What Are Windball Cricket Balls?
Windball cricket balls are rubber practice balls designed for training, indoor cricket, and casual games where a hard leather ball would be impractical or dangerous. Unlike traditional cork-and-leather cricket balls, windballs are made entirely of rubber — they're lighter, safer, and don't require protective gear for batting practice.
These balls are popular in US cricket leagues for practice sessions, junior training, and indoor facilities where space is limited. They're also the go-to ball for tennis ball cricket variants played in parking lots, gyms, and multi-purpose fields across America.
Windball vs Leather Ball: Key Differences
Before diving into specific models, here's what separates a windball from a standard cricket ball:
- Weight: Windballs are 90-120 grams vs 156-163 grams for a leather cricket ball. This lighter weight means reduced impact — safer for net sessions without full protective gear.
- Bounce: Rubber windballs have a truer, more predictable bounce on most surfaces. Leather balls can seam and swing unpredictably.
- Durability: Windballs don't lose their shine or degrade like leather balls. They can last for months of regular practice.
- Safety: Getting hit by a windball at 75 mph stings but rarely causes injury. A leather ball at the same speed can break bones.
- Cost: Windballs are $7-9 each vs $15-30+ for quality leather cricket balls.
Heavy Windball vs Lite Windball: What's the Difference?
Windballs come in two weight classes, and choosing the right one matters more than most players realize.
Heavy Windball (120 grams)
Available models: Sixer Windball I6, Sixer Windball I10, EM Heavy Windball
The 120-gram windball is the standard for serious practice. It provides enough weight to simulate realistic batting conditions — the ball comes off the bat with satisfying feedback, and bowlers can generate meaningful pace and bounce. If you're training for league cricket, this is the ball you want.
Heavy windballs work well on turf wickets, concrete pitches, and indoor surfaces. They hold their line better than lite versions and give batsmen a truer sense of timing.
Lite Windball (90 grams)
Available model: EM Lite Windball
The 90-gram windball is designed for junior players, casual games, and situations where safety is the primary concern. The reduced weight means even less impact — ideal for under-13 training, school PE programs, and backyard cricket with mixed age groups.
The tradeoff: lite windballs float more in the air and don't carry to the boundary as naturally. For adult training, the 120-gram version is almost always the better choice.
Windball Brands Available at TopCricketStore
| Product | Weight | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sixer Windball I6 | 120g | $7.99 | Club practice, net sessions |
| Sixer Windball I10 | 120g | $8.99 | Match-simulation training |
| EM Heavy Windball | 120g | $7.99 | All-round practice |
| EM Lite Windball | 90g | $7.99 | Junior training, casual games |
When to Use Windball vs Leather Ball vs Tennis Ball
Each ball type serves a different purpose in cricket training:
- Windball: Net practice, technical drills, indoor cricket, junior training. Best for volume repetition without injury risk.
- Leather ball: Match play, advanced net sessions with full protective gear, scenario training (new ball swing, reverse swing).
- Tennis ball: Casual street/backyard cricket, tape-ball variants, absolute beginners learning hand-eye coordination.
For most US club cricketers, the ideal setup is: leather balls for matches, windballs for practice, and a few tennis balls for warm-ups.
How Many Windballs Should You Buy?
A common mistake is buying just one or two windballs. Unlike leather balls, windballs don't degrade quickly — but you still need enough for efficient net sessions. Here's the recommendation:
- Individual player: 3-4 windballs. You can bowl 6 balls without constantly retrieving.
- Club/team practice: 12-18 windballs (a full box). Multiple nets can run simultaneously.
- Coaching academy: 24+ windballs. Enough for drill stations, bowling machines, and multi-net sessions.
At $7-9 per ball, stocking up on a dozen windballs costs less than two premium leather match balls — and they'll last an entire season.
Windball Drills for Better Batting
Windballs are perfect for high-repetition technical work. Here are three drills that produce results:
1. Throwdown Volume Drill: Have a partner or coach throw windballs from 18 yards at match pace. Focus purely on foot movement and head position. Do 50-100 balls per session — volume you can't safely achieve with leather balls.
2. Short Ball Reaction Drill: Throw windballs short of a length so they rise toward the chest/shoulder. Practice swaying, ducking, and controlled pull shots without fear of injury.
3. Spin Recognition Drill: Mark half your windballs with a colored dot. Have the bowler show you the marked side before delivery. Call "spin" or "straight" based on the grip — trains your ability to read the bowler's hand early.
Why Buy from TopCricketStore?
We're a real cricket store in Edison, New Jersey — not a drop-shipper. Every product on this page ships from our warehouse, which means real inventory, real availability, and real humans you can call when you have questions. We stock over 2,000 cricket and multi-sport products from 15+ authorized brands including SS, SG, Gray-Nicolls, Kookaburra, Shrey, and Dunlop.
Free shipping on orders over $100. Seven-day returns if something doesn't fit or isn't what you expected. And if you're local to New Jersey, you can pick up your order in person at our Edison warehouse — walk in, see the gear, and walk out ready to play.
Need Help Choosing? Talk to a Real Person
Buying sports equipment online is hard — you can't feel the weight, check the grip, or test the bounce through a screen. That's why we make it easy to talk to a human. Call or WhatsApp us during business hours and we'll answer your specific questions. We've been fitting cricketers, squash players, and table tennis enthusiasts for years — we know the gear because we use the gear.
No upselling. No script-reading. Just honest advice from people who play the same sports you do. If a $30 option does 90% of what the $150 option does for your level, we'll tell you. Our repeat customers come back because we gave them the right recommendation the first time.
Windball Cricket in US Leagues: What's Actually Used
In US recreational cricket leagues, windballs have carved out a specific niche. They're the standard ball for indoor winter leagues (common in the Northeast and Midwest where outdoor cricket is impossible from November through March). They're also the default for softball cricket tournaments — a growing format where the reduced pace and bounce make the game accessible to players of all ages and skill levels.
If you're joining a US cricket league for the first time, ask the league organizer what ball they use before buying equipment. Some leagues use leather balls, some use windballs, and some use hybrid formats. Showing up to your first practice with the wrong ball type is a rite of passage — but one you can avoid with a quick message to the league WhatsApp group.
Windball Cricket: The US Winter Cricket Solution
From November through March, outdoor cricket in the northern US is impossible — frozen ground, snow cover, and temperatures that make holding a bat painful. Windball indoor cricket leagues have become the winter cricket solution in New Jersey, New York, Chicago, and Detroit. Community centers, school gymnasiums, and indoor sports facilities host weekly windball leagues that keep players active through the off-season.
The format is typically 6-a-side, 8-10 overs per innings, played on a basketball court with modified rules (no bouncers, automatic wicket-keeper, maximum 6 runs per ball). The reduced format and softer ball make it accessible to players of all ages — it's common to see 15-year-olds and 50-year-olds on the same court. If you're serious about cricket year-round in the northern US, finding a winter windball league is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use windballs in a bowling machine?
Yes. Most bowling machines (including the JUGS and BOLA models) accept windballs. The lighter weight means the machine needs lower speed settings to achieve realistic delivery speeds. Windballs also cause less wear on machine wheels than leather balls.
Do windballs swing like leather balls?
No. Windballs are smooth rubber and don't have a seam that bites the air the way a leather ball does. They travel straight with minimal deviation. This makes them ideal for technical batting practice where you want predictable deliveries.
Are windballs suitable for hard tennis ball cricket?
Windballs are heavier than hard tennis balls (120g vs ~80g) and bounce differently. If you play in a hard tennis ball league, train with the exact ball type you'll face. Windballs are a complementary training tool, not a direct substitute for tennis ball cricket.
How long do windballs last?
With regular use (3-4 sessions per week), a windball lasts 4-8 weeks. They don't crack or split like leather balls, but the rubber gradually loses its hardness and the bounce becomes less consistent. Replace when the ball feels noticeably softer or the bounce height drops.
Can kids use heavy windballs safely?
For under-11 players, start with the 90-gram Lite Windball. By ages 12-14, most junior players can handle the 120-gram Heavy Windball in controlled net sessions. Always supervise and ensure batsmen wear helmets even with windballs — getting hit in the head by any 120-gram object at speed is dangerous.
What's the difference between Sixer I6 and I10?
The Sixer I6 and I10 are both 120-gram heavy windballs. The I10 ($8.99) uses a slightly denser rubber compound that provides a harder feel off the bat — more similar to a leather ball. The I6 ($7.99) is the standard model. For most training, the difference is marginal.
Ready to upgrade your practice sessions? Browse all cricket balls or grab a set of windballs for your next net session. Free shipping on orders over $100.