Pickleball continues to develop in recognition — and Life Time continues to be on the forefront of the sport with greater than 800 courts throughout the nation, along with customized programming, open play, and numerous social alternatives and occasions. Its newest contribution to the game? A filed patent for the LT Professional 48 pickleball — an improved pickleball for gamers of all ranges.
“Life Time has elevated the sport of pickleball since 2021 and quickly grown the variety of courts we provide throughout North America, together with the very best classes, leagues, tournaments and coaches,” says Life Time founder, chairman, and CEO Bahram Akradi. “A transparent alternative emerged to advance the standard of gameplay and contributors’ experiences with a vastly improved pickleball.”
Designed to handle widespread points confronted by gamers — from play that’s too sluggish to sooner play that’s inconsistent in bounce — this first-of-its-kind pickleball has the potential to vary the sport for gamers, whether or not they’re simply getting began or competing on the skilled stage.
Listed below are 5 issues to know concerning the LT Professional 48 pickleball, which is offered for play now:
1. It’s designed to make sure predictable velocity.
Pickleballs presently in the marketplace typically play too sluggish — or the sooner balls most popular by professionals and higher-end gamers are inconsistent in how they bounce. As an engineer and avid pickleball participant, Life Time founder, CEO, and chairman Bahram Akradi skilled these ache factors and sought to know what brought about them. He then labored with a staff to develop a pickleball that might play extra constantly.
“I at all times welcome the chance to resolve challenges and am excited to launch our LT Professional 48 pickleball as an answer to supply the correct weight, velocity, gap distribution and materials to assist constant play and sturdiness,” says Akradi.
The modern design of the LT Professional 48 pickleball deliberately strays from that of conventional pickleballs. The staff got here up with a model that extra evenly distributes 48 holes throughout the floor, which permits for extra constant velocity and bounce for the ball.
2. It’s made to be sturdy and sustainable.
One other ache level for avid pickleball gamers is that pickleballs typically break — the truth is, it’s attainable for a ball to final solely a short while earlier than needing to get replaced. That is very true of the balls designed to fly sooner by the air, which is usually most popular by professionals and higher-ranked gamers.
With its sturdy design, the LT Professional 48 pickleball stays in play longer, which ends up in much less waste and extra bang on your buck. The chamfered edges of every gap not solely present a constant bounce, however in addition they assist scale back cracking, which primarily begin on the holes on conventional pickleballs.
“The best way the ball bounces level after level, and its really feel because it comes off the paddle, don’t change because it wears over time,” says RJ Singh, chief digital officer and chief of the racquet sports activities division at Life Time.
3. It’s been named the official ball of the Carvana PPA Tour.
The LT Professional 48 pickleball will turn out to be the unique ball utilized in all Skilled Pickleball Affiliation (PPA) tournaments. (The ball will first be used throughout the PPA match in Bristol, Tenn., in early August 2025.) “With the ever-changing requirements in pickleball gear, the LT Professional 48 has actually elevated the standard of what a pro-level ball will be, so we’re thrilled our relationship with Life Time permits us to make the most of this ball on the highest ranges of competitors,” says Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the PPA Tour.
Life Time has lengthy been a key venue companion for the PPA and just lately expanded its partnership to host extra tournaments throughout its athletic nation golf equipment. (Discover out if one in every of Life Time’s pickleball courts is close to you!)
4. It has undergone in depth trials by a few of the finest gamers at Life Time.
A few of Life Time’s finest pickleballers had been among the many first to have the chance to play with the LT Professional 48 pickleball, they usually report that gamers can anticipate a 100-percent-consistent bounce, in addition to superior velocity, which ensures truthful and pleasurable matches for newbies and professionals alike.
5. It really works for each indoor and outside pickleball play.
Though pickleball gamers typically use two various kinds of balls for indoor and outside courtroom surfaces, the consistency, sturdiness, and velocity of the LT Professional 48 pickleball come collectively to make the ball an incredible selection for each.
“This pickleball performs quick, which is what you’re on the lookout for in aggressive play,” says Singh. “This additionally means it really works nicely for an thrilling sport on each indoor and outside surfaces.”
The brand new pickleball is offered for play at Life Time golf equipment throughout the nation and out there for buy on-line on the LT Store.
