EVOLUTION
For indoor use , manufacturers create softer , more flexible balls that won ’ t skid on wood floors . Softer balls will also bounce higher and play slower . For outdoor use , the opposite — a harder ball is made that will play faster and provide a fair bounce off the hard-court surface .
Process : One Piece or Two . The process of how the ball is made is another function of its playability . Most balls are created in two halves and then joined together ( i . e . two-piece injection molding ). The # 1 indoor ball on the market ( Jugs ) uses this process .
A more time consuming and expensive process , some manufacturers create balls using rotational molding where the ball is created in one piece , then all holes are drilled simultaneously afterward . The # 1 outdoor ball on the market , Pickle-Ball Inc .’ s Durafast 40 , uses this process .
Why do balls break ? All tournament pros know that some manufacturers ’ balls tend to crack sooner than others . Manufacturers using rotational molding point out that most cracks occur on the seams of two-piece balls . They also claim that their one-piece balls are less likely to come out of round . Two-piece manufacturers claim that the most important function of durability is the correct polymer mixture making up
the ball and how it is heated / cooled in production . Companies such as Onix use two-piece injection molding and have an excellent reputation for ball quality and durability .
Hole Size , Count and Pattern . The smaller the hole size , the less wind can disrupt play . Nearly all indoor balls have larger holes not only because wind is not a factor inside , but also to grab the court a little more .
Additionally , some balls have more holes . For example , the Onix Pure 2 Outdoor ball has 40 smaller holes , whereas the Pure 2 Indoor has 26 larger ones .
Hole pattern is also important to balls being lopsided ( out of round ). Some manufacturers clearly make balls that are more uniform than others .
Diameter , Weight . The new ball diameter range established by the IFP is between 2.874 ” and 2.972 ”. Weight is to be set between 22 and 26.5 grams . There is no steadfast rule as to which weight is better or worse for indoor and / or outdoor use .
Bounce Height . Softer balls tend to bounce higher than harder balls . To test appropriate bounce height , the IFP has established the following criteria : The ball shall have a bounce of 30-34 inches when dropped from a height of 75 inches onto a concrete floor ( at 75 to 80 degrees ). With newly manufactured balls bouncing higher and higher , this was one of the lead
BRING COLOR TO YOUR GAME .
WHAT ’ S YOURS ?
PICKLEBALLS THAT FLY TRUE . VISIT US AT WWW . RIVERSTYKS . COM
IFP RULES FOR BALLS ( NEW )
* 2 . D . 1 . Construction . The ball shall be made of durable material molded with a smooth surface and free of texturing . The ball can only be one single , uniform color , except for identification markings . The ball may have a slight ridge at the seam as long as it does not significantly affect straight flight characteristics .
* 2 . D . 2 . Size . The ball shall be 2.874 inches ( 73mm ) to 2.972 inches ( 75.5mm ) in diameter .
* 2 . D . 3 . Weight . The ball shall weigh between 0.78 and 0.935 ounces ( 22 and 26.5 grams ).
* 2 . D . 4 . Bounce . The ball shall have a bounce of 30 to 34 inches when dropped from a height of 78 inches to the top of the ball onto a granite surface plate . The test is to be at an ambient temperature of 75 to 80 degrees F .
* 2 . D . 5 . Hardness . The ball shall have a hardness of 40 to 50 on a Durometer D scale at a temperature of 75 to 80 degrees F ( 24 to 27 degrees C ).
* 2 . D . 6 . Design . The ball shall have a minimum of 26 to a maximum of 40 circular holes , with spacing of holes and overall design of the ball conforming to straight flight characteristics . The ball must have a manufacturer ’ s or supplier ’ s name or logo printed or embossed on it .
24 TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 724.942.0940 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG . COM