An experimental study on the transition between fretting and reciprocating sliding wear has been carried out using a AISI 52100 steel ball of 60mm diameter rubbed against a flat specimen made from the same steel under 300 N normal load. Wear coefficient, coefficient of friction and wear mark morphology were analyzed and debris observation was made.The results show that in addition to wear coefficient friction coefficient and wear mark morphology also have to some extent changes before and after the transition. A transition probably occurs between 70 μm and 100 μm under the present conditions.