Komodo Pickleball Eco-Friendly BioBall: A company in Grand Junction, Colorado, is changing the way people play pickleball. Komodo Pickleball, founded by Dave Milo, has created the BioBall, a new eco-friendly pickleball that breaks down in landfills in just three to five years. The ball, which launched in November 2024, is made with biodegradable materials and a special additive that helps it decompose much faster than regular plastic balls, which can take over 100 years.
As pickleball becomes more popular across the U.S., with nearly 16,000 courts and 500 million balls used each year, the number of broken and thrown-away balls has increased. Around 77 million pounds of plastic pickleballs end up in landfills annually. Komodo Pickleball wants to stop this growing waste problem while making sure players still enjoy the game.
The Rise of Pickleball and the Need for Change
The sport of pickleball is growing fast. Pickleball courts are opening in parks and indoor spaces all over the country. But with more people playing, more balls are being used—and thrown away. Most pickleballs are made of hard plastic and are not built to last long. This causes a big trash problem.
Dave Milo saw this issue and decided to act. He used to run a tennis racket and stringing shop in Grand Junction and played tennis for years. But when pickleball became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, he switched his focus.
“With tennis kind of flatlining, it was a smart move to launch into pickleball,” (Dave Milo).
How the BioBall Was Made
In 2020, Dave Milo began selling pickleball paddles and other gear. But he wanted to go further. He teamed up with one of his old tennis mentors, the owner of Babolat USA, who was working on an eco-friendly tennis ball. Together, they explored whether it was possible to make a similar ball for pickleball.
“First, my mentor and I started with finding the right manufacturer—someone who has been in the [ball sports] industry a while,”. “Then, testing took place with the formula several times to get the perfect ball that would withstand various climates and elevations.”(Dave Milo)
They used a process called rotomolding to make the BioBall. This method spins and heats the material, making the ball stronger and thicker than regular balls, which are usually made with injection molding. The BioBall lasts up to 60 matches—much longer than most balls that only survive a few games.
“During the BioBall’s test trials, not a single one cracked or lost its shape,” (Dave Milo).
Positive Feedback From Players and Clubs
The BioBall looks like a regular pickleball, with 40 holes and a bright green color. It is made for both indoor and outdoor play. It also works well at high elevations, like in Colorado.
Alex Rebeiz, the owner and executive director of Cascades Tennis Group at Aspen Meadow Resorts, was one of the first to try the new ball.
“It’s a no-brainer,”. “We were thrilled to bring it in and push it with our youth pickleball program. We want to start the next generation playing at their peak performance and peak mindset of the environment,
so we just started teaching all our junior programs with the BioBall. We are excited to transition with our other leagues.”(Alex Rebeiz)
Another supporter is Holly Traut, a pickleball pro at the Sonnenalp Club in Edwards. The club recently built six new courts.
“We are a state-of-the-art facility and look to match that in our equipment,”. “We were definitely drawn to how sustainable it is—and we’ve also noticed it’s great for kids and beginners as well as advanced players. It’s a high-altitude ball for sure.”(Holly Traut)
A Global Push for Sustainability
Though Komodo’s BioBall has only been on the market for seven months, it’s already being sold in Europe, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. In Denver, people can buy it at local stores like Game-Set-Match or order it online.
Komodo Pickleball hopes the BioBall will inspire more players to think about how their gear affects the planet. Now, players can enjoy drop shots and dinks while also helping the Earth.
News in Brief: Komodo Pickleball Eco-Friendly BioBall
Komodo Pickleball in Grand Junction, Colorado, has launched the BioBall, a biodegradable pickleball that breaks down in landfills within five years. It lasts up to 60 matches and is gaining popularity in the U.S. and abroad. Clubs in Colorado are among the first to adopt the eco-friendly ball.
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