Three balls keep coming up when Australian players ask which outdoor pickleball to buy: Selkirk’s new S2 Pro, the Life Time LT Pro 48 (plenty of people search for it as Lifetime pickleball), and the Franklin X-40 (also written Franklin X40), the familiar one. They do not play the same, they do not cost the same, and one of them is still on pre-order. Here is the straight answer first, then the numbers.
Best outdoor pickleball balls in Australia: the short answer
- Life Time LT Pro 48. Pickleball Effect names it best overall. It has the proven durability record, and visibility is its known weak spot.
- Selkirk S2 Pro. Pickleball Effect names it best for visibility and a quicker game. It is on pre-order with us and we have not hit one yet.
- Franklin X-40. The slower, lower-priced everyday ball, in stock, and the value answer. It is on USA Pickleball’s approved ball list.
If you came looking for the best pickleball balls, there is no single winner. Which one is right for you depends on what you play on, what you play in and how many balls you go through. The sections below say which to buy for social play, hot days, indoors, a club buying 100 and sanctioned events. For the S2 Pro on its own, see our Selkirk S2 Pro launch guide.
Where these numbers come from
We do not run lab tests, so every test number in this guide is Pickleball Effect’s (Braydon Unsicker, 28 October 2026), with a separate S2 Pro vs LT Pro 48 write-up. One thing to know up front: that test’s headline Franklin is the X-44. The X-40 appears in its tables as a familiar reference ball rather than as one of its three recommendations, so a missing score for the X-40 means Pickleball Effect did not give it one.
Two more honest notes. Ben and Chris have played the Life Time LT Pro 48 in the US, and durability is what stood out. Nobody at Pickld has played an S2 Pro yet.
Selkirk S2 Pro vs Life Time LT Pro 48 vs Franklin X-40: the numbers
| Pickleball Effect test | Selkirk S2 Pro | Life Time LT Pro 48 | Franklin X-40 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power, used (mph) | 59.70 | 59.70 | 57.67 |
| Pop, new (mph) | 40.00 | 39.20 | 37.80 |
| Pop, used (mph) | 39.60 | 39.00 | 37.10 |
| Bounce, new (in) | 22.38 | 22.79 | 21.11 |
| Bounce, used (in) | 22.32 | 22.42 | 20.93 |
| Bounce lost, new to used (in) | 0.06 | 0.37 | 0.18 |
| Spin, used (rpm) | 2,104 | 2,092 | 2,089 |
| Bounce consistency | 10 out of 10 | 10 out of 10 | Not scored |
| Visibility | Excellent | Okay | Not rated |
| Pickleball Effect’s verdict | Best for visibility and a quicker game | Best overall | Familiar reference ball |
Source: Pickleball Effect, Braydon Unsicker, 28 October 2026. Bounce lost is new minus used. For the X-40 that is our subtraction (21.11 minus 20.93); the S2 Pro and LT Pro 48 figures match Pickleball Effect’s own.
Speed and power
The S2 Pro and LT Pro 48 tie on used power at 59.70 mph. The X-40 is 2.03 mph behind at 57.67 mph. Off the paddle, used pop runs 39.60 mph for the S2 Pro, 39.00 mph for the LT Pro 48 and 37.10 mph for the X-40, so the X-40 is between 1.9 and 2.5 mph slower than the other two. Pickleball Effect says the S2 Pro and LT Pro 48 are faster and more responsive than traditional balls like the X-40, and gives the S2 Pro the quickest response, especially in pop: it says the ball feels quickest during hands exchanges at the kitchen.
Bounce
The X-40 sits lowest, at 20.93 in used against 22.32 in for the S2 Pro and 22.42 in for the LT Pro 48. The S2 Pro barely changes between new and used, losing 0.06 in. The LT Pro 48 loses 0.37 in. Both score 10 out of 10 for bounce consistency. In plain terms (our read, not Pickleball Effect’s), the S2 Pro plays almost the same new and used on this test, the LT Pro 48 gives up a little bounce as it breaks in, and the X-40 plays lower throughout.
Spin
Used spin is 2,104 rpm for the S2 Pro, 2,092 rpm for the LT Pro 48 and 2,089 rpm for the X-40. That is 15 rpm from top to bottom, so on these numbers spin is not what separates them.
Visibility and durability
Pickleball Effect rates the S2 Pro’s visibility excellent and the LT Pro 48’s okay, and calls visibility the LT Pro 48’s biggest weakness. It gave the X-40 no visibility rating. On durability, Pickleball Effect says the LT Pro 48 has proven long-lasting durability. S2 Pro durability testing is still going, and the page makes no durability claim about the X-40.
The three balls, one at a time
Selkirk S2 Pro: the visible, quicker one (pre-order)
Selkirk says the S2 Pro has 38 holes in a patented layout and is made with True-Round injection moulding to stay round. Those are Selkirk’s claims. The stock we sell carries Selkirk’s six-month no-crack warranty (its one-year warranty is advertised for US stock). Two open items matter before you buy. Durability testing is still going. And it is not on USA Pickleball’s approved ball list as at 4 November 2026. Full detail in the S2 Pro launch guide. Pre-order is paid in full at order, the first shipment is due mid November, and you can cancel any time before it ships for a full refund.
Life Time LT Pro 48: the ball the top US pros play
The LT Pro 48 is the ball the top US pros play. It is elite in the US and a rookie here. Pickleball Effect names it best overall. Durability is what stood out when Ben and Chris played it in the US, and visibility is the known weak spot. It is not on USA Pickleball’s approved ball list as at 4 November 2026. We sell it as a 3 pack and a 6 pack, and you will find it in our Life Time collection.
Franklin X-40: the everyday default
The X-40 is the ball many Australian players already know, and it is on USA Pickleball’s approved ball list. On Pickleball Effect’s numbers it is the slowest and lowest-bouncing of the three, and it costs less per ball than the other two at every pack size we sell. We keep it in stock from a 3 pack up to a 100 pack. For the whole Franklin range, including the indoor balls, see our Franklin balls guide.
Price per ball at Pickld
Prices are in Australian dollars including GST, as at 4 November 2026. The Life Time LT Pro 48 comes in 3 and 6 packs here.
| Pack | Selkirk S2 Pro | Life Time LT Pro 48 | Franklin X-40 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 pack | $19.50 ($6.50 a ball) | $18.00 ($6.00 a ball) | $12.95 ($4.32 a ball) |
| 6 pack | $36.00 ($6.00 a ball) | $33.00 ($5.50 a ball) | $24.95 ($4.16 a ball) |
| 12 pack | $63.00 ($5.25 a ball) | Not sold in this size | $47.95 ($4.00 a ball) |
| 50 pack | $237.50 ($4.75 a ball) | Not sold in this size | $184.95 ($3.70 a ball) |
| 100 pack | $450.00 ($4.50 a ball) | Not sold in this size | $335.00 ($3.35 a ball) |
In a 3 pack the S2 Pro costs $2.18 a ball more than the X-40 and 50 cents a ball more than the LT Pro 48. In a 100 pack the gap to the X-40 is $1.15 a ball. The S2 Pro packs are made up in Sydney from Selkirk’s 100-ball bag. Every pack is on the pickleball balls collection.
Which outdoor pickleball should you buy?
For social play
If you play a few social sessions a week and want the lowest running cost of the three, the X-40 does the job at $4.00 a ball in a 12 pack. If you struggle to track the ball, the S2 Pro is the one Pickleball Effect rates excellent for visibility. If you want Pickleball Effect’s best overall, that is the LT Pro 48.
For hot days
Pickleball Effect says the S2 Pro suits hotter weather, when conditions are slower. Its write-up makes no such note for the LT Pro 48 or the X-40.
For indoor play
If you play on a gym floor most weeks, buy an indoor ball. Our indoor vs outdoor pickleballs guide explains why, and our indoor balls guide picks them. If you do use one of these three indoors, Pickleball Effect prefers the LT Pro 48’s pace for indoor play.
For a club buying 100
A 100 pack of the X-40 is $335.00, which is $3.35 a ball. The S2 Pro 100 pack is $450.00, or $4.50 a ball. The LT Pro 48 does not come in a 100 pack here. If your club runs sanctioned events, check which ball the event names first.
For tournament pickleballs and sanctioned events
The X-40 is on USA Pickleball’s approved ball list. The S2 Pro and the LT Pro 48 are not, as at 4 November 2026. The Dink reports that the S2 Pro is the official ball of APP Asia, which is a statement about APP Asia, not about any Australian event. Check your event’s rules before you buy tournament pickleballs.
For a ball that has to last
The LT Pro 48 has the record: Pickleball Effect calls its durability proven. The S2 Pro does not have a durability result yet.
Outdoor pickleball balls FAQ
What is the best outdoor pickleball in Australia?
There is no single answer. Pickleball Effect names the Life Time LT Pro 48 best overall, the Selkirk S2 Pro best for visibility and a quicker game, and uses the Franklin X-40 as a familiar reference ball. For a lower price per ball and a ball on the approved list, the X-40 is the pick.
Is the Selkirk S2 Pro better than the Life Time LT Pro 48?
Pickleball Effect names the LT Pro 48 best overall. The two tie on used power at 59.70 mph, and the S2 Pro is ahead on used pop (39.60 mph against 39.00 mph), on bounce lost between new and used (0.06 in against 0.37 in) and on visibility. The LT Pro 48 is ahead on proven durability. It depends which of those matters to you.
Is the Franklin X-40 still worth buying?
Yes, if you want a lower price per ball, a ball on the approved list, and a slower game. On Pickleball Effect’s numbers it plays slower and lower than the other two, and it is the familiar ball.
Which of these balls are on USA Pickleball’s approved list?
The X-40. The S2 Pro and the LT Pro 48 are not on it as at November 2026. Read the current list before a sanctioned event.
Can I use outdoor pickleballs indoors?
You can, but a dedicated indoor ball is usually the better choice. See our indoor vs outdoor guide.
The verdict
Buy by what you need. Choose the Life Time LT Pro 48 if durability and Pickleball Effect’s best overall matter most and you can live with okay visibility. Choose the Selkirk S2 Pro if you want visibility and a quicker game and are comfortable pre-ordering a ball that has lab numbers, but no durability result and no hands-on from us yet. Choose the Franklin X-40 if you want the familiar, lower-priced ball that is on the approved list, and for a club buying 100. We will add what we find when the S2 Pro lands.
