Engage Pickleball " Balls "

[600th Photo Sq]

Recently the Villages changed the Pickleballs to " Engage Pickleballs ".

They are terrible, cheap, soft, and have IMO changed Pickleball totally.

They are soft and a cheap replacement .

Bottom Line Buy Cheap...Buy Twice .

Get Rid of them . They are ... LOUSY...!!!

Buy Cheap.....Buy Twice ++

They really are terrible , very few players players like them...so why... ?

Who made the decision on switching..?

[vintageogauge]

Do you get to use them free?

[Kenswing]

Do you get to use them free?
Free? Isn't that what your amenity fees pay for? With the fees going up wouldn't you expect a better quality of equipment, not less?

[Two Bills]

If it makes the sound from the courts quieter, they get my vote! :duck:

[graciegirl]

They buy your own. Tennis players don't get free balls.

cost of pickleballs - Bing - Shopping (https://www.bing.com/shop?q=cost+of+pickleballs&FORM=SHOPPA&originIGUID=1BE2B0285FEC4AB88B1CD4F104380278)

[Arctic Fox]

"Tennis players don't get free balls"

That would make a good t-shirt :-)

[graciegirl]

That would make a good t-shirt :-)

This is going to be fodder for punsters. We have some great ones.

AND......….No one expects The Villages to provide golf balls.

Balls said the Queen.

[rde3036]

They buy your own. Tennis players don't get free balls.

cost of pickleballs - Bing - Shopping (https://www.bing.com/shop?q=cost+of+pickleballs&FORM=SHOPPA&originIGUID=1BE2B0285FEC4AB88B1CD4F104380278)

You'e telling me that tennis players don't have balls!! That is harsh!

[graciegirl]

They have no pencil sharpeners in any of the art rooms but we art people are managing to soldier on.

[ureout]

They buy your own. Tennis players don't get free balls.

cost of pickleballs - Bing - Shopping (https://www.bing.com/shop?q=cost+of+pickleballs&FORM=SHOPPA&originIGUID=1BE2B0285FEC4AB88B1CD4F104380278)

gracie, i think you miss the op's point.. TV has always offered free pickleballs as they do softballs, water volleyballs, and many other freebies for the various programs, I guess we are used to a certain level of quality especially from TV. As far as changing the balls to another brand I would like to know who gave input into the decision. We have a Pickleball club here that has a lot of input did they ok them?

[Rickster52]

I'm a member of the pickleball community. I'm an avid player. There is a strong consensus among many that indeed the Engage ball represents a significant change in how the game is played. Many players that I play with do not like the Engage ball. The ball gets soft quickly, it becomes "dead" and is harder to put away. The Engage ball will be used in a tournament this week, and many of us are playing with it in order to get a feel for the ball.

I hope The Villages stays with the Dura ball until a better alternative is available. The Dura ball is more fragile in the winter, and perhaps that is part of what is driving the proposal to change the ball.

I appreciate the fact The Village continues to provide balls for the players. We all play with the same ball, which establishes a consistency for all. If players were forced to buy their own balls, that consistency would probably be lost. Moreover, the attitude of "make the players buy their own..." is perhaps expressed by those who don't play the game, or sports in general. Pickleball costs have been factored in the budget for years. Trying to get players to band together and buy the same ball would be difficult as personal biases do exist when it comes to equipment.

The ball matters in many sports, consistency is key.

[twoplanekid]

Although I only play for the fun of it and to stay in shape, the Engage ball is different than the Dura ball. Even at my level, the game play changes using one then the other ball. It’s my understanding that the Engage does cost less and is USA made which is a good thing. However, I am use to the Dura ball and it’s easy to note replacement time when it cracks.

It’s always easy to say if you don’t like it move, change sports, or buy your own. I don’t believe that’s the correct call in this situation.

[Rickster52]

They buy your own. Tennis players don't get free balls.

cost of pickleballs - Bing - Shopping (https://www.bing.com/shop?q=cost+of+pickleballs&FORM=SHOPPA&originIGUID=1BE2B0285FEC4AB88B1CD4F104380278)

Those prices don't represent what The Villages pays for pickleballs. Not when thousands are bought at a time, which The Villages does.

[pauld315]

Usually, TV pilot tests new balls and then decides whether or not to purchase them. I haven't played with these yet but, according to the Engage website, these balls are supposed to be quieter and built so they crack less than other balls. They also have been approved by the USAPA for tournament use.

I wonder if the major tournaments are moving to the Engage balls this year ? Also, since Engage is located right here near The Villages the rec department might have received a deal too good to pass up to use these balls as it would be great for marketing for Engage to say The Villages uses these balls.

[graciegirl]

I'm a member of the pickleball community. I'm an avid player. There is a strong consensus among many that indeed the Engage ball represents a significant change in how the game is played. Many players that I play with do not like the Engage ball. The ball gets soft quickly, it becomes "dead" and is harder to put away. The Engage ball will be used in a tournament this week, and many of us are playing with it in order to get a feel for the ball.

I hope The Villages stays with the Dura ball until a better alternative is available. The Dura ball is more fragile in the winter, and perhaps that is part of what is driving the proposal to change the ball.

I appreciate the fact The Village continues to provide balls for the players. We all play with the same ball, which establishes a consistency for all. If players were forced to buy their own balls, that consistency would probably be lost. Moreover, the attitude of "make the players buy their own..." is perhaps expressed by those who don't play the game, or sports in general. Pickleball costs have been factored in the budget for years. Trying to get players to band together and buy the same ball would be difficult as personal biases do exist when it comes to equipment.

The ball matters in many sports, consistency is key.

Thank you for the explanation. That certainly makes sense. Sorry for my incorrect conclusion.

[bagboy]

I haven't seen a post from anyone who called the recreation department and asked about the change.

[Rickster52]

For those not in the know...The Villages is a world class facility for the sport. There are many players who play here that have competed, and been successful on the national stage.

Just one of the ways The Villages is special. :coolsmiley:

[dadspet]

New balls clearly slow the pace of the game down and "bangers" especially don't seem to like them. I think they tend to level the playing field some and perhaps give us more "mature" players a little more time. They last a lot longer without cracking, especially in the winter. Dual balls crack a lot when temperatures are 40 or below. You clearly don't want to change balls in the middle of a game and must be aware of which ball you will be using when you go into a new game. Bottom line its a game, enjoy it and I clearly wouldn't vote for players bringing their own balls.

[Arctic Fox]

Like many sports, things change.

Tennis racquets have become much larger (and lighter) and golf balls fly further.

If TV decides to make the change then we, as players, need to to adapt our game accordingly.

[kansasr]

To answer your tournament question, a check of the USPA site shows no sanctioned tournaments using this ball.

[Rickster52]

Pickleball participant numbers have grown significantly in the past few years. It's an evolving sport in terms of equipment, style of play, ect.

If the goal is to make the sport more "fan friendly" than I get why a softer ball is being contemplated. Longer rallies, more fun to watch. The US Open in Naples has had a TV contract with CBS Sports Network, so there is interest in televising the sport.

My hope is for a ball that doesn't change drastically during it's lifetime. A Dura ball will crack, which of course ends it's lifetime, but it doesn't change significantly otherwise. The new ball gets softer during it's lifetime. I've played with the newer ball for about 3 weeks. In that time I've seen 2 removed from play due to cracking. Certainly fewer than the Dura ball in my experience.

The tournament this week is the only tournament that I know of so far that is using the Engage ball.

[600th Photo Sq]

I'm a member of the pickleball community. I'm an avid player. There is a strong consensus among many that indeed the Engage ball represents a significant change in how the game is played. Many players that I play with do not like the Engage ball. The ball gets soft quickly, it becomes "dead" and is harder to put away. The Engage ball will be used in a tournament this week, and many of us are playing with it in order to get a feel for the ball.

I hope The Villages stays with the Dura ball until a better alternative is available. The Dura ball is more fragile in the winter, and perhaps that is part of what is driving the proposal to change the ball.

I appreciate the fact The Village continues to provide balls for the players. We all play with the same ball, which establishes a consistency for all. If players were forced to buy their own balls, that consistency would probably be lost. Moreover, the attitude of "make the players buy their own..." is perhaps expressed by those who don't play the game, or sports in general. Pickleball costs have been factored in the budget for years. Trying to get players to band together and buy the same ball would be difficult as personal biases do exist when it comes to equipment.

The ball matters in many sports, consistency is key.

I agree with the above comments. I have expressed my concern to Mr. Rohan at the Rohan Rec. Center..and all I got was were looking into it.......that was 3 weeks ago.

It would be useful if other players expressed their concerns to Mr. Rohan.

[charmed59]

I play tennis here in the Villages and yes, we do buy our own balls. However, it also is not a drop in sport. You set up a group and know who you are playing with. Balls can be assigned and you are playing on the same court with the same balls for the entire set. Balls also have markings so you know if the ball you are playing with is one you started with.

Pickle ball here in the Villages is mostly drop in. You change courts and partners every game, which often means every 10 minutes. Assuming everyone brought their own ball, keeping track of whose ball it is would rival scoring in challenging people’s memory. I’ve occasionally been playing when there is one court that has their own ball, and their game just stops hoping someone will send the ball back down when it rolls to the other end of the courts. The only time I’ve heard less than friendly exchanges between groups has been over a ball someone owned. I wouldn’t want that to be the norm.

[600th Photo Sq]

I agree with the above comments. I have expressed my concern to Mr. Rohan at the Rohan Rec. Center..and all I got was were looking into it.......that was 3 weeks ago.

It would be useful if other players expressed their concerns to Mr. Rohan.

Here is Mr Rohan's email address: john.Rohan@districtgov.org

[Topspinmo]

I haven't seen a post from anyone who called the recreation department and asked about the change.

Yep, just like calling about the 6 foot wind screen? Like they listen.

[Topspinmo]

Here is Mr Rohan's email address: john.Rohan@districtgov.org


Waste of time:boom:

[Topspinmo]

I'm a member of the pickleball community. I'm an avid player. There is a strong consensus among many that indeed the Engage ball represents a significant change in how the game is played. Many players that I play with do not like the Engage ball. The ball gets soft quickly, it becomes "dead" and is harder to put away. The Engage ball will be used in a tournament this week, and many of us are playing with it in order to get a feel for the ball.

I hope The Villages stays with the Dura ball until a better alternative is available. The Dura ball is more fragile in the winter, and perhaps that is part of what is driving the proposal to change the ball.

I appreciate the fact The Village continues to provide balls for the players. We all play with the same ball, which establishes a consistency for all. If players were forced to buy their own balls, that consistency would probably be lost. Moreover, the attitude of "make the players buy their own..." is perhaps expressed by those who don't play the game, or sports in general. Pickleball costs have been factored in the budget for years. Trying to get players to band together and buy the same ball would be difficult as personal biases do exist when it comes to equipment.

The ball matters in many sports, consistency is key.

I play most every day, IMO ball is ball as long as we are all playing with the same ball. The problem IMO is two different types of balls in the basket. Heck even put different color ball in basket and it will not get used. You get use to feel, sound, And bounce of ball. Each ball has it good and bad points. Dura balls crack easily (too hard?), some are lopsided or bumpy, and bounce funny, low or high depending on what area the ball hits the court.

. Onix balls last for ever, but over time develop soft spots but bounce pretty consistent, but they cost more. IMO the engage ball is softer and bounce more consistent, but nobody wants to play with them to get use to them. Bottom line is villages supplies the balls. Once the dura balls are gone and month goes by the sun will rise again IMO.

[Marathon Man]

Waste of time:boom:

I have always found the staff to be responsive to the residents. Never a waste of time to have a good discussion with any of them. IMO.

[Topspinmo]

I have always found the staff to be responsive to the residents. Never a waste of time to have a good discussion with any of them. IMO.

Discussion says it all IMO

[Marathon Man]

Discussion says it all IMO

Actually, a discussion on here does nothing. As has been said with many topics. Discussions with the correct people in the correct place at the correct time is need to create results. The problem is - How many are willing to take the time to do that?

[Topspinmo]

Pickleball participant numbers have grown significantly in the past few years. It's an evolving sport in terms of equipment, style of play, ect.

If the goal is to make the sport more "fan friendly" than I get why a softer ball is being contemplated. Longer rallies, more fun to watch. The US Open in Naples has had a TV contract with CBS Sports Network, so there is interest in televising the sport.

My hope is for a ball that doesn't change drastically during it's lifetime. A Dura ball will crack, which of course ends it's lifetime, but it doesn't change significantly otherwise. The new ball gets softer during it's lifetime. I've played with the newer ball for about 3 weeks. In that time I've seen 2 removed from play due to cracking. Certainly fewer than the Dura ball in my experience.

The tournament this week is the only tournament that I know of so far that is using the Engage ball.


IMO before pickleball takes off on TV or as pro sport they will have to get rid of sidouts. Takes too long to end game for televised production. Rally score end game quicker and TV friendly. Billiards or pocket billiards didn’t become popular on tv till 9 ball cause straight pool took too long to televise match.

IMO tournaments will use ball that companies will sponsor, at end of the day it’s about money.

[CFrance]

When I went to my hairdresser up on 466 across from Walmart, I noticed new pickleball courts in an open field next to the hairdresser's. So I drove by there on my way out. There is a huge sign that says ENGAGE PICKLEBALL, and there looked to be four or six courts, all full. This place is not on TV property. My husband looked it up, and they are teaching people pickleball there. It seems like a curious coincidence that this place appeared within the last few months, and suddenly TV has switched to Engage pickleballs. It's clinics, drills, and leagues. Pay to play. Engage ProShop & Academy Training Center (Oxford, FL) - EngagePickleball (https://engagepickleball.com/pages/engage-proshop-academy-at-oxford-park-the-villages-fl-schedule).

I see nothing wrong with bringing your own balls if you don't like the Engage balls. People will always return your ball to you if it flies onto their court, and a simple initialing with a Sharpie takes the guesswork out of whose ball it is. No big deal IMO.