In this study, to improve the effect of the surface treatment, the shape design of shot ball is proposed. The fatigue effects of shot peening by the cut wire shot ball and the rounded cut wire shot ball are compared. The rotary bending and tensile fatigue tests are conducted on a spring steel to evaluate fatigue lives. The residual compressive stresses by the rounded cut wire shot ball is higher than by the rounded cut wire shot ball. This consequently increase the fatigue life and the reliability of surface treatment. Thus, to obtain optimum, repeatable and reliable shot peening effect the shape of the shot ball must be round.