Finding the right basketball
Buying a basketball isn’t all that easy. Not everyone is the same, so not everyone needs the same basketball. One person plays indoors, another outdoors. There’s even a difference between balls for men, women and children. I can already hear you thinking: “How do I know which basketball I should buy?” We at Burned Sports have years of experience selling basketball gear and are happy to help you.
Which basketball size should you buy?
First, you want to know which basketball size is right for you. In 5x5 competition basketball there are 3 official sizes of basketballs. The information below is based on the NBB guidelines (Nederlandse Basketball Bond).
- The size 5 basketball is for children, and mainly for girls up to age 14 and boys up to age 12.
- The size 6 basketball is for girls from age 14 and boys from age 12. This is the largest size in women’s basketball, so senior women also play with a size 6.
- The size 7 basketball is the most common basketball in competition and in the NBA. This size is used by all men aged 15 and over.
Over the years, various types have been added to train or play with. Nowadays there is also a size 3 basketball (peanut basketball). This ball is mainly used as a toy basketball. It’s also a ball you can train well with, because catching a small ball is generally more difficult. To train your catching and throwing skills, there are also heavier training balls. The training ball weighs between 1 and 1.5 kilos and makes hard passing with a normal basketball a piece of cake.
In 3x3 competition basketball there is 1 official basketball size. That is size 6 (weight of a size 7) for everyone. Whereas in 5x5 competition the ball size depends on age & gender.
Basketballs in different materials
Besides the size, you also want to look at the right material for a basketball. The price range often depends on the material of a ball.
Rubber basketballs
A rubber basketball is often lower in price because rubber is less durable. Rubber is a fine material for shooting around outdoors if you’re not yet sure whether basketball is your sport. You’ll quickly notice that the grip on a rubber ball (important if you want to catch the ball) is weaker. Especially once the ball has been used a lot, it gets harder and harder to catch or shoot. It’s important not to leave the ball outside in the evening. A rubber basketball often has no bladder. As soon as the temperature drops, the ball may start to change shape, which makes dribbling more and more difficult.
Leather basketballs
A leather basketball is generally more expensive to buy. Leather (with the right care) lasts longer and has better grip. If you know your hands sweat during intense exercise, a leather basketball will give you better grip when catching and shooting the ball. Most leather basketballs can be used both indoors and outdoors. There are even dedicated indoor/outdoor basketballs that have been developed with a mixed layer of leather and rubber for all-around use. Professional basketball competitions always use leather basketballs because the material is simply of better quality than a rubber ball.
What surface do you play on?
The right ball also depends on the surface you play on. Indoor basketball courts are often made of hardwood, outdoor courts of asphalt. That’s why there are indoor, outdoor and indoor/outdoor balls. But what surface do you play on, and which ball goes with it?
An indoor ball is often made of leather or synthetic leather. Because of the leather, the ball is a bit softer and has better grip. That does mean you can’t play with it on asphalt, because the leather will wear down and lose its grip. An indoor ball also has a bladder, so it loses its shape less quickly. Because practically all games are played indoors, most game balls are made of higher-quality leather and are often more expensive too.
So if you play indoors a lot, like a soft ball with plenty of grip and want a ball that keeps its shape for a long time, go for an indoor basketball.
An outdoor ball is made of rubber. Rubber is a slightly harder material and so wears down less quickly, which means you can play with it on asphalt. Rubber does have less grip than leather, though, and can sometimes feel a bit like a bouncy ball. An outdoor ball also has no bladder, so it loses its shape faster.
If you often play on a local court or in the street and need a ball you’ll enjoy for a long time, then an outdoor basketball is right 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. This makes it feel more like a leather ball, so it also has more grip than a rubber ball. It also wears down less quickly on asphalt than an indoor ball, but a bit faster than an outdoor ball.
If you play both indoors and outdoors and are looking for a ball you can use on both surfaces, look for an indoor/outdoor basketball.
If you look on our website under the heading “Basketball” and then go to “Basketballs,” you can click on indoor, outdoor or indoor/outdoor and get an overview of all our balls in that category. You can also stop by our store for personal advice.
Inflating the ball
Once you’ve bought the ball, you want it to have the right firmness. You mainly judge the right firmness by feel. A handy tip is to drop the ball from shoulder height. Does the ball bounce back up to your hip? Then you’ve got the right firmness. When you buy a ball in our store, we can always help you with this in person.
