell the two apart. Go by the name printed on the can in the listing photos: Pro S+ for speed, Pro+ for control. The same goes for marketplace listings that still say âProâ or âPro Sâ with no plus sign. Those are the pre-October-2024 balls, and HEAD has since changed the core formula and felt.
What HEAD balls cost in 2026 (and how they compare)
| Ball (PadelUSA, Oct 29, 2026) | 1 can | 3 cans | 24 cans | Best per-can price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAD Padel Pro S+ | $7.49 | $19.00 | $164.95 | $6.33 (3-pack) |
| HEAD Padel Pro+ | $7.49 | $19.00 | $164.95 | $6.33 (3-pack) |
| Wilson Premier Padel | $7.00 | $21.00 | $168.00 | $7.00 |
| Wilson Premier Padel Speed | $8.00 (sold out) | $24.00 (sold out) | $192.00 (sold out) | $8.00 |
| Babolat Court X3 | $7.50 | $19.00 | $165.00 | $6.33 (3-pack) |
Two things stand out. First, HEADâs 3-can pack ($19.00, about $6.33 a can) was cheaper per can than HEADâs 24-can box ($164.95, about $6.87 a can) on the day we checked. Buying the box saves you reorders, not money, so only buy it if youâll open all 24 cans while theyâre fresh. Second, HEAD and Wilson are close on price. The real choice between them is which ball your club and league already use, because switching balls between practice and matches changes your timing.
Pro S+ or Pro+? Pick by where you play
| Where and when you play | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor club near sea level (most US metro clubs) | Pro S+ | HEAD's sea-level recommendation; keeps a lively bounce |
| Outdoor courts in fall and winter (Northeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest) | Pro S+ | Cold drops ball pressure; the firmer core compensates |
| Outdoor summer play in hot climates (Arizona, Texas, Florida) | Pro+ | HEAD's warm-location pick; tamer in heat |
| High-altitude clubs (Denver, Salt Lake City) | Pro+ | HEAD's altitude pick; not an FIP-certified high-altitude ball |
| Beginners still learning the back glass | Pro+ | Built around control rather than pace |
| Your club or league already uses one | The same ball | Practicing with your match ball matters more than the spec sheet |
The climate rows apply HEADâs own warm/cold and altitude guidance to US regions. They arenât results from a HEAD test, and an indoor court in Phoenix plays nothing like an outdoor one in July. Go by the temperature on court, not the city.
How to get more sessions out of a can
- Open cans close to match time. A pressurized ball starts losing pressure once the seal breaks, whether you play or not. HEADâs new cores are designed to hold pressure longer, but HEAD hasnât published a session count, so treat any âlasts X matchesâ claim as a guess.
- Store cans indoors. Garage and car-trunk temperature swings are hard on balls. Our complete padel equipment guide covers what else belongs in your bag.
- Retire match balls to drills. Once a can goes soft, itâs still fine for feeding drills or a ball machine. See our padel ball machine guide for how machine-fed balls wear.
- Match the ball to the racket. A powerful, head-heavy racket and a fast Pro S+ add up to a very quick game. If youâre playing one of the frames in our best HEAD padel racket guide, the control-first Pro+ can balance out a power racket on hot days.
The bottom line
For most US players, the HEAD Padel Pro S+ is the right HEAD ball: itâs built for the cold, sea-level and indoor conditions most American clubs play in, and itâs the same $7.49 as the Pro+. Switch to the HEAD Padel Pro+ for hot outdoor summers, high-altitude courts, or a group that wants more control. Whichever you pick, buy the 3-can pack rather than single cans, check the plus sign and the model name on the listing photo, and compare it with the Wilson and Dunlop options in our best padel balls ranking if your club isnât tied to HEAD.