As pickleball becomes more and more of a competitor to other sports, Life Time offers a solution to the common playability issues and helps fitness professionals improve their offerings.
Life Time has announced a new development in pickleball equipment: The Ultimate Pickleball, a ball that solves common problems players face regarding inconsistent speed, bounce and durability.
Pickleball has quickly become a staple in many fitness centers, appealing to a wide range of participants due to its accessibility and social aspects. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) annual Topline Participation Report, 13.6 million Americans tried pickleball last year.
This number puts pickleball on par with baseball (16.7 million participants) and outdoor soccer (14.1 million), and even surpasses skiing (13.1 million). Given this growth, the need for quality equipment has never been greater.
Pickleball has seen a lot of activity this year. Picklr, a Utah-based indoor pickleball franchise that has former NFL player Drew Brees as an investor, owner/area developer of 30 locations in the Midwest, and brand ambassador, recently closed its Series B funding round at a $59 million valuation, bringing its total raised to $9 million.
One of the ongoing challenges in maintaining quality pickleball programs, according to Life Time, is the variability of equipment, particularly the balls used in the game. The inconsistency in speed and bounce, as well as the lack of durability, can frustrate players and detract from the overall experience.
The Ultimate Pickleball, developed under the leadership of Life Time CEO Bahram Akradi, aims to solve these problems and provide players with a more reliable and durable option.
“A clear opportunity that arose was to improve the quality of play and participant experience with a significantly improved pickleball,” said Akradi. “I always welcome the opportunity to overcome challenges and am excited to bring our Ultimate Pickleball to market as a solution that offers the right weight, speed, hole distribution and material to support consistent play and durability.”
The Ultimate Pickleball will be launched exclusively at Life Time clubs later this month and will be used in all Pickleball Classic tournaments. Later, the ball will be available at Life Time professional racquet sports stores and online.
Life Time, the largest owner and operator of fixed pickleball and indoor tennis courts, now has 960 courts dedicated to these two popular sports. Since beginning its investment in pickleball in 2021, Life Time has installed more than 600 fixed pickleball courts across the country. In 2023, the company reported a 51% increase in the number of pickleball players using its courts.
