How to choose a ball for basketball

Despite the fact that basketball does not enjoy such a popular love as football, its popularity in our country is enormous. However, in order to experience all the charms of the right game, you need suitable and complete equipment, and, first of all, a basketball. In order to pick the ball correctly, it is necessary to pay attention to a set of criteria that are extremely important for experienced basketball players.

Which basketball to choose. Determine the gaming surface.

we determine the game surface

Before giving preference to a particular model of a basketball, it is necessary to determine the nature of the site on which the game will be played, and, in particular, the type of coverage:

If the game will take place on the street, on asphalt or concrete pavement, preference should be given to balls marked “Outdoor”. Such balls are based on polyurethane or rubber, and their surface is coated with a special compound that protects the ball from damage and wear with constant contact with a hard surface;
In the case when a closed area will act as a “battlefield”, and polyurethane, rubber or other surfaces similar in nature will be observed as a surface, you should prefer balls marked “Indoor”. Such models are almost always made of genuine leather, and their surface is additionally covered with microfiber, which improves adhesion with the hands during the game.

It should be remembered that these materials are quite fragile, and even a short game on hard pavement can make a leather ball unusable.

Basketball Sizes

The classification of basketballs is carried out in the form of numbers, each of which has its own weight and dimensional characteristics:

Balls of the third number can reach 580 millimeters in circumference, and their weight does not exceed 300-330 grams. Such balls are designed for dribbling, as well as for children's and junior teams;
Balls grades 5-6 are large. The length of their circumference can reach 710 mm, and their weight is limited to 560-570 grams. Such balls are used in the women's basketball league, as well as popular among juniors up to 15-16 years;
Adult men's teams almost always use seventh grade balls to play basketball. Dimensions of such balls can reach 780 millimeters, and their weight reaches 700 grams;

Differences in the materials used

Rubber is widely used for the manufacture of outdoor-balls budget price segment. Such balls are suitable for playing on the street, and it is hardly possible to call them quality: with an active game, such balls quickly become unusable. Of the advantages it should be noted the low price - such balls are available even to buyers who are limited in finances;
Balls made from synthetic or composite leather are almost always the basic models of the Indoor segment. They are designed for use in premises and on sites with a special type of surface. Soft, pleasant to the touch and strong enough - these and many other positive points contribute to their popularity. Among the shortcomings should be noted unsuitability for playing on the street;
Leather balls are considered the highest quality, and therefore, expensive models. Genuine leather is a durable, durable, pleasant to the touch material, it provides excellent performance characteristics. Not without a fly in the ointment - the inscription Indoor use only on all leather balls indicates that use is allowed only when playing in rooms.

How to check the quality of the ball

check the quality of the ball

To check the quality of a basketball is quite simple.

Before buying the ball is inflated to the required pressure.
After that, the ball rises to chest level and is released into free fall;
If the ball is of high quality, then its springy characteristics will allow it to bounce, at least, to a height of 70-80 centimeters;
Strictly vertical bounce indicates the high quality of the ball and its uniform structure. If the ball bounces each time in different directions, then it is uneven, which means that its purchase should be abandoned;

An integral part of assessing the quality of a basketball is its visual inspection. Holes, loose seams, cracks and creases, as well as other "artifacts" indicate the poor quality of the ball or improper storage. In any case, the purchase of such a ball should be abandoned.