Whether you’ve been playing pickleball for many years or you’ve just gotten started in the world of this fun and exciting sport, we’re sure that you’ll agree with us when we say that there really is no better feeling than that feeling of using a new pickleball for the first time.
With a brand new pickleball, you’ll know that you’re going to have the advantage of being able to play with a pickleball that’s going to bounce super high and offer you high speeds when you hit it.
Not only is playing with a new pickleball a guaranteed boost of confidence, but playing with a new pickleball is also super satisfying. The only question is, how long do pickleballs last, exactly?
If you are currently asking yourself this, then rest assured that you have clicked on the right article.
When it comes to the average lifespan of a pickleball, there are a few different factors that can greatly affect how long it is going to be able to last before needing a replacement.
Below, let’s take a look at how long a pickleball usually lasts, as well as how to spot the signs that you’re in need of a new one.
How Long Do Pickleballs Last?
Now, for the all important question! How long do pickleballs last, exactly?
Well, the answer to this question isn’t as clear cut as you might think, because there are a great deal of different factors that contribute to how long a pickleball is going to be able to last before needing to be swapped out for a new one.
Here is just a quick breakdown of the main factors that contribute to the average lifespan of a pickleball:
The quality of the materials used
How often the pickleball is used
The age of the pickleball
…and these are only the basic factors! There are a variety of other factors that can contribute to how long a pickleball is going to be able to last before you need to go ahead and swap it out for a new one.
This includes everything from the amount of time it has been sitting in someone’s bag all the way to whether or not it is an outside pickleball, or a pickleball that has been designed for indoor use.
In other words, there are lots of different factors that go into how long a pickleball is going to be able to last before it needs to be replaced for a new one.
However, as a general rule of thumb, the consensus within the pickleball community seems to be that a pickleball will typically have the ability to last from anywhere between 3-5 games before it needs to be replaced for a new ball.
But, once again, it is important to keep in mind that, given the fact there are so many different elements that contribute to the length of a pickleball’s lifespan, it can be difficult to know just how long each individual pickleball is going to be able to last before it needs to be replaced.
So, how can you spot the signs that a pickleball is in need of a replacement? This brings us to our next point.
What Are the Signs That A Pickleball Needs To Be Replaced?
Now that you know how long a pickleball is going to be able to last (on average) there are a few pointers that we have to share with you that will ensure you are able to spot the signs that your current pickleball is in need of a replacement.
Let’s check them out below:
You can see that the ball is dented: This is one of the biggest signs that a pickleball is in need of a replacement! Even though pickleballs are generally made pretty well, they are only made of plastic which means that there is a high chance that they are going to get damaged while playing with them. That being said, if you can see that a pickleball has a dent in it, then this a surefire sign that you are going to need to swap it out for a new one.
The ball has a poor bounce: As we have already mentioned, it’s totally normal for a pickleball’s performance to swindle the more that it is used. That being said, if you are noticing that your pickleball isn’t bouncing as much as it once was, then this is another clear sign that you are going to need to go ahead and swap out your pickleball for a brand new one. In other words, if you are finding that your ball is not responding in the same way that it once was, then you are going to need to go ahead and grab a new one.
You are struggling to get a spin from the ball: This point ties in closely with the one that we have just mentioned above, but we still think that it is deserving of its own point! As we’re sure you might very well agree, a great spin is one of the biggest advantages that you can get when it comes to making powerful, unexpected shots that can catch the receiving players off guard. For that reason, if you are noticing that you are struggling to get a good spin when making a shot with your pickleball, then this is a clear sign that it is high time to swap it out for a new one.
Trust your gut: Last but certainly not least, the final way that you can spot the signs of your current pickleball being in need of a replacement is simply by trusting your gut. As a pickleball player, you’re naturally going to be able to pick up on the ability to “feel” when a pickleball isn’t offering you the same level of performance that it once was when you first got it. This means that, over time, you’re going to naturally be able to sense when the time has come for a new pickleball. In other words, “trust your gut!”.
Wrapping Up
All in all? It’s really hard to be able to say how long a pickleball is going to last, simply because there are so many different factors that contribute to the lifespan of one.
That being said, as a general rule of thumb, it is generally considered that a pickleball will have the ability to last for a maximum of anywhere between 3-5 games before needing to be swapped out and replaced for a new one.
Still, like we have mentioned above, there are some instances where a pickleball is going to be able to last for a much longer amount of time than this general timeframe.
For this reason, we highly recommend that you make sure to refer to our mini guide we have shared above on how to spot the signs that a pickleball is in need of a replacement.
Thank you for taking the time to read this guide, we hope that this has been helpful! Have fun out on the pickleball court.
Hi, I’m Michael Walter, and I am a Pickleball enthusiast. I work as a High School Physical Education Teacher, so I have an expansive knowledge of sports and its impact on physical health.
When I first took a position at my current school, one of the many things I wanted to implement in the curriculum was Pickleball.
Pickleball is a fantastic sport to keep yourself active, healthy, keep your blood pumping, and to start a good sense of competitiveness and team work.
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