Head-to-Head: A Data-Driven Comparison of Outdoor Pickleball Balls

[@luke9822]

I appreciate that someone is trying to take measurements and collect objective data. It seems to me that these numbers are mostly within the margin of error given the sample size of hits and fairly small differences in measurements. That would mean that no conclusions could be drawn from these numbers, especially given the number of confounding variables such as the order you were hitting them in, arm fatigue, the accuracy and precision of your measurement instruments (not to be confused with the resolution), etc.

[@PKB-AG]

That's my kind of video - stats, rankings, trying to be consistent and objective - so good. I do like how you kept your selection of models small - and your disclosure on balls being new and not scuffed - spot on. Love the rankings too and your extra information about temperature as a variable.

[@chesterfrantz6209]

Selkirk durability is by far best. 50 hrs still round no crack in cold. Would = 25 franklins cracked. Incredible value per hr. My fav.

[@zeruth467]

FINALLY someone who does stats on the balls

[@DavidVeletsky]

The hero we need, not the one we deserve! You’re awesome Braydon!

[@pickleballeffect]

Haha thank you!

[@M0stlyHarmless9]

Every time I’ve played with the Selkirk it’s felt much faster to me despite barely ranking above the Franklin here. Interesting

[@Black_Raven_Outdoors]

Same for me

[@mediumdun18]

Add me as well. Thought the Selkirk was blazing fast.....conditions were chilly so that may have played a role but....

[@pickleballeffect]

If you're comparing it directly with the Franklin it is still quite a bit faster though I was surprised to see it in those bottom spots as well. It was consistently towards the bottom in all the power related categories which makes me feel confident in the results ha. The Selkirk does have a heavier/firmer feel to it at impact and I wonder if that makes it seem faster than it really is maybe. It also makes sense to me that it would be on the slower side since slower balls typically have better durability and Selkirk has their 1-year no-crack warranty.

[@pickleballeffect]

Temps play a big role in how a ball plays for sure. I wouldn't be surprised to see these numbers and potentially rankings change in higher and colder temps since each probably reacts a little differently.

[@ThiccBoi23]

" the easiest person to fool, is ourselves"

[@GingerBear88]

Great video. I’m watching because most people here are super picky about ball selection. It doesn’t matter that much to me. I own the orange x-40 balls and many won’t play with them and want the x-40 in yellow because they “feel different” 😂 I like that your video was concise and showed your method. Nice job! It would be cool to see highly accurate controlled data to put this all to bed, including the quiet 3d printed 30 dollar DigiPro ball.

[@PickleballPursuit]

Geeking out HARD! Great video dude! Its nice to know this is such a small variance between the balls performance contrary to what most would think. Seems like the feel of the ball has a much larger impact on perceived performance than anything. But that dura is crazy fast

[@leeandruby]

I appreciate the work that went into this. Would you be able to produce a separate video on deformity issues and cracking? There have been many stories about some of the balls going out of round etc. These are issues that affect me more than a slight variance in pop and power.

[@luke9822]

This is exactly what I see as the determining factor between balls. There are a lot of S1 fans at my club but I find the balls kind of frustrating in that they are often played well past their useful life and are fairly dead or warped.

[@isaacinbusiness]

Real review worth watching.

[@kimleith1378]

Thanks Braydon. Would like to see these test done on other options like OSO, Vega40, GB, Diadem etc.I've noticed that a few of the off brand balls have hundreds of tiny tiny bubbles in them. Those bubbles eventually turn to small "pits" that hold on to dirt.

[@nak122297]

Thank you for your analysis.

[@pickleballeffect]

I’m glad you found it helpful.

[@PickleballMedicine]

Very interesting... great work!

[@mlee9049]

I like the Onix outdoor ball. I get crazy spin, and they are durable. Also, they move less under windy conditions. I don't know why more people don't like this ball.

[@PickleballJoy]

Thanks, Braydon. Your comparison reinforces our choice of the Franklin, as we're at 7,400 ft. on our home court. (Thinner air, etc.) Congratulations on taking the plunge to full time!

[@pickleballeffect]

Yeah, that makes sense. It's my go to as well in anything but crazy hot weather. And thank you, I hope it works out ha.

[@georgetruesdale2861]

When the Vulcan balls first came out I did a drop test against x40 and noticed they bounced around the same height on the first bounce......but strangely on the second bounce (if I dropped them and kept watching the balls until they stopped bouncing) the Vulcan balls would bounce higher. The Vulcan balls also seemed to allow hand battles to last longer. We just thought the less force put into them, the more pop they had. The more power you put into them.....the more it absorbed. Out of round was the biggest issue we found.....made for some very weird bounces. Great video!

[@pickleballeffect]

Those are cool observations, I'll pay closer attention to that the next time I play.

[@nblumenfield]

I play in Florida so cold weather is not an issue. That should reduce the cracking issue, wondering about the out of round issues. Will hot weather affect that at all? And will speed be more equalized in hot weather or will the Dura be even faster relative to the Franklin, which is used almost universally here? I prefer faster balls so may start bringing Duras.

[@pickleballeffect]

Hot weather does not equalize balls from my experience. The Dura would be the way to go for speed in the heat. I do think there is some merit to balls holding their shape better and giving more predictable bounces in hotter weather too.

[@Vista114]

I did not expect the results that came out from your test but from my experience, Selkirk by far is the most durable therefore the most affordable (long lasting) and average in the other criterias.

[@brsmulyan]

Appreciate the comparison...very thorough. Wish Komodo's K-40 had been part of the test group...I really like them, but only know how they compare to Franklin X-40

[@DJAlphaBoT]

Much appreciated! These are some very useful metrics i'm loading into a personal spreadsheet. i applaud you on your diligence, consistency, and for coming across a stalker 2 damn what a find!!! Also, Sir, I have a set of 2 novel paddles I was wondering if I could gift to you in exchange for your off-channel feedback. I just need an address to send them too privately. Thanks man!

[@patricksnyder3446]

Of all the balls we have tried for REC play the GEAR BOX is by far the best!!Better than all of those easy!

[@joem6010]

Great comparison video. I've tested a lot of other balls, but from your list, just the Selkirk, Dura, and Franklin so far. One of my tests was also to compare ball weights and their consistency across a batch of balls. I was very surprised by how poorly the Duras were in this regard. They had way more variance in ball weight than anything else I tested. Franklin was better, but still not great. A lot of the other competitors did much better. Core, PCKL, Takeya, and the Vega40 and Voler balls all were way more consistent in weight. Unfortunately, one of the best balls that I tested looks like it won't be around unless someone else picks it up. Takeya made one of the best all around balls, but they decided to discontinue all pickleball gear (paddles, balls, etc). But you should consider Core as another ball worthy of inclusion in a next test. I feel like they remain round longer than the Selkirk balls and they also have that firmer crisp feel when serving or driving.

[@pickleballeffect]

Wow, you have tested a lot of balls. I haven't touched a lot of those and never even considered that the weights may vary within a batch of the same balls. This is really interesting info, thanks for sharing that.

[@joem6010]

@pickleballeffect Did your hardness tests include testing of a batch of each ball? Because I definitely found some variance between balls of the same brand. But this was just done by hand without any true measurement. Weights were done on a digital gram scale down to 0.01 gram of accuracy. Duras were the absolute worst in terms of the range of variance from underweight to overweight.. Franklin was better, but not good. Many of the others were more consistent by a good measure. And some different brands that appear to be made from the same factory had different variance results which might just be a matter of a brand specifying a tighter acceptable range and another paying less to accept a wider variance between balls. That's my theory anyways.

[@breather7070]

​@@joem6010made a great point. If a ball manufacturer cannot deliver a consistent approved weight then we should everything about their product to be unpredictable.

[@breather7070]

*expect

[@arianreyes7444]

Hi, do you have an idea how good or bad the "Premier Power Pickleball" sold by Diadem is? Thanks

[@pickleballeffect]

I’ve played with it before and didn’t have any issues with it and thought it played well though I’m not super familiar with it.

[@86309]

love it!

[@phyllismoney6997]

I am curious to know if there are any opinions on which ball is best for a pickleball machine. It seems to me the Franklin gunks up the flywheels and the Dura goes out of round so it affects the feeds. I just tried the Oso and they scuff quickly

[@pickleballeffect]

I don’t know the answer to that question, sorry. Hopefully someone else sees this and can answer it for you.

[@AllDriveNoDropPickleball]

Ohh man wish you did the Crown ball with the rumors it could be the same ball as the Vulcan.

[@markattwood6245]

Nice comparison of the most common balls in use today but rather a pity that you didn’t test the Engage ball which is a good in both the summer and winter.

[@pickleballeffect]

Yeah, I may have to do a part 2 of this test of some other balls. Someone else already requested to test the OSO ball as well.

[@activerobert]

I wish you would have mentioned the PX40 by PX Sporting. It's such an underrated ball, and our club truly believes it's the best for competitive players. It definitely has more pop than traditional balls, and the visibility is outstanding. I heard they use nearly triple the amount of neon concentrate in their manufacturing process, which gives it that highly reflective look. Definitely worth checking out!

[@DinkingDavid4.0]

Such an underrated ball! I was personally the one who brought it to my community court and now so many people here are using it. They used to be only in stores but they recently went up on Amazon and sold out fast. I am not sure if they have restocked yet but when they do I hope I can get my hands on the 50-pack

[@activerobert]

@@DinkingDavid4.0 Whenever I play at a new court and bring the px40 people are skeptical at first but by the end they want to get their hands on them. That was when i realized how hard they are to find right now. My local shop is out of stock right now but i just checked Amazon and they have a few in stock.

[@activerobert]

@@DinkingDavid4.0 I think their main goal is to make a better durafast ball. It plays with the same speed but I have had no durability issues so far. Currently overall the best ball in my opinion right now. They just need a pro player to start publicly endorsing it so more people can get eyes on it.

[@SDmountainbiker]

Awesome overview! Think you performed a great scientific analysis all things considered. I am new to Pickleball and have played with the Dura, Franklin and Selkirk. I actually prefer the Frankin and use them with my ball machine and ball caddie for on court repetitive drills. Perhaps I will migrate to a faster ball as I get better. Like the value and durability of the Frankin. Curious as to hard difficult it would be to casual play/practice with the Frankin and use thr Dura for matches?

[@pickleballeffect]

Yeah, I'm still a fan of the Franklins too, unless it's really hot outside, then I don't like them cuz they get too soft. When you're playing outdoors in the summer, you can tell a bigger difference between the Franklin and Dura but it only takes a game or so to adjust.

[@peteherrera1502]

what about the wilson tru32 outdoor ball?

[@visualvirtue9640]

At a recent outdoor tourney in 30/40 degrees not one Joola ball was known to crack.

[@pickleballeffect]

That's good to hear. I haven't tried them in those temps yet.

[@shelbylangston329]

The x40 dies is the cold weather is Washington. Anything below 40 and you can expect 3hits and its over..lol the Selkirk while being softer has lasted the longest.. thanks for the data!

[@pickleballeffect]

Really? I can't say I've used an x-40 below 40 degrees though I thought they play well in stuff around 50 degrees. Do you have a ball you like in the below 40 weather? I'm playing indoors at that point ha.

[@gregmartin3456]

Agree. X40s good until about 40. In Michigan in Spring and Fall, morning play can easily eat up balls. Any suggestions for cold weather balls?

[@shelbylangston329]

As I mentioned, even though they have a tendency to go out of round the Selkirk ball holds up the best in sub 40. Interested in trying the Chuck ball though..

[@KO1967]

Would love to see you compare the Vulcan to the Crown pickleball. Rumor has it, they are the same ball.

[@pickleballeffect]

Some one else made the same comment in my podcast this week so I ordered some and just got them in today.

[@zeruth467]

@@pickleballeffectmake an update on your channel somehow

[@pickleballeffect]

@@zeruth467 yeah, maybe I make a ball database like I do my paddle database or something.

[@KO1967]

@@pickleballeffect Or just do a quick "shorts" video that only compares the vulcan to crown with all the same measurement you used in this video. Would be super quick and then you could go back and update a database with all balls.

[@BrownKoat4ever]

Do you think they should pre scuff the Vulcan ball to help it not to get bad hops when first starting a game. I like the new ball approach but slick balls definitely are not as consistent as scuffed balls

[@pickleballeffect]

I think they should, nothing is worse than the first few points with a new ball. It doesn’t take long to scuff it up though. Maybe a couple of points.

[@Chris_Odom]

Great vid! Any idea where the Core ball would fit in this list in terms of power & pop?

[@pickleballeffect]

No, I haven't personally played with that one though it has a reputation of being on the softer side so I'd guess it would be around the Franklin or Selkirk range.

[@teenasuzuki2514]

@pickleballeffect You might want to test the Owl ball which the APP will be using.

[@pickleballeffect]

I wanted to but I don’t think you can buy them yet

[@ogizek6265]

Im a 5.0 player and by far out of all the balls diadem is by far the best ive played with the same 3 balls for the last 2 weeks and not one of them has yet to crack or have a weird bounce

[@pickleballeffect]

I actually have played with those a few times too and did like them. I wish I had thrown them in the mix.

[@duanehensley8835]

Best value, hands down, is the Franklin. Just like he said, it seems to be the most duarble and lasts the longest with use.

[@collegepros]

I wish you would have tested the Oso fury. They make some bold claims. I’ve been using them. I like them better than the Franklin. They seem to last longer and play well in the cold. It would have been nice to see how it performed against the others. Thanks for the comparison!

[@pickleballeffect]

I may have to do a part 2 for this one that includes the oso and some others. I’m sure there will be many comments about balls that are missing ha.

[@NguyenDex1993]

I like the Oso Fury when they don't break. My group broke 3 balls on one morning during a single match when it was only 65-70 degrees out, then broke another 2 the following morning. All brand new balls.

[@DaveLL500]

@@pickleballeffect I'd be interested in seeing the CORE and Vega 40 added to any part 2 ball comparison. Thx B.

[@iugradmark]

Thanks for doing this. Much needed comparison.

[@phyllismoney6997]

I would also be keen to see testing done on the Oso and Core... especially with respect to durability and staying in round.

[@guittadabe5214]

For the next test, you've got to measure durability. Much tougher to measure as it is done over time, potentially see how many times hitting against a wall...

[@nogoodwolf]

The holes on the balls have difference diameters, those for outside and those for inside. I do wonder why outside balls with 40 holes would also have different diameters. What is the purpose of having smaller holes?

[@Rusnak1973]

where was the radar gun set up in relation to the server? thx

[@pickleballeffect]

Other side of the net, hitting towards the gun

[@chandlereyre8792]

What's the margin of error on that radar gun +/- roughly?

[@NathanBrantley]

this is rad level of nerding

[@40mmmikemike]

Looks like the balls were dropped from about 4 feet in the video so i went and tested my balls that came with my pickleball paddles and they also bounced about 25 inches, the cool thing is i paid $20 (canadian dollars) for the set of 2 paddles with 4 balls, each ball has 40 holes and are the same color as the franklin x40 so they are probably copies of the franklin balls i think, maybe not as good quality but i cant complain for the price. the paddles are very nice too, they are just as good as some paddles that cost $100 each and have the same specs, the paddles are supposedly carbon fiber but ill bet they're probably just fiberglass, regular 16 inch length, 8oz, honey comb core, etc...

[@ibsnipingyou]

Franklin holding round the best and being the cheapest (with the right deal) seems like an easy pick to me.

[@pickleballeffect]

That’s how I feel too. It’s hard playing when balls go out of round.

[@sbcooler]

Love dura. I’m a 5.0+ player. Dura rewards good play and penalizes bad play. Nothing close. Selkirk just a little better than Franklin. Franklin a good ball for sub 4.0 players. I have not played with Vulcan or Joola ball.

[@chriscatastrophe660]

I am a selkirk evangelist , they lose their round quite a bit but get their shape back . I have had two crack out of my pack of 12 that I bought a couple of months ago.

[@86309]

Any chance you can test the Gear Box ball?

[@pickleballeffect]

A few others have asked for that one too. I might make a part two or make some sort of ball database.

[@SRC503]

He said this right away! "Vulcan v Pro Flight ball announced as the official ball for PPA tournaments." If you want to compete in PPA then use the official ball only. There is no comparison. Guys it's not rocket science.

[@jro937]

There is an official bounce test for pickleballs and it must be dropped from 78". This height ensures that the max bounce height of a ball is reached while being tested. The passing mark is 30" to 34" however USAPA does not specifically state if the measurement is the centerline/below/above the ball. Balls are tested at 78 to 80F but since you did them at a fixed temp setting I don't think that matters.

[@pickleballeffect]

I didn't think to try and mimic the USAP test, that would have been interesting. For the sake of what I was trying to get I think my test was sufficient but it would have been more interesting if I dropped it from the same height as them. I was measuring form from the top of the ball.

[@Dy1pickel]

Dude ! Forget the joola and reshoot with gearbox gb1 please 😬

[@rusty935]

nobody uses that buddy

[@kellon3105]

Spin is dictated by dwell time on the paddle and surface of said paddle. A Selkirk or Joola has half the dwell and spin rate of a Legacy, 6.0 or Volair. The only thing that should be tested when it comes to ball longevity is density.

[@pjpj2639]

Dura s the best ball by far…..drilling I will use any ball unless I am getting ready for a tournament. But I would rather not play in a tournament if they don’t use a dura….the others just aren’t as good.

[@pickleballeffect]

No question it's the fastest ball out there. Joola is the first ball I've tried that plays close to it.

[@nurulsainuri5778]

Why u want faster ball?trust me later on most company will switch to slower ball just like tennis

[@mex5341]

Franklin x40!

[@watcheroffools366]

I use Wilson…..😂

[@MrAchilles113]

Pickleballs need to get heavier. S. FL can get gusty often and wind ruins the game as it simply sweeps the ball away in whatever random direction due to how light they are.

[@pickleballeffect]

I like that idea, I’ve never considered that before.

[@kento1957]

My guess is that for most rec. players are mostly concerned with durability. The Selkirk has a year guarantee.

[@pickleballeffect]

Probably, the Selkirks have caught on pretty quickly in my area but I also live in the same state as Selkirk headquarters and my area if full of Selkirk stuff.

[@McDadden]

it's a shame that we're still dealing with what is basically a wiffle ball. Paddles are using kevlar, carbon fiber, and thermoforming, and the ball is still decades old technology.

[@jamesa.4454]

What's with the music.....no good

[@pickleballeffect]

I missed on the music? I don't know if you'll get anything better from me there, I just get whatever royalty free stuff I can find ha. What do you think, better without music? I feel like these talking head videos need something but maybe I'm wrong.

[@jamesa.4454]

Love your videos but personally i do not like any kind of music when I'm listening.....

[@mathewmccabe2658]

1) Selkirk , 2) Vulcan, 3) dura, 4) Franklin …. No one plays with Joola balls lol

[@pickleballeffect]

Joola might not be as big as the others I guess but I had some and tried them and thought they offered something different from the sea of balls out there and it turned out they play most similar to Duras which no else has gotten close to yet.

[@mathewmccabe2658]

@@pickleballeffect you right. Might bad. I was just being a hater because I just got 100 Selkirk (for training) and 100 Franklin (for the machine). I tried an older Joola and wasn’t overly impressed. Dura our great but I live in aspen and with our climate we need something more reliable. Thanks for the videos my friend

[@pickleballeffect]

@@mathewmccabe2658 ha you can hate, I'm never going to make any video that does it for everyone lol. Yeah, the old Joola balls are trash. Can't go wrong with the Selkirks and Frnaklins you just got, tried and true.

[@kyleseber]

The x40 is the only ball. All other balls are trash. X40 reacts for control. Other balls your just getting skips across the court and excessive speed off the paddle face during hand battles.

[@erictrippe2778]

I wish you would have tested all of the balls known to man. Every ball ever made. Even the ones not made yet. Why didn't you test all of the balls on earth? Come on man!

[@pickleballeffect]

Comment of the week right here 😂

[@HarleyTruck]

KZbin needs more facts not feelings.

[@stevecrawford333]

selkirk trash confirmed, hate those things

[@OrionCorsari]

A for effort but……Dude….i stopped listening when your “scientific” results are derived from hitting the balls with “roughly the same power.” Your swing is a huge, uncontrollable, and worse unquantifiable variable rendering every “fact” you draw from it complete bunk.