Traditional Pickleball vs Vexma-Engineered Tank Ball
Spoiler Alert: One gets pancaked. The other? Walk it off like a champ.
At Vexma Technologies, we don’t just 3D print things - we engineer them. So when we set out to design our own version of a pickleball, we weren’t aiming for a novelty item. We wanted to redefine what durability means in recreational equipment.
But what good is a bold claim without a brutal test?
The Test: 2 Tons of Truth
We put our 3d printed pickleball head-to-head with a standard off-the-shelf pickleball in the most unforgiving way possible: under the tires of a 2-ton vehicle. Why? Because nothing reveals a product's true nature like a little real-world chaos.
Result:
• Traditional Pickleball: Crushed flat. Cracked open. Game over.
• Vexma’s 3D Printed Pickleball: Compressed momentarily, but returned to shape. Still playable. Not a scratch on its ego.
The Limitations of Traditional Pickleballs
Traditional pickleballs are typically manufactured using injection molding or rotational molding - standard techniques that allow for mass production at low cost. While these processes have helped pickleball grow into a globally recognized sport, they also bring along performance and durability issues that can’t be ignored.
• Inconsistent Wall Thickness:
Injection and rotational molding can result in varying wall thickness across the ball. This inconsistency leads to unpredictable bounce patterns, poor weight distribution, and compromised structural integrity - especially under repeated impact.
• Low Impact Resistance:
Conventional pickleballs are prone to cracking or deforming when subjected to high stress, especially in colder temperatures or rough playing environments. One hard slam or awkward bounce can spell the end of the game ball.
• Short Lifespan:
Due to their limited resistance to wear and environmental conditions, traditional pickleballs often require frequent replacement. For recreational players, this means more expense. For competitive players, it means unreliable performance over time.
• Limited Customization:
Mass manufacturing methods are optimized for scale, not specificity. As a result, custom designs, performance tuning, or material upgrades are either not feasible or prohibitively expensive.Why Ours Survived
Let’s break down the difference. Spoiler: It’s not just better plastic.
• Material Science Meets Engineering Know-How:
Most 3D printed objects are made with little consideration beyond the slicer settings and a hope it turns out well. At Vexma, we go deeper. Every layer, infill pattern, and thermoplastic blend in the Tankball is selected and tuned to behave a certain way under stress. This isn’t filament artistry. It’s material behavior engineering.
• Designed for Durability, Not Display:
Our design process doesn’t stop at aesthetics or shape optimization. We use Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles to ensure the product can handle life’s worst. This includes impact resilience, long-term environmental stability, and failure-mode analysis. Put simply: we design until breaking it is the only way to find the next design improvement.
• CAD with a Brain Behind It:
CAD isn’t just a tool for visualizing. At Vexma, we treat it as an engineering interface - deeply integrated with finite element analysis, stress simulations, and performance mapping. Every curve in 3d printed pickleball is calculated, not copied.
• Tested Beyond Standards:
We believe design ends only after destruction. We simulate, prototype, and then break things intentionally to see where they fail. Then, we build it again—stronger.Not Just a Print - It’s a Philosophy
The Tankball isn’t just a win for sports gear. It’s proof that additive manufacturing, when treated seriously, can rival traditional methods for functional, high-performance parts. We’re not here to flood the market with fragile, decorative plastic. We’re here to build solutions. Real ones.
Why This Matters for Pickleball Players
Whether you're a casual player or a tournament regular, your equipment should enhance - not hinder your game. Traditional pickleballs fall short when it comes to durability, precision, and play consistency. That's where 3D printed pickleballs offer a revolutionary leap forward.
Using engineering-first additive manufacturing, we’re eliminating the common pain points players experience with conventional balls - offering longer lifespan, consistent play, and rugged resilience even under extreme stress.
Searching for a better pickleball experience?
Vexma’s 3D Printed Pickleball is engineered to outperform and outlast traditional pickleballs in every way.
✅ Engineered for Durability
✅ Tested for Performance
✅ Designed with Precision
Still think a 3D printed pickleball can't take a beating?
Watch our real-world crush test where we run a 2-ton car over both a traditional pickleball and our engineered-for-impact Vexma Tankball.
👉 Watch now on YouTube: Tankball vs. 2-Ton Car | Vexma Durability Test
