How basketballs are made
How Are Basketballs Made? – branded.disruptsports.com
Have you ever wondered how basketballs are made? Basketball is a type of a rubber ball, similar to volleyballs and medicine balls. Of course, the basketball strikes a balance between these two, to be optimized for the fantastic sport of basketball. While the development materials have changed over time, the main design of the basketball didn’t change much. Read on further to learn more about the development and design processes of creating a basketball.
If you are in a hurry, check out this brief video that explains how are basketballs created:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1VfdXmqjN8
What Are The Main Processes Of Creating A Basketball?We can divide the processes of creating a basketball in four phases. Each of these phases are here to make sure that the ball has optimal performance. The steps in question are the following:
1. Creating the inner bladder 2.![]()
Shaping the interior of the basketball 3. Making the cover of the ball 4. Final testing and analysis Without further ado, let’s dive into each phase of creating a basketball.
Phase 1: Creating The Inner Bladder
The inner bladder is the core of the basketball. It is made from black butyl rubber, a type of rubber which retains air and gives the bounce characteristic to the basketball.
To create the inner bladder of the basketball, this rubber is melted into flat panels. Then, the panels are attached to form the shape of a basketball. Afterwards, one inch-sized hole is pierced in the bladder so that the air filler tube can be installed.
The inner bladder is inflated and left in that state for 24 hours. This is done for clarifying the correctness of the inner bladder.
The inner bladder doesn’t have a perfect shape when it is first inflated.
With the help of a machine, the polyester or nylon threads are wrapped around the inner bladder, to create a spherical shape of the ball. Also, the threads will prevent the ball from being deformed.
Different basketballs use different threads. For example, street basketballs utilize polyester threads, while professional basketballs feature nylon threads.
The cover of the basketball is usually made from diverse materials. High-quality basketballs feature quality leather cover, while other balls feature synthetic rubber or regular rubber.
First, the material of choice is unfolded and cut in six isolated panels that will eventually be wrapped around the basketball. If leather is used, it is stitched together around the ball. Otherwise, if any type of rubber is used, it is held onto the ball with glue.
Then, if the manufacturer wants to customize the basketball with decals or any other graphical information, the marking should be applied by hand at this point.
The designs are usually applied via stickers that glue to the ball itself.
After injecting the leather patterns on the ball, the graphics will stick to the ball, so all that is left is to remove the sticker, leaving the graphic alone.
The basketball is practically finished its development process. Now, the testing phase remains.
At the end of the basketball development process, a standardized inspection process commences.
First, the bounce aspect is tested. The basketball is dropped from 72 inches, and it must return up to 52 to 56 inches to be fit for commercial use.
After that, some small details like decals and other graphics are checked. Also, any glue leftovers are removed.
After the testing phase, the balls are usually packaged in plastic bags or cardboard boxes and sent out to distributors.
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How is an NBA Basketball Made?
With the NBA playoffs just around the corner we wanted to take a look at one of the main components of the game, the basketball itself.
Just like MLB baseballs, NBA basketballs are made in a specific way with specific measurements and specs that they must adhere. This is to help level the playing field as much as possible when it comes to equipment, meaning that all advantages in the game are placed on the player’s abilities themselves and not from the ball.
So, as we root for our Chicago Bulls as they face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs, let’s dive into how basketballs are made for the NBA.
The Leather
Believe it or not, all of the leather used for official NBA basketballs have come from the same place for the last 20 years. The Horween Leather Co. in Chicago is one of the oldest leather tanneries in the United States and is the perfect supplier of the leather used to create NBA basketballs.
While the leather is from the same tannery, as of 2020 NBA basketballs are now produced by Chicago-based company Wilson instead of Spalding, which had been the manufacturer of NBA basketballs for the previous 37 years.
While the company producing the balls themselves has changed, the process the leather goes through is basically the same.
Individual pieces of leather are sorted and selected based on how clear the grain is. They are then colored and placed into drums where the leather is preserved and tanned. The leather is then stamped to give the ball its signature pebbling.
After the leather has gone through the press it is then painted to add color, durability, and feel. After this process the leather is dried and inspected to make sur that it meets all the criteria set forth by the NBA.
Once the leather pieces are approved, they are shipped out to a factory where they are cut and sewn together to form the shape of the ball.
The Inner Bladder
After the leather is prepared for the outer cover, the inner bladder must be created.
The purpose of the inner bladder is to hold the air inside of the ball. Unlike a baseball or a golf ball, the inside of a basketball needs to hold air to make it able to bounce during the game.
The inner bladder is made from black butyl rubber that is used due to its ability to retain air and bounce.
The butyl rubber is melted on a press that pushes out 12” W x .5” thick continuous sheets. These sheets are then cut into 18” long strips. These strips are then individually put through a press that will cut a 1” diameter hole in the rubber which will house the air tube used to inflate the balls.
Once the air tubes have been inserted, the bladder is then sent through a melding device that cuts the rounded edges and binds the edges to form seams. The bladder is then taken to a vulcanizing machine that heats the rubber while it’s inflated to help fully seal the rubber.
The bladders are then held, inflated, for 24 hours to make sure that all the seals are perfect and that the bladders can properly hold air.
Once the bladders have been proven to hold air, they are put through a machine that wraps nylon threads around it to help form the perfect circle. This is actually similar to the process for a baseball, but a baseball has the threads wrapped around a solid core and not a rubber bladder holding air.
Forming the Cover of the Ball
After the leather has been processed and shipped to the factory it is then cut into six panels that will be used to wrap around the inner bladder.
With leather basketballs, the outer cover is stitched together using heavy-duty machines. The stitching is what creates the indents and channels in the basketball. Decals and lettering is then applied to the balls using a small heat press.
Testing
Finally, each ball is tested to ensure that it meets the quality standards set forth by the NBA. Official NBA basketballs need to adhere to certain specifications put forth by the NBA so that all of the balls are consistent and familiar to the players.
In fact, when the NBA switched from Spalding made basketballs to Wilson made ones in 2020, some of the players complained that they thought the balls felt different and were causing a change in their ability to play offense.
This idea was investigated and dismissed as they are so many other factors that could have caused the drop in stats for certain players like no fans in the stadium, covid protocols, and more.
The process of making an official NBA basketball is important in keeping the integrity of the game. If a ball is deformed or doesn’t meet the proper specs, it can cause a lot of issues for players that are used to a certain weight and feel of a ball.
Basketball - Gosstandart
Basketball - an inflated ball for playing basketball. The ball must be spherical and of the specified shade of orange with the traditional pattern of eight inlays and black stitching. The mass of the ball (officially accepted size 7) is 567-650 g, the circumference is 750-780 mm.
Smaller balls are also used: in men's team games, "size 7" balls are used, in women's team games - "size 6", in mini-basketball matches - "size 5".
History
The history of basketball began in 1891, when one of the college leaders of the Youth Christian Association from Springfield (USA, Massachusetts) instructed physical education teacher James Naismith to come up with a new game to entertain high school athletes in the winter. Naismith divided his class into two teams of 9 and hosted the first ever basketball game, which involved throwing a soccer ball into a basket from each side of the hall.
The first basketballs were made from stitched leather petals with a rubber bladder inside. A special fabric lining was used to level the surface of the ball. Molded basketballs appeared in 1942, the color was not yet rigidly standardized, so they played with red, white, and blue balls. For a long time, leather was the main material for the manufacture of basketballs, but the advent of composite materials in the late 1990s revolutionized the production of balls that can withstand the most severe conditions of outdoor play.
All modern balls consist of an inflatable rubber bladder and an outer cover made of leather, rubber or synthetic material. The surface of the ball is almost always divided into "ribs", which are slightly recessed from the surface and have a contrasting hue. The traditional color scheme is an orange ball with black ribs, but others are also found. To improve contact with the player's hands, special small "pimples" are used on the surface of the ball.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world today. It is played by people of all ages, starting from school, and this popularity is only growing every year.
Varieties
Depending on the location of the playground, there are three types of basketballs: Indoor - intended for the hall, Outdoor - used on the street, and Indoor / Outdoor - universal. Marking is mandatory indicated on the surface of any ball.
Indoor indoor balls are made of genuine leather and synthetic materials, they have the best grip, but the least wear-resistant (they quickly become unusable on asphalt).
Professional basketballs have a special microfiber composite coating that muffles impacts and improves contact with the hand.
Outdoor balls are made only from rubber or synthetic materials, they are very durable, withstand heavy loads on asphalt, and also have good grip on the surface.
Indoor/Outdoor all purpose balls are made from rubber or composite materials and can be used successfully on all surfaces. However, it is more correct to still have separate balls for the hall and the street.
Sizes
Basketballs are classified by size. The largest size (size 7) is officially accepted for men's team competition.
| Size | Circumference, mm | Weight, g |
| Size 7 | 750-780 | 567-650 |
| Size 6 | 720-740 | 500-540 |
| Size 5 | 690-710 | 470-500 |
| Size 3 | 560-580 | 300-330 |
According to various estimates, there are from 10 to 35 thousand dots (“pimples”) on a basketball.
Material
The material of the outer cover of a basketball directly affects its playing characteristics. The most common modern materials are rubber, natural leather, artificial leather and composite material.
Rubber balls are the cheapest. They wear out quickly, become slippery, after which they do not hold well in the hand. Their main purpose is to play on paved street playgrounds.
Genuine leather balls - a classic, but the most expensive option. They are used in professional tournaments. They can only be played in the hall on a special surface, otherwise they quickly deteriorate.
Artificial leather balls are considered all-rounders and can be played both indoors and outdoors. They last quite a long time, while being relatively inexpensive compared to other balls.
Balls made of composite materials are close in quality to products made of genuine leather, but at the same time they are noticeably stronger and withstand much greater loads.
Selection
When buying a ball in a store, please note that:
- must be inflated to the norm. The norm is when the ball can be pushed a little with your thumb - by 3-5 millimeters, no more. If the ball is under-inflated, then there is a risk that it goes down. If, on the contrary, it is pumped over, then the cord can be deformed from excessive pressure and then the ball will go bumps, the geometry of the ball will be disturbed. The exception is online stores. In them, balls are usually deflated before shipment, and this is normal practice.
- Rebound. A ball thrown from shoulder level (just from outstretched arm) must bounce to the waist. A smaller and larger rebound indicates that it is better not to take such a ball. The rebound must be strictly vertical, the ball moving to the side indicates a curvature of the shape and the presence of a hernia.
- The basketball must be perfectly round. Oval balls, balls with bumps on the surface are not a purchase item.
- The ball must not have any breaks in the covering and no exposed cord.
- The ball must come with a special nozzle for the inflation nipple.
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why they are different and how to choose the best one
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, it is both a profession, a recreation and even a way of life. But you still need to be able to choose a basketball.
And now we'll tell you why it's not so easy, and how to actually choose it.
So, at present, real basketball, that is, the one that is watched and played by millions, is under the jurisdiction of four official organizations at once:
- FIBA - International Basketball Federation
- NBA - American-Canadian Professional Basketball League
- WNBA Organization that runs the professional women's basketball league in the United States
- NCAA - The National Academic Sports Association that governs the academic games.
And since basketball has many bosses, the rules that govern the game itself also differ somewhat. Field size requirements are the best example of this. FIBA rules require a basketball court to be 25m x 15m, NBA rules require 28.65m x 15.24m, and the NCAA requires 25.6m x 15.24m. Etc. etc.
It's not so simple with balls either. Buying them is not a problem at all. By the way, https://tennismag.
com.ua/catalog/basketbolnye-myachi-nike/ are ultra-modern Nike basketballs, for clarity. It is only necessary to correctly understand “everything” with a couple of questions, namely: who will play them and where?
Why is this so important? The fact is that for different age groups and both sexes of basketball players, balls of a certain size and weight are provided, and balls from certain materials are produced for different sites. So, let's start from afar:
#1 - where do they play basketball? Mostly in the halls. If it's an official game. But no one has canceled the so-called street basketball either, plus there are also school and training grounds. Balls, as we have already said, different conditions require (suit) different ones.
The outdoor ball has been optimized from the outset for active and long-term contact with hard surfaces such as concrete and asphalt. This means that it must be firm and at the same time strong and elastic enough so as not to cause discomfort and injury to the players.
Because street basketballs are usually made of rubber. And their coating is kind of rough, which ensures good grip.
Indoor balls are made of natural or composite leather. Such a ball on asphalt, as they say, does not last long. But on the other hand, it is many times more comfortable, feels better and is much easier to control than an open-air ball. Indoor basketballs are usually made by gluing and welding leather elements between panels, more on that below.
Universal basketballs are a kind of compromise. These are reliable and rather tenacious products; they are also made of composite leather, but with slightly different properties. The composition of the composite is selected in such a way that the ball is soft and resilient when played indoors and does not tear longer when played on asphalt or concrete.
What are basketballs made of? For several years after the official invention of basketball, people played the game with soccer balls.
But very soon, on the personal order of the founder of basketball, James Naismith, a special ball was developed ... from woven leather. The model was also not great, but for a while it was enough. The modern basketball was invented at 1948, and patented only 50 years later. Since 1972, basketballs have been made from artificial leather. But in 1992, balls made of composite materials were firmly established in the game.
Today, manufacturers, like Nike, use the latest technology and high-quality materials to design and manufacture basketballs to make the final product as durable and comfortable as possible. A modern basketball consists of several layers:
- cylinder - it is usually made of rubber, thanks to which the ball jumps well on hard surfaces and optimal pressure is maintained in it for a long time;
- braids - a layer of strong nylon or cotton, which primarily protects the cylinder from damage;
- shells - a layer of high quality rubber that forms the structure of the internal structural elements;
- coatings - the outer layer, which can be made of either rubber or natural or composite leather of various thicknesses and textures.
