reasons that the IFP clamped down on ball specs. The intent is
to maintain the sport’s dinking integrity.
Color. What color is best for indoor play? For outdoor play?
The answer is in the eye of the player. When planning was
underway for the Pennsylvania State Pickleball Championships,
an indoor event, the steering committee debated for hours
which color ball to use. In the end, three different colored balls
were evenly split on player preference. The maintenance crew
was called in to help resolve the debate.
There are currently not less than nine colors used by the ball
manufacturers. White and yellow are by far the most common,
but other colors are coming. Riverstyks is leading the charge
by increasing your options with six colors. Along with the basic
colors, it also produces orange, pink and purple.
Wilson has introduced Neon Fire, a hot lime green/yellow
neon color that many say has unmatched visibility. The ball is
still in testing phases. It is likely that more manufacturers will
begin increasing the visual color “pop” like the future Wilson
balls in the coming months and years.
In summary, while nearly every ball from a given
manufacturer is identical due to the materials and holecutting process, there is tremendous variation of balls among
competitors. Generally speaking, there are no two balls alike
across the various manufacturers.
As of the time of this printing, there are eight IFP approved
balls. With the growth of the sport and economic potential
to the manufacturers, we can imagine that there will be 20 or
more approved balls by September 2016. Pickleball Magazine
will keep you updated as new balls are approved by the IFP. •
BALLS MEETING NEW IFP/USAPA SPECIFICATIONS AS OF 4/20/2016
Balls are tested for each size and each color. Balls are checked for size (diameter), weight (grams), bounce, and hardness (Durometer D scale) at 75 to 80 degrees.
APPROVED BALLS
Monarch Indoor Ball
COLOR
Y
DIAMETER
2.88"
WEIGHT
23 gr.
BOUNCE
32
HARDNESS
40-42
MOLDING
N/A
Dura Fast 40
W,Y,O
2.94"
26 gr.
32"
45-50
Rotational
Dura Fast 26
W
2.94"
25 gr.
31"
45-50
Rotational
Onix Model 503 (outdoor)
W,Y,O
2.90"
25 gr.
31"
46-50
Two-Piece
Onix Pure 2 outdoor ball
Y
2.88"
25 gr.
33"
44-46
Two-Piece
Onix Pure 2 indoor ball
Y
2.88"
23 gr.
33"
44-46
Two-Piece
Pickleball Central TOP
Y,O,W
2.94"
25 gr.
32"
46-50
Rotational
RiverStyks
Y,G,B,PK,PU,O
2.89"
22 gr.
33"
46/48
Two-Piece
Effective 11/01/2015 the ball specifications changed. See IFP Rule 2.D. On 10/01/2016 any balls not meeting the new specifications will be removed from the list
of approved balls. Below, in red, are balls that will no longer be approved on 10/01/2016. Others will be tested between now and October 2016.
BALLS NOT MEETING NEW IFP/USAPA SPECIFICATIONS AFTER 10/1/2016
Cosom Fun Ball
COLOR
W,Y,R,G
DIAMETER WEIGHT BOUNCE HARDNESS
2.88"
22 gr.
30"
40-42
Jugs Bulldog
W,G
2.88"
23 gr.
37"
40-43
Mach-Z Finesse
W,Y,R,G
2.81"
22 gr.
29"
40-43
Monarch “M” Outdoor Ball
Y
2.91"
28 gr.
32"
44-48
Monarch Indoor Ball
Y
2.82"
28 gr.
32"
44/48
Onix Pure Outdoor Ball
Y
2.88"
26 gr.
37"
46-50
Pickleball HQ The Villages
Y
2.94"
26 gr.
32"
45-50
Pickleball Now Indoor Ball
G
2.88"
22 gr.
37"
44-48
Pickleball Now Outdoor ball
Y
2.87"
26 gr.
32"
46-50
Uniker Sport Ace 40
Y
2.94"
26 gr.
32"
46-50
Uniker Sport MNBALL
Y
2.94"
26 gr.
32"
46-50
Wilson Neon Flare/Hope
NY
2.91"
26 gr.
35"
48-52
Colors: Y=Yellow, W=White, R=Red, G=Green, O=Orange, B= Blue, PK=Pink, PU=Purple, NY=Neon Yellow
JUNE 2016 |
MAGAZINE
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