In 2016, The Pearl by Guardian became the official ball of US Lacrosse. Made with a more advanced elastomeric material and innovative manufacturing process, The Pearl removed the slickness and hardening effect of traditional balls, making for a safer product.

Now, Guardian Innovations, maker of The Pearl, has introduced another breakthrough: the No Bounce version of its ball. The newest ball is an option that may be preferred for indoor play and practice. The No Bounce has the same size, weight and softness as the regular Pearl, but the lower coefficient of restitution (COR) means there is less bounce and rebound, translating to less chasing of the ball during practice and indoor play. And similar to the conventional Pearl, it has a grease-free guarantee.

Tony Plagman, sales manager at Guardian Innovations, says that the initial feedback has been extremely positive.

“We rolled these out at LaxCon and they have been very well received,” Plagman said. “They are a great option for indoor play and practice because there is so much less ricochet involved. That’s the main market.”

Due to the lower COR, the No Bounce does not meet the current NOCSAE ball standard and thus is not an option for field play. The No Bounce has a distinct light blue color to help easily differentiate it from balls that meet the NOCSAE standard.

Ryan Baker, founder and president of Wheelchair Lacrosse USA, had a chance to use the No Bounce ball during demo play at the 2018 US Lacrosse Convention in January.

“It’s a very nice, high quality ball,” he said. “The feel of the ball is superior to others that we have tried. The compound in the rubber is much better and offers an enhanced feel in the mesh. The other no bounce balls feel heavier and ultimately lose their grippy feel.”