Franklin X-40 Review: The Default Outdoor Pickleball for a Reason

Across expert ball tests and aggregated player reviews, the Franklin X-40 is the closest thing pickleball has to a reference standard. Its uniform 40-hole pattern produces the flight and bounce consistency reviewers keep measuring at or near the top of the field, and its moderate pace makes it playable for everyone from first-timers to tournament regulars — which is exactly why mixed-level open play defaults to it.

It isn't the fastest ball you can buy — the Dura Fast 40 and Selkirk Pro S1 both play quicker, and hard-hitting advanced players sometimes find the X-40 a touch slow in cool weather. Like every traditional outdoor ball it will eventually crack, though it reliably outlasts the Dura in the same conditions. At roughly $2.50 a ball in 12-packs it's also one of the cheapest ways to standardize what your group plays with.