Buying an indoor basketball? Find out here which one suits you best!
You’ve decided to buy an indoor basketball. But there are so many different kinds of indoor basketballs that you don’t know yet which one to get. The experts at Burned Sports have lined up the differences between indoor basketballs for you.
What size basketball do I need?
The size and weight of a basketball can depend on whether you need a men’s, women’s or kids’ ball. Here is an overview of the sizes and ages, based on the NBB guidelines (Dutch Basketball Federation).
Size 5 is for girls up to 14 and boys up to 12.
Size 6 is for girls from 14 and boys from 12. This is the largest size in women’s basketball, so even senior women play with a size 6.
Size 7 is for boys from 14. This is the largest size in men’s basketball, and it’s used by all ages from 14 up.
On our website you can set a filter: set it to the size you want and you’ll see all the balls that fall within that category.
What different surfaces are there?
There are many different surfaces you can play basketball on. That’s also the reason there are so many different basketballs.
Outdoors, for example, there’s often a court around the corner made of asphalt or tiles. If you play on a court like that a lot, we recommend buying a rubber ball. Rubber balls wear the slowest, but the downside is that they have little grip. Want a ball with more grip? Then take a look at an indoor/outdoor ball. These have more grip and don’t wear out very quickly either. Keep in mind, though, that they wear faster than rubber balls.
Something you see outdoors more and more is a Flex Court. A Flex Court is a special kind of tile that’s laid on top of asphalt. These tiles have a shock-absorbing layer and a self-draining structure. It’s a less rough surface than asphalt itself, so your ball gets damaged less quickly too. An indoor/outdoor ball is perfect for this. These balls have excellent grip and are very hard-wearing. Even though these courts are less hard, this still isn’t the ideal court for a real leather indoor ball.
In professional basketball, games are often played on a hardwood court, usually oak. Balls hardly wear on it, so you can safely choose an indoor ball. These have the best grip, but if you play with them outside, they wear out quickly. On a hardwood court that isn’t the case, and you can enjoy playing basketball for a long time. In addition, in the Netherlands you also find indoor courts made of marmoleum. This is an elastic and very durable surface. The same really applies here as for a hardwood court. You can safely use a good indoor ball on it.
What about value for money?
It’s actually very simple: the more expensive the ball, the better the quality. That’s mainly down to the quality of the leather. The more expensive balls also often have more features that make them a good ball all round. They often come with special technologies that help you perform even better. Still, you can definitely buy a good ball for less money too.
What are the biggest differences between brands?
We carry indoor balls from Wilson, Spalding and Burned. Broadly speaking, the brands don’t differ much from each other. It’s often the little things that one does differently from the other. For example, Wilson invented Extended Range Tech, which redistributes the weight of the ball from the inside so you can shoot even better from longer distances. In addition, most Wilson balls have a Micro-Touch Cover, an extra microscopic layer of texture on the cover that creates a dual-layer grip. With Wilson you also see more often that the entire ball has a pebbled texture, even the logos and the channels. With Spalding you only see that on a small number of models. Thanks to a Microfiber technology, Spalding balls are extra soft and have good grip. Spalding holds the patent on this Microfiber tech, so you’ll only find it at Spalding. These balls are often game-ready, straight out of the box. Burned balls are made of durable composite leather that is also hard-wearing. While most Wilson and Spalding balls are brown, Burned balls come in different colors.
Top 3 size 5 indoor basketballs
- The Wilson Solution Indoor is a perfect ball for the youngest basketball players among us, both boys and girls. This ball is approved by FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball). The special Aqua-grip cover absorbs sweat and so keeps its grip. This ball also has pebbled channels, so you get the same grip all over the ball. Thanks to its Cushion Core Technology, the ball is even softer and molds slightly to your hand, as it were, giving you even more control over the ball.
- The Wilson Evolution is the number 1 indoor basketball in America. The ball has a Cushion Core Carcass, which makes it feel soft and easier to grip around the edges. The Premium Evo Microfiber Cover offers excellent grip and the kind of durability you dream of. The entire ball has a pebbled texture, so you always have the best grip, wherever you hold it. This ball is also approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
- The Wilson Reaction Pro is an excellent ball at a good price. It’s designed so you can play with it at college and NCAA level. The composite leather cover, combined with the pebbled channels, offers very good grip. This ball also has a pressure lock, so it holds air longer for optimal ball pressure.
Top 3 size 6 indoor basketballs
- The Wilson Evo Nxt is Wilson’s newest game ball. It features the latest basketball technology. For example, it has Extended Range Technology. This fully balances the ball from the inside and redistributes the weight, so you can shoot better from long range. Thanks to the Micro-Touch grip, the ball has an extra layer over the cover, which creates a dual-layer grip. A super-soft feel also lets you press your fingers deeper into the ball, giving you more control when shooting. Thanks to a great moisture-wicking system, the ball keeps its grip at all times. If you have sweaty hands, the cover absorbs the moisture. When you then bounce the ball on the floor, it releases the moisture and you have ultimate grip again.
- The Wilson Solution Indoor is a perfect ball for all basketball players among us, both men and women. This ball is approved by FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball). The special Aqua-grip cover absorbs sweat and so keeps its grip. This ball also has pebbled channels, so you get the same grip all over the ball. Thanks to its Cushion Core Technology, the ball is even softer and molds slightly to your hand, as it were, giving you even more control over the ball.
- The Spalding TF-1000 is game-ready straight out of the box. The composite leather cover wicks away sweat and always keeps its grip. This ball is approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). It keeps its nice round shape for a long time thanks to the rotation-balanced butyl bladder for ultimate air retention. The ball is also extra soft thanks to the responsive padded sponge carcass.
Top 3 size 7 indoor basketballs
- The Wilson Evo Nxt Fiba is the FIBA-approved indoor basketball. This ball has the very latest basketball technology. For example, it has Extended Range Technology. This fully balances the ball from the inside and redistributes the weight, so you can shoot better from long range. Thanks to the Micro-Touch grip, the ball has an extra layer over the cover, which creates a dual-layer grip. A super-soft feel also lets you press your fingers deeper into the ball, giving you more control when shooting. Thanks to a great moisture-wicking system, the ball keeps its grip at all times. If you have sweaty hands, the cover absorbs the moisture. When you then bounce the ball on the floor, it releases the moisture and you have ultimate grip again.
- The Wilson Solution Indoor is a perfect ball for the best basketball players among us. This ball is approved by FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball). The special Aqua-grip cover absorbs sweat and so keeps its grip. This ball also has pebbled channels, so you get the same grip all over the ball. Thanks to its Cushion Core Technology, the ball is even softer and molds slightly to your hand, as it were, giving you even more control over the ball.
- The Spalding TF-1000 Legacy has improved grip and an even softer feel. With approval from FIBA and the FEB, it’s safe to say this is a top basketball. The ball is made with an even better ZK Microfiber composite leather cover. Spalding holds the patent on this material, so you won’t find it anywhere else. This cover wicks away sweat for long-lasting grip. It’s even softer thanks to its responsive cushioned sponge carcass, which also gives you even better control.
Want to keep playing basketball longer? Take care of your ball with these tips.
Of course, you want to be able to play basketball for as long as possible. We at Burned Sports understand that, and we’ve put together a few tips you can follow to take care of your ball. So you can play with your favorite indoor, outdoor or indoor/outdoor basketball for a long time.
Tip 1. If you want the ball to keep its grip longer, don’t leave it outside in the rain and snow. Keep it indoors, because big changes in temperature make the ball wear faster. They can also cause it to lose its shape and discolor.
Tip 2. Inflate the ball properly. When the ball is properly inflated, it bounces better and keeps its shape nicely. If you leave it underinflated for too long, it can lose its shape and dribbling gets harder too. So buy a good pump, like the Spalding Dual Action pump.
Tip 3. If you’ve played in the rain or cleaned the ball, dry it off with a towel. So don’t let it dry outside or in the sun. If you do, there’s a chance the leather will crack.
We hope this has helped you choose the perfect basketball. On our website we’ve written a clear description for every ball, so you know exactly what you’re buying. Still not 100% sure? You can always stop by our store to test, feel and check out the balls.
