There is an old saying, that nothing lasts forever. But as seasoned Pickle Ballers know, this also applies to your pickleball gear. So if you are a fellow pickleball tragic and need to know how long do pickleball balls last, you are in the right place.
In this guide, we explore the question how long do pickleball balls last. But we also uncover pickleball ball construction, what impacts your ball durability and how to extend the life of your pickleballs. And finally, we dig deep into the longevity of your pickleball equipment.
Beginners, experts ALL Pickle ballers, let’s kick it in.
How Long Do Pickleball Balls Last?
There is no easy answer to this question, but the major factors at play include the skill level of the player, the material used and the manufacturing process of the ball along with playing environments and ball storage.
These factors are all at play and decide how long your pickleball ball will last.
An experienced, big hitting player may find that their pickleball lasts a few games. While a casual beginner may replace their balls once a year. There are so many factors involved, there is no hard and fast answer.
But we can understand the most important factors that will ultimately, influence how long your ball will last. If we dig into these, we can better understand why your ball may or may not last very long on the pickleball court. And we can estimate how long your ball will probably last.
Understanding Pickleball Ball Anatomy: What’s Inside Matters
The anatomy of a pickleball is a key factor on how long your pickleball will last. These all come together to produce what has been called, the “pickleball secret sauce” of production. Let’s take a look
1. Pickleball Materials
- Unlike tennis balls Pickleball balls are typically made from durable plastic. They are designed to reduce air resistance, improve control, and help regulate speed and trajectory
- The primary materials used include a mix of hard, durable and lightweight materials
- Most of the plastics used for USAPA approved balls are very similar
READ MORE: Learn more about What Pickleball are Made of and the manufacturing process to ensure we get the best balls to play with.
2. Pickleball Manufacturing Process
There are two ways to make a pickleball ball.
- Rotational Molded Pickleball: These balls are manufactured by pouring plastic into a mold that is rotated until firm. When set, the molds are removed and holes are drilled into the balls. This ball is manufactured in one piece is generally more stable and will last longer.
- Injection Molded Pickleball: These balls are a simpler, more cost effective way to manufacture balls. Plastic is poured over a mold with the holes already formed. It is made in two halves which are then glued together. Injection molded balls are seen as fragile and are more likely to break in two.
3. Type of Pickleball
The type of ball also plays a part here. Let’s take a look at both.
- Indoor pickleball: will generally use a softer plastic and it plays softer.
- Outdoor pickleball: Will use a more durable, harder plastic with a more rigid plastic construction to withstand rougher conditions and harsher surfaces.
- Both Indoor and Outdoor balls: will generally weigh the same (26 grams by the USAPA regulation). It’s really the plastic type and construction that can make the ball stronger and last longer.
As you can see, a pickleball ball is only as durable as its core and surface. With the middle of a pickleball ball being hollow, the pickleball material, the manufacturing process and material of the outer shell will decide how long it lasts.
Factors that Influence Pickleball Ball Lifespan
There are other factors worth considering that influence the lifespan of a Pickleball ball.
- Playing Surface: The surfaces you’re playing on impacts the life of your pickleball balls. Outdoor courts with concrete or asphalt floors can really damage the ball. These hard surfaces can cause cracks, chips, and can reduce the bounce of your ball. While indoor courts like gym floors are much smoother and will not damage your ball as much.
- Temperature: Extreme weather can affect the performance and life span of your pickleball balls. Extremely high temperatures can soften the ball plastic and lead to deforming the ball. While in extreme cold weather, the ball can become brittle and is more prone to cracks and breakages
- Humidity: You will find humidity will reduce bounciness over a certain period of time, especially in damp conditions.
- Big Hitters: And the big one, big hitters will break more balls. Experienced players will likely hit harder and test the limits of the ball. Unfortunately, for this reason they are more likely to experience frequent ball breakages.
Good news for casual players that probably play less and generally wont hit as hard. Pickleball balls will last a lot longer for you! Beginners or casual players shouldn’t have a ball breaking issue until they level up and start hitting harder.
Proper Storage and Maintenance: Extending the Life of Your Balls
It’s important to look after your pickleball balls to maximise their life span. Here are some tips to store, maintain and manage your pickleball balls.
- Pickleball Storage (Heat Protection): Mother Nature will also play a part in the life of your pickleballs. Cool and dry storage is a must to extend the life of your pickleball balls. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight, and definitely don’t leave them in your car. On hot days, your pickleballs will cook and degrade.
- Pickleball Storage (Cold Protection): Cold weather isn’t great either or leaving your balls outside to fend for themselves. It’s recommended to store your pickleball balls in a sealed container indoors. Storing balls in a garage or inside your home is a good idea. This will reduce the chance of any degradation due to temperature and climate.
- Pickleball Cleanliness: Occasionally cleaning your pickleball equipment will help maintain performance. Remove dirt and grime after outdoor play. And for indoor play, give your balls a light clean. This can be easily done with a damp cloth to wipe the ball surface.
- Pickleball Surface Damage: For minor surface damage, some players might lightly sand rough spots to extend usability. But most players won’t worry about that, as nothing beats playing with a fresh ball out of the packet.
And that leads us perfectly to our next section, strategies to replace your pickleballs.
Pickleball Ball Replacement Strategies: Get Your Money’s Worth
Sometimes, you just need to replace your pickleball ball. Beginners may not replace a ball until it is cracked and officially gone. But if the ball is warped and has lost its shape, or it starts to bounce unevenly, it’s time to get a fresh ball.
The life span of a Pickleball ball-as mentioned-can be highly variable depending on the many variables listed above. If you look after your balls, you can estimate how often you need to replace a ball.
- Pickleball Beginners: If you have never broken a ball, you probably have no real worries here for now. You shouldn’t worry too much about how often your ball might break.
- Pickleball Experts: If you break a ball every 10 games, then you have a rough estimate of how long your ball will last. This is great information if you need to plan how many balls you need.
Depending on this rough calculation, you can bulk buy pickleballs and have them on hand while playing. A beginner can buy a pack of three and they can last a long time. While an experienced player may buy a bucket of 30 to ensure they always have a few spare. Just head to your local online store and buy a bunch.
Depending on your budget, the brand and your level of play, there are many bargains for all types of balls. You cannot go wrong with any pickleball balls used in tournaments. They are designed for tournament play and are made to last longer. So maybe give those a try first.
Otherwise, ask your friends and fellow picklers for recommendations. And see how you go.
READ MORE: Learn about Pickleball Ball Colors and how they affect visibility and impact your game. And Discover what color is best for you and your eyes.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there is no simple answer to how long do pickleballs last. The various factors, such as player ability, pickleball material, manufacturing process, playing and storage environment all play a part in this equation.
Like everything when it comes to pickleball, just take it easy. Don’t worry too much about how long your ball lasts, just have fun and make sure you have a few spare pickleball balls. Breaking a ball is is not a big deal. But running out of balls during a match because you broke them all is a disaster scenario. OMG
And on that note…
Pickle on!
The Aussie Pickleball Bros.