Franklin Sports Pickleball-x Performance 40 Outdoor Balls-Optic Yellow

Franklin lists the X-40 as the official ball of the US Open Pickleball Championships, USA Pickleball and the APP Tour, and it's USA Pickleball approved. So if you want to practice with the ball the pros use, this is it. The 3-pack in optic yellow costs about $10 and has a 4.7-star average from roughly 26,000 reviews.

What you're getting

Three one-piece balls with 40 machine-drilled holes. Each weighs 26 g (0.9 oz) and measures 74 mm (2.9 in), which is regulation size and weight. One-piece means there's no welded seam to split, and Franklin pitches that construction for concrete, asphalt and other outdoor surfaces.

Forty smaller holes and a harder shell make an outdoor ball heavier and less affected by wind than an indoor ball. If you're not sure which type you need, our indoor vs outdoor pickleball balls guide explains the difference.

One thing in the fine print

Franklin says the X-40 performs best "in average temperatures." Hard plastic balls get brittle in the cold and crack sooner. If you play through northern US winters, read our pickleball balls in cold weather piece before stocking up.

Who it's for

• Outdoor players on public or community courts who want the same ball used in sanctioned events
• Anyone practicing for a tournament that uses the X-40 (check with the organizer)
• New players who want to try one small pack of a well-reviewed ball before buying more

Who should skip it

Indoor players on gym floors. The X-40 is built for outdoor courts, and a 26-hole indoor ball is the better fit there. Skip it too if noise is a problem where you play, because a hard plastic ball is loud.

And if you go through balls quickly, three won't last long. Our bulk buying guide works out the per-ball cost of the 12-pack and 100-pack versions.

Alternatives

The GoSports GS 40 12-pack is also USAPA certified, one-piece and 40-hole, and costs about $17 for twelve. It has far fewer reviews (about 936, 4.4 stars). For indoor play, the Franklin X-26 is the same price for three.

For a longer look at this ball, see the Franklin X-40 review, or compare it with the rest of the field in best pickleball balls.