Selkirk Sport Launches S2 Pro Ball with Industry-First One-Year No-Crack Warranty
Ask any pickleball player what annoys them most about balls, and chances are you’ll hear the same two words: cracked and warped. Selkirk Sport thinks it has an answer, and it’s backing it up with a rather bold guarantee.
The Idaho-based paddle maker has released the S2 Pro, a pickleball built for competitive practice and tournament play, according to a press release from Selkirk Sport.
A Warranty That Puts Its Money Where Its Mouth Is
The headline feature isn’t the ball itself so much as what comes with it. The S2 Pro carries what Selkirk calls an industry-first one-year no-crack and no out-of-round warranty.
That’s no small claim, given that cracked and out-of-round balls are among the most common complaints in the sport. Once a ball cracks or warps, its bounce and flight change, and players often end up replacing balls after only a few sessions.
“Players spend a lot of time choosing the right paddle, then play with a ball that may not last the week,” said Rob Barnes, co-founder and co-CEO of Selkirk Sport. “We wanted a ball that holds up as long as the rest of a player’s gear.”
What’s Under the Hood
So how does Selkirk plan to keep its promise? The S2 Pro uses a patented 38-hole geodesic design with three hole sizes: 7.5 mm, 6.5 mm and 4 mm. The holes are spaced for uniform mass distribution and wind resistance, which is meant to keep the ball from wobbling in flight.
The ball is also made with true-round injection moulding, which helps it hold its shape and resist cracking around the holes under high impact. A textured surface, for its part, adds spin.
Following the Q1 Quiet
The S2 Pro follows the August release of the Q1 Quiet, a ball that plays 34 percent quieter than a standard pickleball. Selkirk says the Q1 Quiet is the only ball dual-certified for USA Pickleball-sanctioned play and as a quiet ball.
Two ball launches in as many months suggest Selkirk is serious about expanding well beyond paddles.
Price and Availability
The S2 Pro is available now in three-packs for $15 and 12-packs for $40. Selkirk Sport, founded in 2014 by brothers Rob and Mike Barnes along with their father Jim, is a family-owned company based in Hayden, Idaho.
Whether players in Asia can get their hands on the S2 Pro is something the announcement doesn’t say, so it’s worth checking Selkirk’s site for shipping details.
