Which basketball is ideal for your game? Before you head to the court, discover what makes one basketball different from another so you can choose the one that’s best for you.
Have you ever noticed how some basketballs sound different when they bounce? You might hear one with a solid-sounding thunk thunk, and another that has more of a reverberation —kind of a sharper thwak.
Whether you want to play like the pros with an official size ball, or just looking for something for your next pickup game, here’s what you need to know before buying a basketball.
SIZE
Looking to teach your little one the art of dribbling? There’s a ball for that. The seven-inch mini basketball is a good option for small children who are just starting out and learning to play around with a basketball. Mini basketballs can also be used for skill training for older athletes too.
But what if you want to get serious?
Depending on your league, age and gender, there are three commonly used sizes from which to choose.
Most adult men’s leagues — which range from ages 13 and up — use a size 7 basketball, which is 29.5″ in circumference. By comparison, most women’s leagues and youth leagues that cater to children ages 9 – 12 use a size 6 ball, which comes in at 28.5″.
Finally, a size 5 basketball is a full two inches smaller than the men’s size, settling at 27.5″. This ball is intended for children under 9.
MATERIAL
The basketball’s material is another feature to take into consideration, although material may largely depend on league requirements if you’re playing competitively.
There are three basic types of material: leather, synthetic (also known as composite) and rubber.
When the pros play, they’re using leather basketballs. While this material may be expensive, it’s soft and supple. Its biggest advantage is a boost in control — even when your palms are sweaty, leather balls are made to maintain a high level of grip. It also helps avoid damage to the wooden flooring of indoor courts. It’s also important to note that leather basketballs should only be used on indoor courts because concrete will rapidly degrade their finish. Plus, they require a break-in period before using them competitively.
Synthetic balls offer a fairly successful middle ground in terms of performance. First, there’s no need to break in this material before using it. Second, it can be used both indoors and outdoors. Third, it’s also very durable. You may find that synthetic scuffs up the court a little, but it should buff out with some elbow grease.
Rubber basketballs are generally made for outdoor courts and called outdoor basketballs. They can offer extra bounce and durability. They can also be a good option for beginners who are just learning or for recreational play.
Also, if you guessed that material would have the largest impact on the sound of your dribble, you’d be right. That satisfying thunk thunk sound comes from a nicely broken-in leather ball, whereas the more piercing thwak comes from a rubber ball.
COLOR
Most basketballs have a burnt orange color, but some are other colors, like black, blue, yellow and even multi-colored.
Most leagues and teams require a standard orange ball. The other colorful options are more about style, rather than function.
If you’re looking for a competitive-play basketball, be sure to check with your team for more guidelines.
TRAINING BALLS
If you’re working on developing your skills for competitive play, consider training basketballs.
The traditional trainer is a weighted rubber ball, weighing usually double or more than your average basketball, and are used to develop strength and form for dribbling, passing and shooting as well as ball-handling skills.
To help improve your shot, try a shooter’s basketball. With precise markers to show proper hand placement, these basketballs are designed to develop your shooting technique.
Another option is a connected basketball, which uses technology to aid you in developing a number of skills. These digital “smartballs” may track your shooting percentage, makes, misses and other stats. Many “smartballs” allow you to challenge friends over social media or send stats to your coach, and even allow you to compete in simulated games, so you get a sense of how you’d perform. Furthermore, some models even have built-in workouts and drills, and include game elements like leveling up.
These “smart” balls use Bluetooth to connect to a smartphone, where you can review all of this data, which can be a useful tool for advanced players looking to spot weaknesses in his or her play.
Identifying the basketball you need is as simple as knowing its purpose and then considering its size, material and color. You can take comfort in knowing, when you hit the court, that you understand the ins and outs of your ball.
Who knows, you may even be able to point out a teammate’s ball material just by hearing their dribble.
Related Articles
Basketball Size Guide
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To play great basketball, you need the right-sized ball. Having a ball that is too small or too big for your grip can play havoc on your skills and dampen your game. You need to feel in control of the ball and make it move how you want it to, and this is just not possible when you can’t get a good grip. To enhance your game and feel more confident, it’s important to take the time to understand what size ball you require.
There are many available, so to help you understand what size would be best for you, we have compiled a sizing chart for each of our basketballs.
SIZE 3 BASKETBALLS NOVELTY - FOR ALL AGES
Size 3 is a novelty-sized, or 'mini' basketball that is suitable for all ages. The Size 3 basketball has a circumference of 22" (55.9cm).
SIZE 5 BASKETBALLS FOR AGES 5 - 12 YEARS
Size 5 is the standard basketball size for both boys and girls aged 5 - 12 years old. The Size 5 basketball has a circumference of 27.5" (69.5cm).
SIZE 6 BASKETBALLS FOR FEMALES AGED 9+ & MALES AGED 9 - 12 YEARS
Size 6 is the standard basketball size for females aged 9+ years and males aged 9 to 12 years old. The Size 6 basketball has a circumference of 28.5" (72.5cm).
SIZE 7 BASKETBALLS FOR AGES 12 YEARS & OVER
Size 7 (29.5" or 75cm) is the official size of all adult basketballs, suitable for male basketball players aged 12 years and over.
Find Your Size and Stay True to The Game
From just playing for fun to trying to make it to the main stage, having the right tools can improve your game immensely. Once you have found the right-sized basketball you can focus on performing to the best of your ability, enhancing your techniques and enjoying your favourite game.
If you want to know how to best practice at home with your right-sized ball, check out our tips for different training set ups .
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The history of basketballs
What balls are played now and how did it happen?
What balls are played now and how did it happen?
YOU THINK WHY WE DO NOT PLAY A FOOTBALL OR A VOLLEYBALL? WHICH BALL DID IT ALL START WITH?
In 1891, James Naismith invented basketball. Then the game was very different from ours. For example, there was a bottom in the baskets and every time after a hit, the ball had to be taken out. Then they also played football ...
B 1891 James Naismith invented basketball. Then the game was very different from ours. For example, there was a bottom in the baskets and every time after a hit, the ball had to be taken out. Then they also played football...
Anyone who has ever tried to play basketball with a football knows that this is not the best thing to do. It is inconvenient to handle it in gears and lead. Therefore, 3 years after the first game, the first basketball was invented.
This ball was made of leather strips with a rubber bladder inside and was sewn up with threads on the outside.
By 1929, it was improved: the laces were hidden, and the shape itself was changed for a better and more predictable rebound.
In 1937 the lacing disappeared from basketballs, and in 1942 the balls were already similar to ours, they were no longer sewn and they kept their shape better.
Perhaps this had a strong influence on the development of the game, because even in the 50s dribbling was very far from ours. Most of the players then skillfully dribbled with only one hand and very rarely used transfers.
Until the late 1990s, leather was the main material used for balls in professional leagues, but since then it has been increasingly replaced by synthetic materials.
In 2020 there are already balls for every taste and color: plain, multi-colored, small, large, rubber, leather, weighted, recycled plastic and other modern materials.
What balls are currently played:
Mini basketball (under 13s) uses a size 5 ball with a diameter of approximately 70 centimeters and a weight of around 0.48 kg.
Women's basketball uses size 6, diameter 73 cm, weight 0.55 kg.
In men's basketball - size 7, with a diameter of 77 cm and a weight of 0. 61 kg.
There is also an exception - 3x3 basketball, where they play with a special ball, which is like a size 6 in diameter, but weighs like a size 7. This was done on purpose so that it would be less affected by the wind outside.
Fun Fact
Since 1970, the NBA has only been played with Spalding balls, but from the 2020-21 season, new Wilson balls will be played.
Playground collaborated with Wilson to make their own ball based on the Wilson Evolution. This ball uses an advanced microfiber coating to help give the ball the best touch feel for all dribbling enthusiasts. Balls can be purchased exclusively at the Streetball store.
The Wilson x Playground ball is available exclusively from the Streetball store.
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Home / All sports / Basketball size 7,6,5,3 ( weight, diameter, pressure) )
03/20/2020 All sports Leave a comment 26,035 Views
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Basketball size varies by league, governing body, and gender and age of students. Basketballs differ from each other in weight, pressure, circumference and material of manufacture. According to the official rules of the game, the game projectile must have a spherical shape, be made in orange and have 8 black inserts and seams.
The official size of a basketball is numbered 7, it has the following characteristics: weight (mass) is 567-650 grams, circumference - 749-780 cm, atmospheric pressure - 0. 56 - 0.63 kg / cm 2 . This is the largest ball, and now look at the rest in the table:
Size
Circumference (cm)
Weight (grams)
Pressure (kg/cm 2)
Where applicable
7
749-780
567-650
0.56 - 0.63
Professional Men's Basketball, Boys 14+
6
724-737
510-567
0.56 - 0.63
Women's professional basketball, girls 12+, boys 12-13
5
690-710
470-500
0.56 - 0.63
Boys and girls 10-11 years old
3
560-580
300-330
0.56 - 0.63
Boys and girls 4-9 years old
Pass the Basketball Test
Basketballs are made from natural leather or synthetic leather - the pressure is the same in all sizes. It is worth remembering that a correctly inflated ball of the correct size is important to ensure quality training and skill development for players of different ages.
For games held under the auspices of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the ball is inflated to air pressure so that when it falls onto the court from a height of 1.8 meters, it should bounce to a height of 1.2-1.4 meters (measured by the top of the game ball).
Indoor and outdoor basketballs
There are no differences between the versions of the game in terms of size, but there are other nuances regarding manufacturing. Indoor balls are made of genuine leather, and outdoor balls are made of rubber.
Leather basketballs intended for indoor use should not be used outdoors. Concrete or asphalt surfaces cause the leather to become rough and wear out quickly, eventually resulting in poor hand-ball contact. Also, some balls for playing inside are made of composite or synthetic leather, but their quality leaves much to be desired.
For outdoor play, manufacturers make balls with a rubber surface, as it is able to interact better with rough field surfaces. Rubber basketball will be a good choice for beginner players as it is much easier to control and develop skills.
Best Selling Brands of Basketballs
Basketball is very popular all over the world, which means that ball manufacturers do not have to sit idle, because they need to compete, create a quality product and, accordingly, make a profit. Here are the 3 best selling basketball brands in the world.
Spalding (USA)
Wilson (USA)
Molten (Japan)
Spalding makes balls for the most popular league in the world, the NBA. Wilson is in demand with the NCAA and most of the youth leagues in the United States of America. But Molten is the main supplier of game equipment for FIBA tournaments, European championships and even the Olympic Games.
Note that on average for men, a standard size 7 basketball sells for $30-60.
They can also be a good option for beginners who are just learning or for recreational play.
You can take comfort in knowing, when you hit the court, that you understand the ins and outs of your ball.
The Size 3 basketball has a circumference of 22" (55.9cm).
Once you have found the right-sized basketball you can focus on performing to the best of your ability, enhancing your techniques and enjoying your favourite game.
Then the game was very different from ours. For example, there was a bottom in the baskets and every time after a hit, the ball had to be taken out. Then they also played football ... 
61 kg. 
56 - 0.63 kg / cm 2 . This is the largest ball, and now look at the rest in the table: 
It is worth remembering that a correctly inflated ball of the correct size is important to ensure quality training and skill development for players of different ages. 
