Franklin Sports Named First Official Ball of the Pro Padel League

Franklin Sports, a leading brand in the sporting goods industry, has been named the first-ever official ball of the Pro Padel League (PPL), marking a landmark, multiyear, partnership between the premier sports equipment brand and the world’s top professional padel league featuring 10 teams across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

As the Official Ball of the PPL, Franklin’s new Duracore Padel Ball will be the first ball to feature the PPL logo and will be used in all league competitions and events.  The new balls will be used for the first time during PPL II matches - a new player initiative designed to support the next generation of PPL players - in Miami on March 15-18.

Designed for elite competition while remaining accessible to everyday players, the Duracore Padel Ball will be distributed nationwide in over 3000 doors as well as on Amazon and FranklinSports.com. This brings the PPL directly to consumers and helps accelerate awareness of the league and the sport of padel. Through this partnership, Franklin leverages PPL’s platform as a North American gateway into the global padel ecosystem.

The Duracore Padel Ball is best-in-class and one of only a select few padel balls officially approved by the FIP for global play. Backed by Franklin Sports’ category leadership - including its position as the No. 1 brand in baseball and the maker of the world’s most played pickleball - it reinforces the company’s commitment to performance, consistency, and international standards.

“This partnership with PPL represents an important milestone for Franklin Sports as we continue expanding our leadership across global racket sports,” said Adam Franklin, President of Franklin Sports. “Having helped drive pickleball into the mainstream with the world’s most played ball, we see tremendous opportunity in padel and believe PPL is the right platform to accelerate its growth. Together, we’re committed to building the future of the sport.”

“As the PPL continues its rapid growth, partnering with Franklin Sports marks a pivotal step for our league,” said Mike Dorfman, CEO of the Pro Padel League. “Franklin has helped shape some of the world’s most recognized sports leagues.  Their proven commitment to innovation and global reach will accelerate our vision to establish padel as a premier professional sport across North America.”

As the partnership officially launches in the United States, it marks Franklin’s strategic entry into padel through the Pro Padel League and is designed with a global roadmap in mind.  Franklin and the PPL share a long-term vision to expand padel’s footprint internationally, leveraging professional competition and premium equipment to grow the sport worldwide.

Additionally, the agreement supports the PPL’s ongoing expansion across North America, with Franklin’s longstanding presence in sporting goods and experience working with major professional leagues including the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and many others.

In addition to Franklin’s Duracore Padel Ball being used across all PPL competitions and events, the partnership includes a comprehensive joint marketing and promotional strategy. This will feature co-branded retail displays, event-based retail activations timed to PPL competitions, and grassroots and community play initiatives, including Franklin product support across the PPL Club Network to help drive local participation and player development.

The 2026 PPL season will feature five events across North America, with the first serve of the season set to take place July 9-12 in New York City, with ensuing events in Los Angeles (Aug. 13-16), Playa del Carmen (Sept. 24-27), and Guadalajara (Nov. 19-22). The City’s Cup, the league’s championship event, will be held Dec. 3-6 in Miami, the padel capital of the United States.

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Courtesy of Franklin Sports. Photo credits:  Franklin Sports.