Franklin Sports X-40 Balanced Pickleball Balls, 12-Pack

Pickleball was invented back in 1965, when a couple of friends started playing around with ping-pong paddles and perforated plastic balls on a tennis court. It is similar to tennis, but is played with smaller paddles and on a smaller court.

The game has become wildly popular, and there are indoor and outdoor local leagues, plus regional and national championships. There are official rules for play, and regulations that apply to everything from paddle sizes to the pickleballs themselves.

In addition to regulations on ball size and appearance, there are specifications for bounce heights, hardness and the number of holes around the surface. If you plan to play more than casually, you should take these rules into consideration when purchasing a ball.

• When shopping for pickleballs, look for ones that meet USAPA standards, which is something that should be boasted about in the item description.
• The per-pickleball price goes down when you buy them in larger quantities.
• If the pickleballs don’t come with a carrying bag, you can store them in a gym bag. Just make sure you leave the court with as many balls as you came with!
• Just like tennis balls, high-performance pickleballs do not last forever. You can expect anywhere from three to 10 games, depending on weather conditions and type of play, before they need to be replaced.
• Yellow pickleballs are designed for indoor play, while orange ones are for outdoor games.