Balls

[Impetus]

I only play indoor (bad weather) and we play with yellow and red balls. The floor is mainly wood and the yellow ball is fast with low bounce (it actually slides more than bounces) and the red ball is slower and bounces. The yellow ball is considered the advanced ball and the red for beginners.

The yellow ball makes the game much more primitive and ugly. Not because of the speed but because it slides over the floor and makes it very hard to hit it back with spin. Without spin you also lose speed. The result is people don’t have to work on body mechanics, proper stroke technique etc.

Is anything going to change with the balls? Can we expect this bulls*** to continue?

 

[tennytive]

Check and see if the yellow balls have smaller holes. You may be playing with outdoor balls.

 

[Impetus]

Check and see if the yellow balls have smaller holes. You may be playing with outdoor balls.

Yes. It's indoor balls we play with. The wood surfase at the sport facility makes the yellow ball slide and gives a very low bounce.
The red ball is more rubbery which gives a higher bounce and makes it easier to spin because there is more grip.

Even with a different surface that gives a higher bounce to the yellow balls there won't be a lot of grip for spin.

Does anybody have any insight to the development of the balls?
Are we going to see more spin?

 

[sureshs]

I only play indoor (bad weather) and we play with yellow and red balls. The floor is mainly wood and the yellow ball is fast with low bounce (it actually slides more than bounces) and the red ball is slower and bounces. The yellow ball is considered the advanced ball and the red for beginners.

The yellow ball makes the game much more primitive and ugly. Not because of the speed but because it slides over the floor and makes it very hard to hit it back with spin. Without spin you also lose speed. The result is people don’t have to work on body mechanics, proper stroke technique etc.

Is anything going to change with the balls? Can we expect this bulls*** to continue?

Can't you bring your own balls?

 

[ByeByePoly]

I only play indoor (bad weather) and we play with yellow and red balls. The floor is mainly wood and the yellow ball is fast with low bounce (it actually slides more than bounces) and the red ball is slower and bounces. The yellow ball is considered the advanced ball and the red for beginners.

The yellow ball makes the game much more primitive and ugly. Not because of the speed but because it slides over the floor and makes it very hard to hit it back with spin. Without spin you also lose speed. The result is people don’t have to work on body mechanics, proper stroke technique etc.

Is anything going to change with the balls? Can we expect this bulls*** to continue?

I think the indoor vs outdoor pickleball was bad naming. Basically what is called indoor here is softer and bounces more and if for wood surface. We play with outdoor balls indoors because we have indoor hardcourts (Acrylic).

See if you can figure out what the yellow ball is. If you can buy Franklin x-40 (common here … not that expensive) buy some and try them. I’ve never played on wood, so maybe others here that have might comment if Franklin x-40 plays ok on wood. When I first started playing on outdoor hardcourt, I hated the low bounce so much I googled for highest bouncing outdoor ball. Bought Onix Pure 2 (which they don’t allow in rec tournaments here anymore)… and it did bounce better.

Edit: I have hit serves on basketball court, and the x-40 appeared to bounce ok.

Playing with your wife and indoor balls covered here

 

[sureshs]

At a rec center where I play, the balls used are light and yellow. One day, a player pulled out her own ball, a heavy orange one. It played very differently. It was to my advantage because I was hitting winners like crazy.

 

[tennytive]

Playing for the most part with Franklin X40s on outdoor courts. Last season players started switching to Duras, a light yellow ball that's a little harder and faster because tournaments were using them. I really don't like the indoor game as most often it's on a basketball court with lines everywhere and flimsy nets. The ball is slower because of the larger holes, but can blend in with the floor too much and is already hard enough to see with the lousy lighting most gyms have. Playng on an indoor tennis court surface with the outdoor balls is the best option. No sun, no wind, consistent bounce, proper nets, and locker rooms to shower after. Only downside is the court time and membership fees, whereas outdoors is free free free.

 

[ByeByePoly]

Playing for the most part with Franklin X40s on outdoor courts. Last season players started switching to Duras, a light yellow ball that's a little harder and faster because tournaments were using them. I really don't like the indoor game as most often it's on a basketball court with lines everywhere and flimsy nets. The ball is slower because of the larger holes, but can blend in with the floor too much and is already hard enough to see with the lousy lighting most gyms have. Playng on an indoor tennis court surface with the outdoor balls is the best option. No sun, no wind, consistent bounce, proper nets, and locker rooms to shower after. Only downside is the court time and membership fees, whereas outdoors is free free free.

We play with x-40, occasionally someone brings a Dura. I prefer the x-40 … Dura just seems too hard.