Franklin Sports X-26 Pickleballs - Indoor - 3 Pack - USAPA Approved - Blue

The X-26 is Franklin's indoor ball. If you play at a rec center, a school gym or anywhere with a wood or composite floor, this is the ball built for that surface. The 3-pack in blue costs about $10 and comes with a plastic tube for storing the balls between sessions.

How it differs from an outdoor ball

It has 26 holes instead of 40, and the holes are larger. It weighs 24 g (0.85 oz), compared with 26 g for Franklin's outdoor X-40, and it's the same 74 mm (2.9 in) across. Indoor balls are lighter and softer, which suits a smooth floor. Our indoor vs outdoor pickleball balls guide goes into what changes on court.

USA Pickleball approves the X-26 for indoor tournament play, so it's a legal choice if your league plays indoors. Franklin uses a two-piece construction for this ball, where the outdoor X-40 is one piece.

The reviews

It averages 4.4 stars from about 1,660 reviews. That's a good score, but it's a much smaller sample than the X-40's 26,000 or so, and a little lower. The X-26 12-pack does worse, at 4.0 stars from about 1,210 reviews. If you're buying a lot of them, read the recent reviews first. Our buying in bulk guide covers pack sizes.

Who it's for

It's for indoor players at rec centers and school gyms, and for leagues that run indoor tournaments and need an approved ball.

Who should skip it

Anyone playing mainly outdoors. A light, large-holed ball gets pushed around by wind and isn't designed for concrete or asphalt. Buy an outdoor ball for that.

Alternatives

If you split time between indoor and outdoor courts, you'll want a pack of each. The Franklin X-40 3-pack costs the same and covers the outdoor side. If you need a quiet indoor option for a home garage or a noise-sensitive venue, the GoSports Q-Foam is foam and much quieter, but it isn't tournament legal.

For more on choosing between ball types, see our pickleball ball buying guide and the best pickleball balls roundup.