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How much should a basketball bounce
How much should a basketball bounce
How Do You Tell If A Basketball Is Fully Pumped? – Baller Gears
If you want to know if a basketball is fully pumped and has the right amount of air, there is a simple trick you can do. Hold the ball up to your face and slowly let it drop. If the bottom of the ball bounces up past your waist or slightly higher, then it is fully pumped. If the basketball bounces up close to the chest, it means it has too much air. If it does not bounce up to the waist, it means there is not enough air.
This is a general rule to follow. However, if you want to get a more precise estimation, then there is another trick. For example, if the bottom of the basketball were to drop from a height of 6 feet or 72 inches, then the top of the basketball should come to a point somewhere between 49 inches and 54 inches. You can get tape and place marks on a wall at 72 inches, 54 inches, and 49 inches to measure accurately. Also, make sure the flooring is similar to the one you will be playing on.![]()
Drop the ball from the 72 inch mark and the top of the basketball should be between the 49 and 54 inch mark you made. If it bounces higher than 54, it has too much air. If it bounces lower than 49 inches, there is not enough air.
1. Buy a basketball air pump.
2. Lubricate the needle of the air pump with water or saliva before inserting it into the ball.
3. Insert the needle into the hole of the basketball and start pumping slowly (Don’t go too fast).
If you want a good basketball air pump, I would recommend the Franklin pump.
Check out the Franklin Pump here –> https://amzn.to/33woRmE
Avoid keeping your basketball in cold conditions because your basketball will lose air and deflate rapidly.
The air inside the basketball expands as the temperature increases. This will cause air inside the basketball to leak. Also, NEVER pump your basketball in the cold, since it can cause the bladder to explode. The bladder of a basketball is the outside covering that is made of synthetic rubber.
So be sure to store your basketball in a warm safe area, preferably indoors at room temperature.
A fully inflated men’s 29.5 inch basketball weights 22 ounces or about 1.375 pounds. A fully inflated woman’s 29.5 inch basketball weights 22 ounces or about 1.375 pounds.
Click HERE to learn more about the weight of basketballs.
Air pressure is what allows the basketball to bounce high and is measured in different ways. Basketballs are measured in PSI or pounds per square inch. A basketball should be about 8 PSI.
For comparisons sake, a football needs between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds PSI, whereas a tennis ball needs a pressure of 14 PSI. A car tire has a pressure of 40 PSI!
The higher the air pressure inside a basketball, the higher it will bounce.
You can check for the air pressure of your basketball by inserting a pressure gauge inside the needle opening. A pressure gauge is a measurement tool that examines the condition of a fluid (liquid or gas) that is specified by the force that the fluid would exert.
The pressure guard will tell you the PSI value of your basketball.
Basketballs bounce higher on a concrete than on a hardwood floor. Basketballs bounce higher on harder surfaces than it does on soft surfaces.
The type of surface you dribble the basketball on has a strong effect on how high it bounces.
“This is because when a basketball bounces off of a surface, some of its energy is absorbed by that surface. Some surfaces absorb more energy than others do. A hard surface, such as concrete, absorbs less energy compared with a softer surface. The more energy absorbed by the surface, the less that remains in the ball for it to bounce. This is why you should have seen that when you bounced the basketball on a relatively hard surface it bounced higher (it lost less energy) compared with when it was bounced on a softer surface (where it lost more energy). ” – Scientific American
You can try testing this even further by bouncing a basketball on a soft material like a carpet and then bouncing it on outside on concrete.
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For information about basketball training gear, check out:
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How Much Air Pressure Should a Basketball Have to Bounce Properly?
Are you a regular basketball player that’s puzzled about why some basketballs bounce better than some others? Yeah right! So, you’re quick to conclude that the bouncing ability of the ball depends on the brand that produces it.
Thus, you think a Spalding is better than a Nike, Franklin, Champion Sports, MacGregor or Fanmats? And some other basketball players think otherwise—choosing the brand they love above others.
It’s typical for you to be biased and support your favorite brand as the best basketball manufacturer in the market. On that note, it will interest you to know that the brand has nothing to do with the bouncing deficiency of your basketball.
But here’s what we found out.
The amount of air pressure in your basketball contributes majorly to the bounce rate of your basketball.
We‘ll be talking extensively, in this article, about how much air pressure your basketball should have—for it to bounce correctly. Also, we would discuss other vital factors that contribute to the air pressure and bounce rate of a basketball.
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What Happens When a Basketball Isn’t Bouncing Properly?
The obvious answer, right? If your basketball isn’t bouncing correctly, the first issue it creates is to hinder your game performance.
But, beyond that, we need to go deep into the foundation of this problem and find out why your basketball isn’t bouncing correctly.
If you’re like us that recently found out that the amount of air pressure in a basketball determines its bounce level, then, we’re on the same page. But, if you haven’t, it is not too late to join the bandwagon.
Dealing with Air Pressure
The force that pushes air against every solid surface it comes in contact with is the air pressure. In simpler terms, the more air in an enclosed area, the higher the air pressure. If this theory is correct, that means you need an optimum amount of air in your basketball to get the best bouncing result on the court.
Before we move on:
Did you know that air is mattered? You heard, right! The air we breathe? Of course! But, you’re surprised because you have always thought that matter in quote had to be solid. At least, that’s what your science teacher taught you in mid-school—she told you, “Matter is anything that has got mass and occupies space.
”
But here’s the cracker.
Air has weight, mass, and volume (You can ask your science teacher). What that means is air takes up space. So, you can see it fits into the definition. We know, it sounds weird to think of air as matter, when you can’t touch or run into it.
Think of it this way. Your basketball, bike tire, bouncing castle or air mattress get their mass and form because of the air and air pressure in them. In this case, it’s the air pressure in your basketball that gives your ball the round shape and bouncy feel.
Recommended Air Pressure Required for a Basketball to Bounce Optimally
The typical basketball requires at least a reading of 8 lbs(pounds by square inch) to get appropriately inflated. If you’re lucky enough, you can buy a basketball that has the inflation instructions printed by the manufacturer to help you get the default air pressure of the ball.
If your ball is not far from you now, you can quickly go check it out and come back to the article.
For instance, you may see something like “Inflate 7 to 9 psi.” You saw that, right? Don’t bother if you didn’t see it on your ball—not every manufacturer prints it on their basketballs.
NBA recommends that the air pressure in a basketball must be between 7.5 and 8.5psi. You can use this standard measurement as a guide to get the required air pressure for your basketball.
A quick way to check if your ball has the proper air pressure is by taking this simple test. Drop your basketball from the height of your shoulder and leave it to bounce. If it bounces up back to the height of your hips, then your ball probably has the appropriate air pressure required to deliver on the court.
Three Factors That Can Affect the Internal Air Pressure of a Basketball
Here are three primary factors that affect the bounce level of your ball.
1. Ball Pressure
When you properly inflate your basketball, you enhance its elastic bladder—making it capable of rebounding when it hits a hard surface like the rim.
In essence, the higher the air pressure in your basketball, the higher its bounce and otherwise. But, you have to be wary not to over-inflate your basketball to avoid the bladder breaking, which will negatively impact the consistency of the ball’s bounce or even cause leakage.
2. Environmental Pressure
Most times, the surrounding air pressure around a basketball is equally constant, but you should always consider environmental air pressure as it always comes in play—affecting the bounce level of the basketball.
The air is usually less dense or thinner at higher altitudes. And when the air is less dense, objects aren’t still affected as much by the air resistance going against them—whether they fly or bounce through the air.
What this means is that air pressure from the surroundings will hardly affect your basketball enough to mar your game outdoors. However, it contributes significantly to the height of your ball’s bounce. That takes us to the next factor.
3.
Temperature
A decrease in temperature will result in a decline in air pressure inside your basketball. Plus, the bounce level of a basketball primarily depends on the air pressure inside a basketball—as we discussed earlier.
Thus, when a basketball hits and bounces on the floor of a gym with average room temperature, the force of the bounce impact pushes the bottom surface of the ball while compressing the gas inside it.
But here’s a kicker.
According to Boyle’s law, the pressure of the gas inside the basketball increases, when a ball bounces on a hard surface, especially when you’re playing at the park during summer.
But, it’s a different ball game in winter. The internal air pressure of a basketball decreases when it bounces on a hard surface.
Since the internal air pressure of the basketball decreases at a lower temperature, the impact of the ball with the ground will also have less effect when it hits the ground. By that, the basketball does not bounce high enough as it does at a higher temperature.
In Closing
It’s wise to use a small pump and pressure gauge when inflating your basketball. A report showed that you need about 12 strokes to get something close to the perfect air pressure, which is around 7.5 – 8.5psi.
Thus, you should avoid using high-pressure pumps designed for cars and bike tires. They can easily over-inflate and destroy your basketball.
Of the three factors mentioned earlier in this article, which one struck you as the most important? Has that factor affected your game before? Have you damaged your ball previously because of over-inflation? Tell us your story; we’re eager to see your comments, suggestions, and feedback.
Ball inflation pressure
Ball inflation pressure
A properly inflated ball is the key to a good game and durability. If the ball is not sufficiently inflated, then this will entail a low rebound, poor handling, and an incorrect flight path. If the ball is pumped over, it can burst, change shape, cause pain during the game, and even cause injury.
First of all, when buying, carefully check the ball for mechanical damage, whether the ball is new and how it is packaged. Most often, the cause of the pressure drop in the ball is a damaged nipple. If you purchased the ball in a deflated state, then be sure to inflate it according to the instructions, checking the pressure, and leave the ball overnight. Check the pressure again the next day. If you bought the ball in an inflated state, then leave it for a day and see if it went down during this time. You can also use the "old Russian way" to determine the health of the nipple. To do this, moisten your finger and attach to the nipple. A properly functioning nipple will not form bubbles. We draw your attention to the fact that if you purchased the ball and used it, then the guarantee for such a ball remains only after the provision of an expert opinion.
Back to pressure... The pressure in a ball depends on what sport the ball is for, what size it is, and what level of play it is.
Different manufacturers measure pressure in different units, psi (pounds per square inch), bar (pressure unit approximately equal to one atmosphere), kgf / cm² (one kilogram of force per square centimeter), kPa (kilopascal). Pay attention to this!
The pressure in the ball is strongly influenced by the ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. If we recall physics, then at high temperatures the substance expands, and at low temperatures, on the contrary, it decreases. So if, in winter, we pump up the ball on the street at -10 to the desired pressure, then after we bring the ball into a warm room, the pressure in it will increase slightly. This is true, for example, for soccer balls for games in winter. Therefore, it is better to inflate the ball directly where games or training are planned. If the operating pressure recommended by the manufacturer is not observed, the performance of the ball will be significantly worse and the ball will become unusable very quickly.
Below are tables with average operating pressures for balls of various sizes and for various sports:
Pressure balls for classic volleyball
Beach Volleyball Pressure
Futsal pressure
Football pressure
Pressure in handballs
Pressure in basketballs
IMPORTANT! These tables are for reference only and may not meet the requirements of some manufacturers.
As a rule, the manufacturer always indicates the working pressure of the ball at the nipple. Be sure to check this information.
We also recommend that you purchase and use a special silicone liquid for inflating sports balls with the ball and have a pressure gauge to check the pressure. Do not use liquids that destroy the material (latex, butyl) of the camera.
Basketball size: FIBA and US standards
Basketball is believed to have appeared on December 21, 1891. Then James Naismith, a physical education teacher from America, in order to interest students in sports, decided to hang two baskets in the hall and offered to play. The task is to throw the maximum number of points into the opponent's basket. There was no basketball back then. Used equipment for rugby and soccer. The first basketball appeared a couple of years later. It was not perfectly even, round and had a dark brown color. In addition, it flaunted lacing, which gave the players a lot of problems.
The first smooth inventory appeared only at 1935 year. After another 20 years, the color has changed. Television workers noted that the dark brown ball was hard to see on the screen. It was decided to change the color to yellow. Interestingly, for more than 50 years there was no single standard, there were more than fifty shades from light brown to orange. Over time, uniform requirements began to form. Today we will tell you about the size of basketballs, what they are made of, and also look at the most famous models.
The outcome of a duel depends on many factors. Not only the physical fitness and talent of the athlete, the form and surface on which the game takes place, determine the winner. The ball plays an important role. The trajectory of movement and adhesion to the surface depend on its quality, shape and size.
What are
There are several signs of classification. Everyone knows that basketball is not limited to the space of the hall, it can also be played on the street.
For each surface there are balls made of different materials. So, let's analyze the issue in more detail:
- INDOOR. Equipment of this nature can only be played indoors on a smooth surface. Features a soft surface. It should be noted that indoor is categorically not suitable for playing outdoors. Otherwise, you will simply waste your money, as the ball will quickly fail.
- OUTDOOR. Designed for playing on asphalt or hard ground. Made from synthetic materials. They are distinguished by a durable top layer, it does not wear out with frequent contact with a hard coating.
- Universal. Manufacturers claim that such balls behave equally well on any surface, but in practice this is not at all the case. Even if you saw the marking "INDOOR / OUTDOOR", pay attention to the material of manufacture. If the ball is made of rubber, then it is suitable for asphalt, and if made of leather, then be prepared that it will quickly deteriorate on the street. It is better to leave it for training on a wooden or rubber platform.
In order to figure out what size balls are in basketball, it is necessary to take into account the age and gender of the player. For example, a child who has just started training will not be able to play with an adult ball:
- For men. Their diameter averages 76 cm, weight - 600 gr.
- Women play with fewer implements. The average diameter is 73 cm, and the weight is 560 gr.
- Projectiles with a circumference of 70 cm and a weight of up to 500 g are intended for children.
In addition, this sports equipment is made of various materials:
- Rubber designed for training on hard asphalt surfaces. As a rule, they are inexpensive, but the service life is not long.
- Synthetic leather gear is resistant to all sorts of deformations and prevents air leakage. It is believed that such balls can be played both in the hall and on the street.
- Made of composite leather are perceived as an analogue of shells made of natural fibers.
Such inventory is soft, elastic. They can only be played on playgrounds made of wood and rubber. - Genuine leather shells are considered to be of the highest quality and durability. These are the balls that are played in competitions.
FIBA Standards
FIBA is an organization that unites all national basketball federations. It is she who determines the main directions of the development of world basketball. According to FIBA rules, the ball must meet six requirements. They concern weight, circumference, rebound and coefficient of friction.
The table shows the FIBA standards:
US standards
In America, the standards differ slightly. Just like in FIBA, the weight of the ball in basketball should be in the optimal ratio with the age and gender of the player. So, for the NBA, shells with a circumference of 29.5 inches are suitable, and weighing 623 grams. The Women's League uses a 28.8" 567g inventory.
From 9 to 11 years old they use balls of 27 inches and 842 grams, and from 4 years old they start playing with shells of 25 inches and no more than 397 gr weight.
Ball pressure
This indicator is extremely important. After all, it directly affects the quality of the game. It is impossible to show good results both with an inflated and a deflated ball. Interestingly, FIBA does not have clear requirements regarding this issue. The only mention says that the projectile must be inflated to such a state that when it falls on the platform from a height of 180 cm, it bounces off approximately 130 cm in height.
Manufacturers
Be sure to look at the manufacturer when choosing a ball. It is known that companies with a name produce balls more expensive, but of high quality. We offer to consider several recognized leaders in the market for the production of the equipment in question:
- Spalding. It is this manufacturer that supplies shells for the games of the Major Basketball League and the Super League.
By purchasing such a ball, be sure that you have a quality product in front of you. - Wilson. The company became famous thanks to the Solution model. This ball is of excellent quality. A distinctive feature - absorbs moisture. It is worth noting that in Russia it is a great success.
- Nike. A company that is good in everything. Few people know that in addition to sportswear and shoes, Nike also produces balls. They are selected by the Euroleague and a number of basketball associations in the Philippines.
How much will it cost
Be prepared that the minimum price for a good accessory that will last more than one year starts from $30. So, for example, Wilson Evolution costs $50, and Nike Elite costs $48. Slightly cheaper, at $ 35, the simplest Spalding will cost.
What to look for when choosing
The projectile must be well inflated in order to bounce well off the surface. It's easy to check. Throw the ball to the floor with outstretched arms.
He should jump up to the waist. Or try putting your thumb on it. Ideally, it will bend by about 4 mm.
The shape also indicates the quality. There should be no bulges on the surface. Knock the ball, it should jump straight up straight, but not to the sides.
It is worth noting that the balls do not like dust and humidity. Therefore, play on a dry site, and then carefully clean the projectile from dust.
If you are a professional basketball player, it is better to purchase a high-quality projectile from leading manufacturers, made of modern synthetic materials.
Deciphering the marking
To understand exactly what kind of accessory is in front of you, it is important to understand the applied marking. So, the size will be indicated on the projectile:
Adult men and women play with balls of 6 and 7 sizes, size 5 is suitable for teenagers, and children who have just started playing need the smallest and lightest, at number 3.
