GB1 Pickleball Balls

FINALLY - A REPLACEMENT TO THE DURA THAT HOLDS UP WELL!We play in a 4.0/4.5+ group with some local Sr Pros mixed in. We used to be 100% DURA ONLY, but as PPA and others have sold out to lower quality balls in a chase for sponsorship money, people keep showing up with Franklins, SLKs, etc. They all play slower, and softer than the DURA, and it turns the game into a mush ball festival.The problem with the DURA is it doesn't hold up well. In the spring / summer heat, they last maybe 6 - 12 games before we get star cracks developing around the holes.We started testing the GB1 balls this winter playing in Hawaii in the 80 degree heat and they were fantastic. Our test group included some exceptionally hard hitting players (former NCAA Div 1 Tennis players,, 5.5 rated ex-tennis players, two former pro racquetball players, etc.). The play group can truly hit hard. The GB1s were lasting 8 - 12+ hours of play in that group. We could use them for 3 - 4 days.They play consistently, they feel fast & light like a DURA, and don't decay into mush like the "softer balls" that social rec players like to use.

I’ve played every ball that the game has to offer and I like the Gearbox ball best. It’s durable and doesn’t lose its shape after several days of playing. I play 4-5 days a week at a 5.0 level and always buy the Gearbox ball now. It plays like a Dura. Give it a try you won’t be disappointed.

As other reviews have mentioned, this is very in between an X-40 and Dura. I find it to be pretty bouncy, and others I play with agree. I prefer this over the X-40, especially in warmer temps.Durability is decent, but not great. Playing in colder temps, I usually get no more than 8 games with one, so about average. Slightly more durable than a Franklin X-40 in the cold, but not by much.

Ok so these balls are amazing. Played quite a few games and they have fallen in the pool a bunch of times but the balls are still doing well. No cracks, nothing. The balls have lasted quite a few dozen games. Quite pleased with these balls

I previously only used 2 brands of out door balls- Franklin x-40 to start then graduated to faster balls- I chose the Core. Everybody in my group around 4.0 and up liked the speed of the core (and it's wind resistance).The GB-1 initially played "fast" but rapidly slowed down to similar to a Franklin x-40 of all things. Also, they were not at good at resisting wind as the Core is even when brand new. 4 people agreed that the ball rapidly became slow and also "floaty" (not fast but long and slow if it wasn't kept way down). Temp started at 73 and after 3 hours it was only 81. No idea how the balls became so slow so quickly. One guy also said that it felt like he was hitting a rock. I'm returning them.

These seem to play more similarly to Dura Fast 40 balls than Franklin balls, which are the two most popular in my area. They play somewhat similarly to Selkirk S1 but without the quickly going out of round issue those balls have. They are just a little less poppy that Dura Fast 40, so if you have Franklin die-hards you might still get them to play with it.I haven't had any issues with early cracking before the point when you should be retiring the ball anyway. I also do not live in a cold area. I don't like to play with balls past 8-10 or so games due to how balls lose their life (similar to tennis balls). They usually go on to ball heaven, or hell, depending on how they played for me.

My group mostly plays with x40's. So it's no surprise that the GB1 feels hard in comparison. When people I play with hit this ball, most say they don't mind it, but some don't like it, and no-one has said they prefer it. I personally like to mix up the balls we use. But, one thing I have really not enjoyed is how easily this ball cracks! It has been cracking during in-door play after 1-2 sessions. I played with it outside yesterday (first spring day of the year, but it was a bit chilly), and the ball cracked in the middle of game two. And it wasn't a small crack, but a giant rigid crack. If you get this ball, expect the ball to play hard, and save it to play only in really warm weather.

Its a very shiny ball right out of the bag and it needs to be scuffed up some before it shows its true color. Its closer to a dura fast than an X-40, but after a couple games it holds spin better than the dura. Some dura snobs may not like it, but its my ball of choice right now. I will update after beating on it in some cold temps. Note: I am a 3.25 player.