MLP Asia Locks In Franklin as Official Ball, JOOLA as Net Partner for Inaugural Season
A league is only as good as the equipment it’s played on. With the inaugural MLP Asia season just days away, the league has lined up two of pickleball’s biggest names to take care of the basics: Franklin Sports is the Official Ball Partner, and JOOLA is the Official Net Partner. Together, they’ll be in play for every point of every match, starting 13 November.
Franklin X-44: The Ball in Play
Franklin’s newest performance ball, the X-44, will be the official ball across the season. It’s the next generation of Franklin Pickleball, building on the legacy of the iconic X-40, and it was designed for today’s faster, more competitive game.
The development process was extensive. According to Franklin, the X-44 went through more than 100 sample iterations and plenty of performance testing, with feedback from World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters along the way.
The ball features:
- Optic Yellow: The colour made famous by the X-40.
- Two-piece construction: Built for durability and responsiveness.
- 44 precision-bevelled holes: Designed for consistent flight, with a faster, crisper feel.
“The X-44 is made for the biggest stages,” said Jared Franklin, Head of International at Franklin Sports, “and there’s no better place to see it perform than with some of the best players in the world, in front of home crowds across the continent.”
JOOLA Nets: The Same Standard on Every Court
JOOLA, meanwhile, will make sure the other half of the equation is equally consistent. With match days spread across six cities, its nets will be on every court from the first regular season match through to the MLP Asia Finals, so that every court plays to the same professional standard.
For JOOLA, the partnership is also about the sport’s wider growth in the region. Cola Fang, Managing Director of JOOLA China, said MLP Asia is “a major step forward for pickleball in the region,” and that team pickleball “brings a different kind of energy.”
What Makes MLP Asia Different
The league marks the arrival of Major League Pickleball in Asia, and it’s built for the arena: co-ed, fast-paced and designed for fans who turn up loud for their team. It gives the region things it hasn’t had before, including pro teams, home courts, and rivalries that build week to week.
Six teams will compete over five weeks. Each hosts a match day of regular season pool play, and the top four advance to the MLP Asia Finals. The semifinals are on 11 December, and Super Saturday on 12 December crowns the first champions.
Opening Night
Play begins on Friday, 13 November in Japan, followed by Hong Kong, China, on Saturday, 14 November. After that, it’s a season of home match days across Asia.
With a purpose-built ball and a consistent net on every court, the only thing left to settle is who takes the first title. We’ll find out in December.
