Abstract: In order to further improve the mechanical properties and service life of steel balls, taking GCr15 bearing steel balls as the research object, a finite element model of steel ball cross rolling was established based on Deform-3D finite element analysis software. The microstructure evolution process of the steel ball during cross rolling was analyzed by numerical simulation system. The results show that the surface layer of the cross-rolled steel ball has a high degree of dynamic recrystallization, while the core part is basically not dynamic recrystallized. The average grain size of the surface layer of the cross-rolled steel ball is lower than that of the core, and the grain refinement degree of the surface layer is high. Finally, the steel ball rolling experiment is carried out, and the experimental results are basically consistent with the simulation results,which can verify the reliability of the simulation. The conclusion further improves the microscopic evolution theory of cross-rolled steel balls and provides a reliable theoretical support for the actual production of cross-rolled steel balls.