5.0 out of 5 stars Franklin X-40 vs. Dura Fast 40 (vs. Onix)

T.&.T.G. · August 15, 2020

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If you just want the ball to last and last year after year and don't care at all about egging or quality of play consider the much softer and much slower and much bouncier Onix ball. The Onix ball is so soft that I can't recommend it for typical play, but it is actually an excellent choice when introducing new players to the game and it is often the preferred ball in 65+ play if mobility becomes a common issue because extra bounce = extra time to get there, but in my area many older players seem to play the X-40 just fine.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Update: 4-13-2021:Popularity: Almost everyone in my area is playing the Franklin X-40 in every park. I finally saw a Dura in play yesterday, but it's been a long time! Outdoor tournaments in my state are now about 60% X-40 and about 40% Dura (Washington), so even in tournament play the Dura seems to be going out pretty quick.Seasonal durability of X-40: for the first year I don't think my group cracked a single X-40 (despite having a faster paced game), but using that same batch of balls this Spring, they've all been dropping like flies so now my 1 year old batch of X-40's probably isn't much more durable than brand new Dura's (very annoying to deal with those cracks). I just bought new X-40's yesterday and I'll be discarding the few X-40's that are left from last year when the new stock arrives. It will be new X-40's for me once a year from now on assuming quality doesn't slide... fresh manufacturing is apparently very important, so hopefully Franklin will keep their runs moderate, and maybe that's what Dura did wrong.(?)* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Full review:This review will focus largely on the physical & quality comparisons between the Franklin Outdoor X-40 pickleball and the Dura Fast 40 pickleball, but I'll also give a summary of my impressions from the mouth of experts and supplement also by my own amateur impressions and measurements.Dura hole specs: 16 drilled holes @ 0.325" & 24 drilled holes @ .264"Franklin hole specs: 40 drilled holes @ 0.288"Both balls have 40 holes with an average hole size of 0.288", but the Dura ball has a far more randomized hole pattern. I personally didn't notice any difference in spin characteristics or any notable advantage to the randomized hole pattern of the Dura.Franklin weight: 26gDura weight: 25gBoth balls are rotationally molded in one continuous piece so the seam is just as strong as the rest of the ball on either ball... the appearance of a seam is on the outside of the ball only but the visual molding mark is not actually separated in any way in the middle of the ball and the inside of the ball will likewise appear 100% seamless on either ball, so no true seam exists (both balls are true "1-piece" balls). The Dura ball has much smoother molding marks w/ no plastic flashing like the Franklin... this is primarily cosmetic but quality in this regard definitely goes to the Dura.Subjective color preference: in the shade I think the Dura "Neon" color looks better (see pic), but in typical full sun the green tint looks dingy on the Dura ball in my opinion, and I feel the Franklin "Optic Yellow" is a crisper color that's probably a little more visible. These are the only 2 ball colors I have to compare. I would prefer more dye to be used for a green ball so it still looks green in full sun because in my experience with disc golf and ball golf neon green is the most visible color and neon pink is good too... with these 2 options I'd pick the yellow... the green tint on the Dura is so subtle in full sun it ends up looking more like a dingy yellow rather than a green. A more apples to apples comparison would be Dura's yellow option but I'm pretty confident Franklin would win that contest also based on the notably higher translucency in the plastic used by Dura. Color: Franklin wins.Franklin X-40 country of origin: ChinaDura Fast 40 country of origin: Vietnam- - EXPERT INSPIRED IMPRESSIONS - -From what I've gathered, expect much longer play per dollar out of the Franklin and expect very little life out of the Dura. Dura's are supposed to be a little harder/better/faster, but they often only last a few games based on everything I've read and heard. For older players consider the Onix over either of these balls... softer balls bounce higher and hit slower which allows more time to get to the ball for longer rallies... the Onix seems to be the favorite for play in older aged groups.Based on expert advise from the "pickleball kitchen" youtube channel...Best performance award (fastest, hardest): Dura Fast 40Best Value (also w/ great performance): Franklin Outdoor X-40 - - - except high level players should opt for the Dura due to tournament requirements (note: this observation may be outdated... check tournaments in your state to verify what local tournaments are still using the Dura in your area and which tournaments have switched to the X-40)Longest lasting, but soft and bouncy: OnixNote: I have not seen a single outdoor tournament publish the Onix as their ball.My personal recommendation for most players based on a lot of reviews and some research and a close look would be to skip the Dura and go straight to the Franklin X-40 until you're playing tournaments... if/when you advance to the level of playing serious tournament play I don't think it would take long to transition muscle memory and power from the Franklin outdoor ball to the Dura ball and a lot of money and annoyance can be saved w/ the Franklin over the very brittle Dura... Franklin X-40 balls don't last very long either (according to some... possibly old stock), but compared to the Dura it's a notable improvement strongly worth considering even if you're a quality buff like myself.Manufacturing quality: Dura winsMaterial durability: Franklin easily wins and Onix lasts much longer still if you don't mind a notably slower game (more similar to indoor) and more egging.Quality of play: Mixed... many elite players prefer the extra speed of the Dura, but I prefer the consistency of virtually everyone using the same ball and even more notably, I'd rather sacrifice just a little speed to get the higher consistency / predictability / reliability of an uncracked ball and I find it distracting to look for cracks all the time.Value (w/o sacrificing much): FranklinDespite the long read, I'm hoping this helps the reader save some time in selecting a pickleball, especially for players new to the game.

5.0 out of 5 stars Pickle ball for life.

T. · May 29, 2025

I’ve tried several brands of pickleballs over years but Franklin pickleballs have quickly become my goto choice. Whether I’m playing indoors or outdoors, they consistently deliver top great performance and the durability is impressive they hold up well after countless games without going soft or cracking, even in colder weather. These balls have a reliable, consistent bounce and a feels better with my paddle making rallies more enjoyable and helping improve my accuracy. They meet USAPA. The brightness of these are something I look forward to especially too. Everyone at our court uses these and they like it as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great color for use in indoor wooden gym floor

r. · June 5, 2025

This bright orange is the best color for my old eyes in my rec center indoor gym/basketball court. There is enough contrast between the background, wood floor & the various color lines that I can actually see this ball. We prefer to use the same outdoor balls (Franklin X40) when playing indoors so we don't have to make adjustments to the different feel of the softer & lighter indoor balls.

5.0 out of 5 stars This ball should be in your court!

A.C. · June 13, 2025

These are a good PB. They play well and have a bright color that is easy to see (although sometimes blends with a grassy background on a bright day). May not be the longest lasting ball on market, but good value for the price.

4.0 out of 5 stars color fade after first use unlike the yellow balls

H. · June 11, 2025

Ball does the job! only thing is after first use, the color will fade after the ball takes a beating from the hitting and the ground.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great balls for outdoor play and indoor play with hard courts

E.G. · May 24, 2025

These are the balls that we use in out outdoor club. We also use them at the Pickleball kingdom which has outdoor courts inside. I like the bounce and speed.Playability- Some of the other brands bounce and speed are different- I prefer Franklin.These are used in many outdoor and indoor tournaments in my area.Visibility- The yellow balls are easier to see...better than the orange ones for me.Quality- They seem to last a reasonable amount of time until they crack.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing balls of fire

A.B. · May 12, 2025

These little spheres of joy (and occasional frustration) are the undisputed champions of the pickleball court. They're bright, they're lively, and they're surprisingly resilient, even after being whacked repeatedly by players who may or may not have anger management issues.These balls fly true, bounce consistently, and generally do everything you ask of them, except maybe fetch themselves when you inevitably yeet one into the bushes. They're the reason pickleball is so addictive, and also the reason you develop a complex about your hand-eye coordination.If you're serious about pickleball, or just enjoy hitting things with a paddle, these are the balls for you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Balls

M.C. · May 28, 2025

More than just a wiffle ball. Pickleballs are actually very different from each other. The Franklin is my favorite ball unless it's cold outside (they crack more than others). They stay round and maintain performance longer than most balls. I like the ability to swing hard and still keep the ball in the court. Other balls could be more powerful, but that isn't a good thing.

Pickleball ball

f. · June 7, 2025

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Authentic Brand

A. · November 28, 2024

The product quality is great and branded. But I faced an issue with receiving less quantity of this product. But that aside the product itself is really great.

Our fave ball

C. · October 8, 2023

We have been using this brand n model for regular practice and training..is hard so it can break easily after several uses if one smashes too hard

Grazie

v. · June 9, 2025

Palline ottime

Good Balls.

C.P. · May 10, 2025

Excellent Balls. Price reasonable.