Every handball ball specification we have found, current and historical: 85 sourced records from 1873 to 2025, each with its citation. Where a ball is made to a rule, the figures are the rule’s; where rules disagree, both are shown.
Each rule fixes one drop test. The bars show the implied COR range of each test, in four groups by the surface it was run on. Compare bars only inside a group: a steel plate gives a livelier bounce than a floor, so a steel-plate figure is not comparable with a floor figure. A “+N” after a name means N more records give the same test. The table repeats every figure.
Rebound tests, grouped by surface, deadest first. Records that share a test are merged into one row
No handball bounce-at-temperature figures exist in any source we have found. Every handball rule fixes one temperature, and none states humidity. What we have is below.
The racquetball standard fixes its test at 70–74 °F; it gives no rebound at any other temperature. USA Racquetball, Rule 2.2
The only measured pairs of temperature and bounce come from squash, a different ball (40 ± 0.5 mm, 24 ± 1 g), and are shown to illustrate the size of the effect, not as handball data.
The squash standard asks for roughly twice the rebound at 45 °C that it asks for at 23 °C. A handball behaves differently, and only a test of handballs at several temperatures would show how.
History, 1873 to 2023
Every other record, oldest first, grouped by code. A figure is as the source gives it; a quotation is short and in the source’s own words. O’Connell, How to Play Handball (1931): registration and renewal records searched; no renewal found (a research finding, not legal advice).
Four-wall and three-wall (American) (33)
1873New York rules: a ball about two inches across about 2 in “to be played with a ball about two inches in diameter” James 1873–1886, Rule 1
1887Casey v Lawlor 1887: Irish and American balls alternate; Irish ball white and much smaller “It was white as snow and an inch less in diameter” National Police Gazette, 17 December 1887
1887The Sun 1887 15 ft drop to 14 in · COR 0.28 “A bound of fourteen inches from a full of fifteen or twenty feet is about right for elasticity” The Sun 1887-11-27, p. 11
1889The Sun's set rules about 2 in · 1.333 oz “a ball about two inches in diameter and 1⅓ ounces in weight” The Sun 1889, Rule 1
1893Deshong 1893 1.875 in · 1.625 oz “The foundation is laid with a round bit of cork or solid rubber. That is wrapped with a thin strip of rubber, upon the top of which is rolled yarn of the finest…” Deshong 1893, Rule 3 and commentary, pp. 12-18
1902Egan v Drew 1902: regulation 'alley cracker'; each player may use his own make “Drew's was a little lighter and livelier” The Jersey City News 1902-05-23, p. 3
1903A.A.U. 1903 1.875 in · 1.625 oz “The ball to be used shall be a full regulation Spalding ball, and must measure one and seven-eighth inches in diameter and weigh one and five-eighth ounces.” A.A.U. 1903, Rule 3
1903Eagan: learn with a hollow rubber or lawn tennis ball first “instead of a regular playing ball use a hollow rubber, lawn tennis or any other light ball.” Spalding’s Official Handball Guide (1923), p. 45
19031903 rules commentary 1.875 in · 1.625 oz “The Irish regulation handball—known as “Red Ace” when made of red rubber and “Black Ace” when made of black rubber—costs 35 cents each.” Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903), Rule 3 commentary
1903Spalding's Regulation Hand Balls advertisement, 1903 Spalding lists leather-covered regulation match balls and two Irish regulation rubber balls (red and black). Egan, Handball and How to Play It (1903), p. 51
19041904: the Spanish pelota ball heavier and larger than the American handball “The Spanish ball is heavier and larger than the American article” The St. Louis Republic 1904-06-30, p. 5
1914Egan 1913/14 catalogue: hand-wound leather-covered balls; rubber, Red Ace, Black Ace; squash balls 'popular for handball' “The leather covered hand balls we make are wound by hand” Egan, Hand Ball and How to Play It (1914)
1915Y.M.C.A. 1915 four-wall: the Irish Black Ace “The Irish Black Ace shall be the regulation ball.” Y.M.C.A. 1915, Ball
19171917: visiting teams handicapped by a ball of different weight and speed “the ball used here is different in weight and speed from the one to which they have been accustomed” The Detroit Times 1917-02-24, p. 4
1920A.A.U. 1920: standard rubber hand ball “Ball shall be Standard Rubber hand ball.” A.A.U. 1920–1928, Rule 2
19231923: leather-ball courts with slate and marble front walls; twice the speed of the rubber-ball game “the resilience of the ball plus the acquired rebound gives the game twice the speed of the rubber ball contest” Spalding’s Official Handball Guide (1923), p. 51
19231923: the A.A.U. barred the tennis ball from tournaments “since the A.A.U. barred the tennis ball from tournaments, they have adopted the regulation handball” Spalding’s Official Handball Guide (1923), p. 31
1931A.A.U. 1931 standard handball: black, 1 7/8 in, 2.3 oz, 60-65 in from 100 in, compression 160-210 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 2.3 ± 0.5 oz · 100 in drop to 60–65 in · COR 0.77–0.81 · compression 160–210 (Stevens Compression Machine, 18-lb load) “Rebound—From 100-inch drop, 60 to 65 inches.” A.A.U. 1931 rules, as printed in O’Connell, How to Play Handball (1931), Rule 2
1938Oregon 1938: regulation-size ball at one-third the air pressure A softer, low-pressure teaching ball of regulation size. JOPER, April 1938
1962Spalding ACE (Red Label Ace; Black Ace label also reported) “Spalding pressure-packs the Red Label Ace (four individually packaged balls to a can) so they never get flat or stale or out of shape.” USHA Handball magazine, Aug 1971, PDF p. 2
1971Ace ball changes announced 1971-72: lighter, faster, new Goodrich compound, new moulds “We are told this will eliminate splitting.” USHA Handball magazine, June 1972, PDF p. 20
1972USHA 1972 Rule 2.2 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 2.3 ± 0.2 oz · 70 in drop to 42–48 in (68 °F) · COR 0.77–0.83 “Rebound from 70 inch drop - 42 to 48 inches at a temperature of 68 degrees.” USHA Handball magazine, June 1972, PDF p. 34
1990USHA 1990-1995 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 2.3 ± 0.2 oz · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 “Rebound from free fall, 70-inch drop to a hard wood floor is 48 to 52 inches at a temperature of 68 degrees F.” USHA 1990–1999, Rule 2.2.A
1999USHA four-wall 1999 and three-wall 2004: 58-62 g 'with a variation of 2 grams' 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 58–62 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 “The ball shall be 58-62 grams, with a variation of 2 grams.” USHA 1999–2005, Rule 2.2.A.4
2004USHA four-wall 2005-2007 and three-wall 2004 printings 1.625 ± 1/32 in · 61 ± 3 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 “1 and 5/8-inch diameter, with a variation of 1/32-inch, plus or minus.” USHA 2004–2012, Rule 2.2.B.3
undatedWikipedia: ace ball, blackball, big blue, Red Ace (men), White Ace (women) Naming of balls in American usage. Wikipedia, “American handball”
One-wall (small ball) (11)
1890Phillips 1938: 1890s tennis-like ball too slow; a gas ball; then a smaller, livelier ball Phillips traces the soft ball from a slow tennis-type ball to a gas-filled ball to a smaller, livelier ball. JOPER, April 1938
1898Y.M.C.A. single-wall rules: the regular tennis ball “For the majority of Association courts the regular tennis ball is best.” Y.M.C.A. 1898–1910, Ball
1913Y.M.C.A. 1913 single-wall about 1.875 in “The ball known as the "Irish Ace" made of rubber and about 1⅞ inches in diameter is best, for it fits the hand and the players are more accurate with it.” Y.M.C.A. 1913–1915, Ball
1915Brokaw 1915: beginners should use discarded used balls; new balls are fast “Those players learning the game should start with used balls that have been discarded by the more experienced players.” Brokaw, How to Play American Hand Ball (1915), p. 51
1915Brokaw 1915 1.875–2 in · 2–2.25 oz “when inflated with air pressure to thirty pounds per square inch, made of gum and carbon” Brokaw 1915–1922, Rule 52
1922A.A.U. one-wall 1922-1928: standard rubber handball, Spalding No. 101 or similar “Ball to be standard rubber handball, Spalding No. 101, or similar thereto.” A.A.U. 1922–1928, Rule 2
1928Brokaw 1928: a ball wet with sweat makes freak curves “without gloves the ball gets wet from perspiration and performs so many freak curves” Spalding’s Official Handball Guide (1928), p. 86
19721972 lighter, faster ball for cold weather and outdoor play “In order to satisfy the cold weather player and the outdoor market, we are also introducing a lighter, faster ball.” USHA Handball magazine, June 1972, PDF p. 20
2000USHA one-wall 2000-2002: 62 g with a variation of 2 g 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 62 ± 2 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 “62 grams, with a variation of 2 grams.” USHA 2000–2005, Rule 2.2.A.4
2005USHA Red Label ball (2005-2008): 1 7/8 in, 61 g +/- 3 g 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 61 ± 3 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 “Only USHA official balls shall be used in all USHA events” USHA 2005–2008, Rule 2.2.B
2008USHA one-wall 2008 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 61 ± 3 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 “Current Specifications. USHA Red Ace® ball:” USHA 2008, Rule 2.2.B
Irish and international (GAA, IHC) (9)
1893Deshong on the Irish ball: smaller and harder “The harder the ball, the better an Irish expert likes it.” Deshong 1893–1903, Rule 3 commentary
1903GAA 1903: hard ball covered with sheepskin or leather, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 oz 1.5–1.75 oz “The balls to be hard and covered with sheepskin or any suitable kind of leather.” GAA Handball 1903, Rule 5
1923'Carlery' 1923: the old Irish ball, gutta or wooden centre, worsted, thin horse or foal skin “a ball wound on a small gutta or wooden center, rolled with worsted thread to the required size, and covered with thin horse- skin—preferably a foal’s skin” Spalding’s Official Handball Guide (1923), p. 41
1969Secondary: the 1969 international standard replaced the Irish hardball with a soft rubber ball and the 40x20 court An architecture heritage leaflet says the 1969 international standard brought the soft rubber ball and the smaller court. Aughty, Irish handball alley (heritage leaflet)
1971Kendler 1971: the Irish play a Dunlop ball with an enormous bounce; the US ball has less compression “They use a Dunlop ball with an enormous bounce” USHA Handball magazine, Oct 1971, PDF p. 12
2009IHC 2009 60x30 hardball: 1.8-1.95 in, 1.5-1.75 oz, 2.5-3.5 ft from 8 ft to concrete 1.8–1.95 in · 1.5–1.75 oz · 8 ft drop to 2.5–3.5 ft (concrete floor) · COR 0.56–0.66 IHC 2009, Part II B.2
2009IHC 2009 international handball 1.875 ± 0.031 in · 2.3 ± 0.2 oz · 70 in drop to 46–50 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.81–0.85 IHC 2009, Part II B.1
2009IHC 2009 60x30 softball: 2.2-2.25 in, 61-62 g, 67-70 in from 100 in to concrete 2.2–2.25 in · 61–62 g · 100 in drop to 67–70 in (concrete floor) · COR 0.82–0.84 IHC 2009, Part II B.2
2019GAA one-wall 2019 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 61 ± 3 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 GAA Handball 2019, Rule 2.2.A
1971Seamless 558 racquetball (IRA official ball, 1971-72) “Jet black cover for maximum visibility. Lively, more uniform bounce to keep the action fast!” USHA Handball magazine, June 1971, PDF p. 56
undatedJWHA: Big Ball (Big Blue) used on 4-wall courts in Japan; players move on to White Ace and Red Ace Big ball as the beginner's ball, then White Ace, then Red Ace. Japan Wall-Handball Association website
undatedWikipedia One-wall handball: big ball given the 1 7/8 in / 61 g numbers; makers O'Neills, Urball, Challenger, Sky Bounce 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 61 ± 3 g Lists the GAA one-wall numbers under the big ball and names four makers. Wikipedia, “One-wall handball”
Wound ball. A cork centre (an older Irish ball used gutta-percha or wood), rubber rolled over it, then worsted or yarn, under a stitched leather cover: kid, calfskin, horsehide, chamois, pigskin, sheepskin, goatskin or foal skin, by era. How lively it was depended on the amount of rubber or the strength of the winding. The Irish hardball is still made this way, on a lancewood or cork centre. Sources: The New York Herald 1875-12-09, p. 10; Deshong 1893, Rule 3 and commentary, pp. 12-18
Gas ball and low-pressure teaching ball. A gas-inflated hollow rubber ball followed the slow tennis-type ball in New York soft-ball play; an Oregon teaching ball in 1938 held one-third of the regulation ball’s air pressure. Sources: JOPER, April 1938; JOPER, April 1938
Pressure packs and the compound. From 1971 the Ace was sold four to a pressurised can so that it would not go flat. From 1 May 1972 it was to be made of a new rubber compound, developed with Goodrich to stop splitting, in new moulds to stop out-of-round balls; of the balls returned in 1971 the laboratory found 62% defective. Sources: USHA Handball magazine, Aug 1971, PDF p. 2; USHA Handball magazine, June 1972, PDF p. 20
Two moulded halves with a gas-forming charge. A 1917 patent for a golf ball (US 1,240,439) seals a gas-generating pellet inside two hemispheres, and heating makes the pellet pressurise the core. The USHA says its 21 ball is built the same way: a wafer of 1 g, give or take 0.1 g, is sealed between the halves and turns to gas when heated. The wafer is sensitive to temperature, which the USHA blames for uneven pressure. Sources: US patent 1,240,439; USHA president Hogan, “The ball” (14 August 2023)
Two halves sealed in a pressure chamber. The ONE ball (about 2020) is closed inside a chamber that fixes the ambient pressure, which removes the variation between balls. The USHA says early versions bounced too much and a thin coating caused odd bounces in the corners. Sources: USHA president Hogan, “The ball” (14 August 2023)
Compression moulding of hemispheres. A 1988 patent for a baseball substitute (US 4,880,233) moulds each rubber hemisphere from a bolus between moulds, cures it at 145 °C (293 °F) for 5 minutes, cements the halves and presses them together at about 1425 psi, then cures them again for 5 minutes. The USHA describes a similar halves-and-seal process for its balls. Sources: US patent 4,880,233
Hollow elastomeric sphere. The only patent we found that names a handball (US 5,639,085, filed 1995, granted 1997) claims a hollow rubber sphere of about 1.88 in and 50–59 g that rebounds 50–53 in from a 70 in drop, aimed at a lighter, softer ball than the hard, heavy ones before it. Its compound includes barytes for weight and natural rubber. Sources: US patent 5,639,085
Other patents, as background only. US 1,546,483 (1924) describes a core of cork granules bound with rubber cement, a horse-hair layer, cotton yarn and a stitched two-piece leather cover; US 1,919,357 (1931) a soft baseball with a latex-bonded fibre core, wound yarn and a leather cover. Neither is a handball. Sources: US patent 1,546,483; US patent 1,919,357
Fourteen of the records conflict with another. We show both values and decide nothing.
The rebound band of the USHA ball
The 1972 USHA rule gives a lower band than every later USHA rule, and the IHC’s 2009 figure for the same test differs again. We do not know when or why the USHA changed it.
USHA 1990-1995: 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 2.3 ± 0.2 oz · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 USHA 1990–1999, Rule 2.2.A
IHC 2009 international handball: 1.875 ± 0.031 in · 2.3 ± 0.2 oz · 70 in drop to 46–50 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.81–0.85 IHC 2009, Part II B.1
USHA diameter printed as 1 5/8 in
Four-wall rules for 2005–2007 and a three-wall printing of 2004 give 1 5/8 in; every other USHA text gives 1 7/8 in. A misprint is likely, but we cannot prove it.
USHA four-wall 2005-2007 and three-wall 2004 printings: 1.625 ± 1/32 in · 61 ± 3 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 USHA 2004–2012, Rule 2.2.B.3
USHA Red Label ball (2005-2008): 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 61 ± 3 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 USHA 2005–2008, Rule 2.2.B
USHA 2012-2025 four-wall and three-wall (and one-wall 2015, 2017): 1.875 ± 1/32 in (47.6 mm) · 61 ± 3 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 USHA 2012–2025, Rule 2.2.B
The small ball: GAA and USHA
The GAA’s adult four-wall ball is smaller and lighter than the USHA ball, and its rebound is measured to the top of the ball on concrete, not to the bottom on hardwood.
GAA 4-wall adult (men's) ball 2020-2026: 1.8 ± 0.04 in (46 ± 1 mm) · 56 ± 2 g (1.96 ± 0.07 oz) · 70 in drop to 52 in (concrete floor, measured to the top of the ball) · COR 0.86 GAA Handball 2020–2026, Rule 2.2.A
USHA 2012-2025 four-wall and three-wall (and one-wall 2015, 2017): 1.875 ± 1/32 in (47.6 mm) · 61 ± 3 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 USHA 2012–2025, Rule 2.2.B
The softball: IHC 2009 and GAA 2020–2026
The two Irish texts give different weights, and different drops onto different surfaces (concrete, then a steel plate). Their rebound figures are not comparable as printed.
IHC 2009 60x30 softball: 2.2–2.25 in · 61–62 g · 100 in drop to 67–70 in (concrete floor) · COR 0.82–0.84 IHC 2009, Part II B.2
GAA 60x30 adult softball, red: 2.2–2.25 in (55.9–57.1 mm) · 58–60 g (2.05–2.12 oz) · 118 in drop to 106.3–110.2 in (steel) · COR 0.95–0.97 GAA Handball 2020–2026, Rule 2.2.B
The Irish hardball minimum
The GAA gives its minimum diameter as 1.8 in in inches but 47.5 mm in millimetres, which is 1.87 in. The A.A.U. 1931 hardball range is lower again.
GAA 60x30 hardball: 1.8–1.95 in (47.5–49.5 mm) · 42.5–49.6 g (1.5–1.75 oz) · 8 ft drop to 2.5–3.5 ft (concrete floor) · COR 0.56–0.66 GAA Handball 2020–2026, Rule 2.2.C
“Big blue” balls: small-ball numbers or racquetball numbers
The GAA prints its Big Blue Wallball with the small-ball numbers, while the Penn wallball it also names and the racquetball standard are about 2.2 in and about 40 g. The Penn rule prints a 200 in drop, probably a misprint, which would make its COR far lower than the racquetball’s. Wikipedia repeats the small-ball numbers for the big ball.
GAA 'Big Blue Wallball' (2025-): 1.875 ± 1/32 in · 61 ± 3 g · 70 in drop to 48–52 in (hardwood floor, 68 °F) · COR 0.83–0.86 GAA Handball 2025–2026, Rule 2.2.A.i
A heritage leaflet says the 1969 international standard brought the soft rubber ball; a 1923 account already has a rubber ball in play beside the hard ball.
Any handball bounce measured at more than one temperature, and any humidity condition in any handball rule. Look: a direct drop test of current balls at 5, 20 and 35 °C; the USHA’s approval-test protocol.
Hardness for any handball. Look: the makers, or a durometer test of current balls.
Diameter, rebound and internal pressure of the USHA Red Ace, White Ace, 21, ONE and 55 (only weights are published), and the specification of the “white label” and big balls the USHA rule says may weigh less. Look: the USHA.
A USHA ball rule between the A.A.U. 1931 test and the 1972 printing: the lower 1972 rebound band may be older. Look: USHA Handball magazine, 1951–1970 and 1973–1990.
Ball specifications from Handball Australia, Handball Canada, SAHA, WPH, eirball, the CIJB or the USWA. Look: their governing bodies.
Makers’ specifications for Seamless, Penn, Wilson, Ektelon, Rollerball, Dunlop or Slazenger handballs. We found no evidence for several of these makers; that is absence from our searches, not proof they never existed.
Any handball patent between 1860 and 1990. Look: Espacenet, CPC A63B 39/00 and A63B 41/00, and the Seamless Rubber Co. patents.
The Brooklyn Handball Club ball rules of 1892–1896, the Spalding catalogues of 1885–1930 and 1960–1975, McElligott’s The Story of Handball (1984) and Phillips’s Fundamental Handball (1937).
The GAA’s ball-approval protocol behind the steel-plate test, and the maker of each GAA model.
GAA Handball shop: official hardball, handmade, leather cover, each ball varies slightly: A hypothesis: seen only in a search-result snippet of a retailer page that could not be fetched, so it is not shown as a fact.
Game ball 'bigblue': Big Blue (racquetball tuning): The game’s own tuning values, not a documented ball; they are compared with the documented balls in our research notes.
Game ball 'smallball': Smallball (40x20 adult): The game’s own tuning values, not a documented ball; they are compared with the documented balls in our research notes.
Game ball 'softball': Softball (GAA 60x30 red): The game’s own tuning values, not a documented ball; they are compared with the documented balls in our research notes.
Game ball 'hardball': Hardball (GAA 60x30 alley-cracker): The game’s own tuning values, not a documented ball; they are compared with the documented balls in our research notes.
USHA rules text used with permission of the U.S. Handball Association (ushandball.org); credit: U.S. Handball Association. Source: ushandball.org