In this BioBall Pickleball Review, the Bros take a close look at The Komodo BioBall. It’s the worlds first 100% biodegradable ball that is USAPA Tournament approved. The Bioball is designed for accelerated decomposition and to last longer on the court. But does it play better? And is it worth your time and money?
The Bros have been on the courts with a lot of pickleball gear. Paddles, shoes and nets – we’ve tested them all. But this one is different. This is where the Bros get all science like. We named our BioBall “Bruce”, and we spent time smacking him around so that we can tell you everything you need to know about the latest in Pickleball balls. Let’s Kick. it in.
Komodo Bioball: The Verdict: BRO RATING (4.5 Out of 5)
The Komodo BioBall is a no-brainer for eco-conscious players, pickleball clubs and venues that want a ball that lasts longer, and decomposes faster. All while playing like a normal ball to the untrained eye.
The big question – does it actually last five times longer than a regular ball? The Bros are still testing. But so far so good , and we will be updating this review as the experiment continues.
PROS
- The Bioball plays just like any Pro pickleball ball.
- Environmentally friendly
- Amazing Eco-Initiative by Komodo
- Great price
CONS
- Not widely available…YET
CHECK OUT THE KOMODO BIOBALL HERE
The Bioball and other Komodo products are available in Australia via the special link below. Get your Bioballs and tell them the Bros sent you.
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Komodo BioBall Review: Do We Need a Bioball?
The Bros, like many players, have broken a stack of pickleballs since they first picked up a paddle. And it was just a part of the game and not a big deal. That was until we discovered that “over 500 million pickleballs are being manufactured each year”.
While some companies like P3 look to recycle balls, Komodo Pickleball, based in Colorado USA, decided to try something else.
With broken or cracked pickleballs sent to landfill, they could sit there for over 100 years. The Komodo BioBall is engineered to break down in just three to five years under normal landfill conditions. The lab results for the biodegradation of the Bioball is available to read. And it shows the huge difference in pickleball decomposition between the BioBall against other pickleballs.
The other amazing advancement in pickleball tech for the BioBall is that it’s claimed to last up to five times longer than a regular ball. With an expected 70 games on a single ball.
If you do the sums on a BioBall, with fewer balls needed – this means less plastic is produced. Less plastic produced means less plastic in the bin. But when the ball does go to pickleball Heaven, they breakdown faster. That’s a win-win in our book. But how do the balls play? Let’s take a closer look.
The Can We Break It? Experiment
We are the Bros. We don’t just take a brand’s word for it. So we’ve taken one BioBall, named it “Bruce”, and we are tracking it across every session until it cracks, warps, or dies.
Here’s where we’re at so far:
- Session 1-5: Bruce looks brand new. Bounce is consistent and true. Not a mark on him. Promising start.
- Session 5-10: TBD
(We’ll update this section as the experiment continues – check back in!)
We will keep counting how many sessions the ball lasts for. So let’s see how far we can go.
The Bounce Test
The Bros have played enough games to spot a pickleball cheapie. They are fine to play with, but just don’t bounce that well. So how does the BioBall stack up to a competition ball like the Franklin X-40.
Well friends, we can say they are comparable. And in the most unscientific way possible, we bounced the balls alongside each other on the court and they seemed almost identical. We went to the tape and found the Bioball bounced a touch higher.
This is great news. It means the balls are comparabe in bounce.
On the Court: Does It Actually Play Like a Real Ball?
This was the big question before we hit the courts. The Bros have bought Eco-friendly sneakers before and they did not last long. The shoes fell apart quickly so we wondered how the BioBal material would hold up.
Given this experience, we wondered how using eco-friendly material change the way the ball plays? The short answer is no. We were surprised at that fact, here are some details.
Bounce:
When playing, the bounce was consistent and true across different court surfaces. Indoors and outdoors, Bruce (our Bioball) behaved exactly like a regular pickleball. The Bros had no issue playing with it.
Sound:
The Bioball popped – and sounded just like a normal ball.
Flight:
With 40 precision-machined holes, the BioBall flies straight and true, like all the Pro balls. The Bros had fast rallies, dinks felt controlled and there were no dramas.
Feel:
Whether the Bros were at the kitchen line or driving from the baseline, the BioBall felt natural and responsive. Beginners won’t notice anything different. Experienced players won’t be complaining either.
Brightness:
The Bioball isn’t as neon-bright as other balls like the Franklin X-40, but the ball still provides high-visibility on indoor and outdoor courts.
The bottom line – the BioBall plays like a legit pickleball. Komodo haven’t sacrificed performance for sustainability, and that’s exactly what needed to happen for this product to work.
The Secret Bro BioBall Pepsi Challenge
Unbeknownst to Matt, Our Bro Tester – he was asked to play with the new ball. But he was unaware of the eco-friendliness and he was completely unaware of any chemical compounds or differences in the ball. Matt is a plumber, not a scientist. So he happily played with the ball for multiple sessions, and did not say a word.
He did ask why the word “Bruce” was written on the ball, but he was fine with that.
The Eco Reality Check
Let’s make this super simple for the Bros community, because the biodegradability stuff can get confusing fast.
Regular Pickleballs:
Head to landfill and sit there for over 100 years. Every ball you’ve ever cracked? Still out there. Somewhere.
The Komodo Bioball:
Expected to break down in three to five years under normal landfill conditions. That is not perfect. But it is a whole lot better.
The Bioball is not officially “biodegradable” by US government standards, but it does reduce the environmental impact of pickleball. The Bros appreciate that Komodo are completely upfront about this. No greenwashing, no dodgy marketing claims. Just honest information and independent lab test results they’ve published for anyone to read. So they are transparent and that gives Komodo Mucho-Respecto from the Bros.
The Price: Is It Worth It?
The BioBall comes in at $12 AUD for an 4-pack ($3 a ball), or $75 AUD for a box of 25. Great value when comparing to pickleball prices.
And if they last as long as expected, that amazing value for any Pickleball punter out there
So the Bros are still playing with Bruce the BioBall. We’ll be able to give you a much more confident take on value once Bruce has gone the full distance – or tapped out early. Stay tuned.
The Final Wrap
The Komodo BioBall is one of the most interesting products we’ve reviewed at Aussie Pickleball Bros. We love following Pickleball tech and any advancements are always welcome. Pickleballs aren’t flashy or high on a player’s wishlist of purchases, but the tech is super cool. And the mission to reduce landfill is honorable and valuable for all players.
If Pickleball is going to keep growing and makes it to the 2032 Olympics like we predict, it’s not a bad idea to think about its footprint. Komodo have produced something really cool. And we are barracking for Bruce to go all the way.
Check back in as the experiment continues, and if you’ve already played with the BioBall, let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear how your ball is holding up!
Check out the Komodo BioBall and tell them the Bros sent you!
Pickle on!
The Aussie Pickleball Bros.
CHECK OUT THE KOMODO BIOBALL HERE
The Bioball and other Komodo products are available in Australia via the special link below. Get your Bioballs and tell them the Bros sent you.