Deep Groove ball bearings are the most popular of all the ball bearing types because they are available in a wide variety of seal, shield and snap-ring arrangements.The bearing ring grooves are circular arcs made slightly larger than the radius of the ball.

The balls make point contact with the raceways (elliptical contact when loaded). The inner ring shoulders are of equal height (as the outer ring shoulders). Deep Groove ball bearings can sustain radial, axial, or composite loads and because of simple design, this bearing type can be produced to provide both high-running accuracy and high-speed operation. Standard ball retainers (cages) are made from pressed steel. Machined cages are used in bearing operation at very high speed or for large diameter bearings.