Basketballs come in many different shapes and sizes! Do you want to know which basketball is best for you? In this article you will learn everything about the different basketballs!
It is not that easy to buy a basketball. Not everyone is the same, so not everyone needs the same basketball. One plays indoors and the other outdoors. There are even different balls for men, women and children. I can hear you thinking: ''How do I know what kind of basketball to buy?'' We at Burned Sports have years of experience in selling basketball articles and are happy to help you.
First you want to know what size basketball is right for you. In competition 5x5 basketball there are 3 official sizes of basketballs . The information below is based on the NBB guidelines (Dutch Basketball Association) .
Over the years, different types have been added to train or play with. For example, there is now also a size 3 basketball (peanut basketball). This ball is mainly used as a toy basketball. It is also a ball that you can train with because catching a small ball is generally harder. To train your catching and throwing skills, there are also heavier training balls. The training ball is between 1/1.5 kilo and ensures that a normal basketball hard easter becomes a piece of cake.
In competition 3x3 basketball there is 1 official size basketball. That is size 6 (weight 7) for everyone. Where in the 5x5 competition the ball size depends on age & gender.
In addition to size, you want to look at the appropriate material for a basketball. The price range often depends on the material of a ball.
The rubber basketball is a ball that is often cheaper in price because rubber is less durable. Rubber is a great material to throw a ball outside if you are not sure whether basketball is your sport. You will quickly notice that the grip on a rubber ball (important if you want to catch the ball) is less. Especially if the ball has been used more often, it becomes increasingly difficult to catch or shoot it. It is important not to leave the ball outside in the evening. A rubber basketball often does not have an inner ball. As soon as the temperature drops, the ball may change shape, making dribbling increasingly difficult.
A leather basketball is generally more expensive to purchase. Leather has (with the right care) a longer lifespan and a better grip. If you know that your hands sweat when moving intensively, a leather basketball will have a better grip when catching and shooting the ball. Most leather basketballs can be used both indoors and outdoors. There are even real in/outdoor basketballs developed that have a mixed layer of leather and rubber for all-round use. Professional basketball leagues always use leather basketballs because the material is simply of better quality than a rubber ball.
The right ball also depends on the surface you are playing on. Indoor basketball courts are often made of hardwood, outdoor basketball courts are made of asphalt. For this you have indoor, outdoor and in/outdoor balls. But on which surface do you play and which ball fits that?
An indoor ball is often made of leather or artificial leather. Because of the leather, the ball is a bit softer and has a better grip. However, you cannot play basketball on asphalt with it, because then the leather will wear out and lose its grip. An indoor ball also has an inner ball, so it loses its shape less quickly. Because almost all matches are played indoors, most match balls are made of a better quality leather and are often more expensive.
So if you play a lot indoors, you like a soft ball with a lot of grip and you want a ball that keeps its shape for a long time. Then go for an indoor basketball .
An outdoor ball is made of rubber. Rubber is a slightly harder substance and therefore wears out less quickly, so you can play basketball on asphalt. Rubber does have less grip than leather and can sometimes feel a bit like a bouncy ball. An outdoor ball also has no inner ball, so it loses its shape more quickly.
Do you often play on a square or on the street and do you need a ball that you can continue to enjoy for a long time, then a Outdoor basketball is something for you.
An indoor/outdoor ball is a mix of both. It is made of composite leather, which is a mix of leather and rubber. Which makes it feel more like a leather ball and therefore has more grip than a rubber ball. In addition, it wears out less quickly on asphalt than an indoor ball, but a little faster than an outdoor ball.
If you play both indoors and outdoors and are looking for a ball that you can use on both courts, look for an indoor/outdoor basketball .
If you look at our website under the heading ''Basketball'' and then go to ''Basketballs'', you can click on indoor, outdoor or in/outdoor and you will get an overview of all our balls within that category. You can also visit our store for personal advice.
If you have bought the ball, you want it to be the right hardness. The right hardness is mainly determined by feeling. A handy tip here is to drop the ball from shoulder height down. Does the ball bounce back to your hip? Then you have the right hardness. When you buy a ball in our store, we can always help you personally with that.
