By Walkers4Seniors Editorial Team · Last updated October 2026
Quick answer: Tennis balls and walker glides do the same job: they let the back legs of a two-wheeled (front-wheeled) walker slide instead of drag. Tennis balls cost almost nothing but wear out, tear and pick up dirt, especially outdoors. Plastic ski glides, such as Drive Medical Walker Ski Glides or Nova Walker Ski Glides, cost about $13 a pair, slide more smoothly and last longer.
Why Do People Put Tennis Balls on Walkers?
A front-wheeled walker has wheels on the front legs and rubber tips on the back legs. Rubber tips grip the floor, so the walker can catch or drag on carpet and has to be lifted a little with each step.
A cut tennis ball over each back tip lets the back legs slide. The IFOPA Ability Toolbox guidebook notes that tennis balls “can be placed on the back legs to improve glide and protect your floors.” Home-care provider Griswold adds that they are cheap and easy to replace.
Walker glides (also called ski glides or walker skis) are a purpose-made version of the same idea: a smooth plastic sled that fits over or into the back legs.
Walker Tennis Balls vs Glides: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Tennis balls | Ski glides | Tennis ball glides (pre-made) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | A few dollars for a can | About $13-$14 a pair (Nova, Pop & Glide, Carex) | Varies; check current price |
| Glide on carpet | Good | Good | Good |
| Outdoors (sidewalk, parking lot) | Wears and tears fast | Made for it (Carex, Pop & Glide list outdoor use) | Replaceable glide pads |
| Installation | Cut an X in each ball with a box cutter | Push or pop on; no cutting | Pre-cut; push on |
| Dirt and wet floors | Felt soaks up dirt and water | Wipe clean | Ball shell still gets dirty |
| Fit | Any leg, if the cut is right | Check tube size: 1″ (Drive) or 1 1/8″ (Nova, Pop & Glide) | Check the listing |
| Looks | Bright yellow, very visible | Low-profile gray, black or white | Ball look, often in colors |
Prices and specs are from retailer and manufacturer listings checked in October 2026 and can change.
See walker ski glides on Amazon
Which Is Better: Tennis Balls or Walker Glides?
Choose tennis balls if the walker is used mostly indoors on carpet, you want to try the idea for almost no money, and someone can replace them when they wear through.
Choose ski glides if the walker goes outside, the tennis balls keep tearing, you have smooth floors you want to protect, or you do not want to cut balls with a knife.
Either way, glides go on the back legs of a two-wheeled walker only. They do not belong on a rollator (which has wheels on all legs), and a walker with no wheels is meant to be lifted, not slid. Ask your physical therapist before adding glides to any walker if you have poor balance.
Walker Glide Options Compared
These are real products sold in the US. We have not tested them ourselves; details come from the maker’s or retailer’s listing, and ratings are what shoppers report on that listing.
Drive Medical Walker Ski Glides
- Maker specs: item 10110; plastic/composite; for 1″ folding walkers; fits on the rear tips; 350 lb weight capacity listed.
- Best for: Drive Medical folding walkers and other walkers with 1″ legs.
- Not for: walkers with 1 1/8″ legs; check your tube size first.
Nova Walker Ski Glides
- Maker specs: model 40027GR; thermoplastic (polyoxymethylene); fits 1 1/8″ tubes; indoor and outdoor; listed as safe for wood floors and latex free; $12.95 at the Mayo Clinic store.
- Best for: people who want a ready-made alternative to tennis balls with a wood-floor-safe base.
- Not for: 1″ walker legs.
Essential Medical Supply Pop & Glide Walker Ski Glides
- Maker specs: heavy-duty plastic ski with a rubber tip that pops on over the tube; fits standard 1 1/8″ lower tubing; indoor and outdoor; $12.95 on Walmart.
- What owners report: 4.5 out of 5 stars from 250 ratings on Walmart; reviewers mention easy installation.
- Not for: 1″ legs or walkers with unusual leg shapes.
Carex Walker Ski Glides
- Maker specs: plastic; push into the walker leg tube; listed to fit most walkers; for grass, cement and carpet; from about $14 on Walmart.
- What owners report: 4.5 out of 5 stars from 157 ratings on Walmart.
- Not for: anyone who cannot confirm the fit; measure first.
Drive Medical Tennis Ball Glides with Replaceable Glide Pads
- Maker specs: item 10121; one pair per box with extra glide pads; “quiet, smooth and durable glide”; 1-year limited warranty.
- Best for: people who like the tennis-ball look but want pads that can be swapped instead of cutting new balls.
- Not for: heavy outdoor use where ski glides last longer.
How Do You Put Tennis Balls on a Walker?
- Hold the ball firmly (a vise or a helper works best). Never cut toward your hand.
- Poke a starting hole with a nail, or carefully with a box cutter.
- Cut an X across the hole. Make it just big enough for the walker leg.
- Push the ball onto the back leg over the rubber tip until it sits firmly.
- Repeat on the other back leg, then check that the walker sits level.
If cutting is hard for you, buy pre-cut walker balls or ski glides instead.
How Often Should You Replace Walker Tennis Balls or Glides?
Replace tennis balls as soon as the felt wears through, they tear, or one side wears faster than the other, which makes the walker pull unevenly. Indoor-only use lasts longer than outdoor use. Check ski glides for cracks, a loose fit or a worn base, and replace them as a pair.
Also check the walker height while you are at it; our walker handle height calculator and how to adjust a walker guide show how.
Who Should NOT Use Tennis Balls or Glides?
- People whose therapist wants them to lift a standard (no-wheel) walker with each step.
- Rollator users: a rollator already has wheels and hand brakes.
- Anyone who leans heavily on the walker and feels it slide away from them. Talk to a physical therapist first.
- Walkers used on wet or icy ground, where any glide can slip.
Not sure your fall risk is low? Try our free fall risk self-check.
Complete Your Walker Setup
Glides are one of the cheapest walker upgrades. Others worth a look: walker trays, walker baskets and bags and our full list of rollator accessories. Still choosing a walker? Start with our best walkers for seniors guide and avoid these walker safety mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do old people put tennis balls on their walkers?
So the back legs of a two-wheeled walker slide over the floor instead of catching. This makes the walker easier to push and helps protect floors.
Do tennis balls go on the front or back of a walker?
On the back legs. The front legs of a two-wheeled walker already have wheels.
What can I use instead of tennis balls on a walker?
Plastic ski glides (walker skis), pre-cut walker balls, or tennis ball glides with replaceable pads. Ski glides usually last longer outdoors.
Are walker glides better than tennis balls?
For outdoor use and smooth floors, usually yes: they slide more evenly, wipe clean and last longer. For light indoor use on carpet, tennis balls work well and cost less.
Can you put tennis balls on a rollator?
No. A rollator has wheels on every leg, so there is nothing to put them on.
What size are walker legs?
Many folding walkers use 1″ or 1 1/8″ leg tubes. Measure the outside of the leg before buying glides.
Sources
- IFOPA Ability Toolbox. Two-Wheeled Walker (tennis balls on back legs).
- Griswold Home Care. How to Put Tennis Balls on a Walker (reasons, drawbacks, installation).
- Drive Medical. Tennis Ball Glides with Replaceable Glide Pads (item 10121).
- DiaMedical USA. Drive Medical Walker Ski Glides (item 10110, 1″ walkers, 350 lb).
- Mayo Clinic Store. Nova Walker Ski Glides (40027GR, 1 1/8″).
- Walmart. Pop & Glide Walker Ski Glides; Carex Walker Ski Glides.