Zane Navratil’s LifeTime Pickleball Review: Professional pickleball player Zane Navratil has shared his full review of the new LifeTime pickleball after playing with it during a pro tournament held this past weekend in Atlanta. With mixed opinions from other pros and a controversial backstory, Navratil set out to explore the ball’s performance, feel, and long-term impact on the game.
Mixed Reactions from Pro Players
The LifeTime pickleball has divided the pro community. Federico Staksrud posted, “This ball is a complete disaster.” In contrast, James Ignatowich tweeted, “I love the LifeTime pickle ball.”
Meanwhile, Max Freeman wrote, “Fuck this ball.” Navratil used the ball for the first time during a professional event and decided to share his thoughts after that experience.
Why the Ball Is Being Used on the Tour
Zane Navratil explained that the LifeTime ball is not entirely new. Based on LifeTime’s Instagram page, it was launched in November 2024. According to Navratil, LifeTime may have pushed the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) to use their ball, possibly saying: use the LifeTime ball or lose access to their venues.
As the Atlanta Slam and Orange County Cup are held at LifeTime facilities, it appears the decision was made to go along with using their ball. Navratil added, “I try my hardest to stick to publicly available facts so please note that this has not been confirmed to my knowledge so take it with a giant grain of salt.”
How the Ball Performs on Court
Navratil noticed several key details after testing the LifeTime ball. First, he saw an internal seam. He expected poor results, as similar designs didn’t work well before, but didn’t find issues while hitting.
He also noticed that the ball has smaller holes than the Vulcan brand—48 compared to 40—and softer edges. The LifeTime ball felt smoother when touched, which he believed could help its playability.
Even though the LifeTime and Vulcan balls weighed 26 grams, the LifeTime version felt heavier. Navratil said that he and his friends experienced slightly more arm soreness after switching, though that might be due to their long-term use of Vulcan balls.
He compared the difference in feel, saying, “A new Vulcan ball feels much harder initially like a baseball and the LifeTime Ball feels softer but springier like a tennis ball.” When the LifeTime ball hit the paddle or ground, it seemed to compress more, leading to faster and higher bounces.
Zane Navratil also mentioned that the LifeTime ball spun less than the Vulcan ball, but seemed to slow down more in the air because of its extra holes. Despite being fast, he said shots didn’t feel wild or out of control. Serving and returning deep shots felt easier.
One thing he praised strongly was the bounce: “I can’t think of a single bad bounce from the LifeTime ball nor did any of them go even the slightest out of round.” This consistency introduced a new strategy—taking the ball on the rise. Because the bounce was so predictable, players could begin their swing earlier with confidence.
Durability and Cost Comparison
During MLP and PPA events, players usually switch Vulcan balls every game. But with the LifeTime ball, one ball was used for entire matches unless it rolled under the bleachers. Navratil joked, “Unless they went under the bleachers I will stay under there. Now it’s Alan who’s going. He’s going spelunking. It’s like a crab walk. We have spelunking going on.”
He believes all balls get softer over time, but the LifeTime ball kept its quality longer. A 100-pack of Vulcan balls costs about $250, while LifeTime’s is about $329. Though more expensive, it might be more durable.
Final Thoughts and a Bit of Humor
Navratil pointed out one issue: “The ball is just ever so slightly so fast. If the springiness could be taken down like 5 to 10% I think it’d be a pretty perfect ball.”
Even with the speed concern, he believes the benefits—especially the true bounce—outweigh the downsides.
To close the review, he included a light-hearted test with his dog: “Now for the most important question. Which ball does Arlo prefer? Okay. Gentle. Oh, we like the Vulcan. Here you go.”
News in Brief: Zane Navratil’s LifeTime Pickleball Review
Zane Navratil tested the LifeTime pickleball during a pro event in Atlanta and shared his honest take. Despite mixed player reactions, he found it fast but very consistent. It costs more than the Vulcan but may last longer. He praised its bounce and suggested a slight tweak for perfection.
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