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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Now that you know how are basketballs made, you will be delighted to see that we can design your custom basketball free of charge.
Any questions or concerns about basketballs? Feel free to contact us via email or live chat.
Making of The NBA Game Ball
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Spalding became the official ball of the NBA in 1983. Made from the finest full grain leather and meeting the most stringent quality and performance standards, the NBA Game Ball is embedded in the sport as much as Michael Jordan or LeBron James. To make something so pivotal takes skill, passion and most importantly a love for the game, so let’s find out how.
Creating the Ball
The NBA Game Ball is made of leather that comes exclusively from the Horween Leather Company in Chicago. Horween is one of the oldest leather tanneries in the United States and receives shipments of 3,000 cowhides a week, which go through a rigorous three-week process. The process used to achieve this is:
The leather pieces are sorted by how clear the grain is, and the thickness and size of the piece.
The chosen leather pieces are then coloured. They are put into tanning drums where the leather is preserved and tanned.
The leather is stamped with a 1,000-ton press with German-made embossing plates that give the basketballs their distinct pebbling.
The embossed leather is painted in lighter coats for a combination of colour, durability and feel.
The leather then goes through a double drying process.
A final check is conducted. The leather is graded, trimmed, and then packaged and shipped to China for cutting and sewing.
Quality Assurance
Once the balls are made, they go through multiple quality assurance tests in the United States. These include:
The balls are inflated at an ‘inflation station’ by automatic gauges, and then manually inflated and checked.
The balls are measured to ensure that the circumference of every ball matches the requirements and is the exact same.
A vertical test is conducted. Every ball is dropped from 6 feet and must meet the minimum rebound of 52 inches.
The final step is waking the windings. The balls are rebounded at 20 miles per hour, 50 times. This is to ensure that each ball is consistent in its form.
Game Ready
After quality assurance testing, the balls are delivered to the teams and are ready for play. There are so many important factors in making the NBA Game Ball, but none more important than the fact that the ball is a performance instrument. This means that not only do the basketballs need to look good, they need to feel good. Spalding take great care to ensure this is always the case.
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How to learn how to spin a basketball on your finger
To skillfully spin a basketball on your finger, you need to learn a few simple techniques, find the ball and set aside 10 minutes of training per day. After a week of practicing your skills, you will master the technique of this trick and show it to your friends. In the step-by-step instructions below, we will show you how to learn how to spin a basketball on your finger.
Tossing the ball correctly
You can train on the sports ground, near the house or even in the apartment, but in any place you need to take into account the environment. For example, when practicing a trick in a room, the ball can bounce and break fragile objects. When a place is found and inventory is prepared, you can begin training. Initially, you need to learn how to properly hold and throw the ball in the air:
Hold the ball with the stripes vertical. Horizontal scrolling looks ineffective and it is very difficult to catch a projectile from this position.
Select throw method:
Two hands. You need to keep the ball not on the sides, but so that 1 hand “looks” at you, and the second from you. Having fixed the object, sharply spread your arms and slightly “throw” the ball up.
With one hand. To throw with one hand, place your fingers along the lines of the ball. It is important that there is free space between the palm and the inventory. Lightly squeeze the ball. Turn the brush outward until it stops, and then gently turn it back. At the last moment, you need to give additional rotation to the ball with your fingertips. But we do not recommend using a large one, because. this will upset the balance and the ball will fly away.
Throw the ball parallel to the floor, do not allow the ball to wobble. It is important that when thrown, the projectile rises above eye level. When its bottom surface is visible, the ball is easier to catch.
These steps must be repeated until fully automated. Usually it takes two days. When the throws are confident, you can move on to the second level.
Learning to catch the ball
Once you have learned how to throw correctly, try catching the ball with your finger. To do this, remember the following nuances:
You need to catch the projectile on the nail, not the finger itself. In this case, it is important that the brush is turned with the palm towards you.
The finger must be placed strictly in the center, at the junction of the vertical lines, otherwise the ball will slide off.
When your finger touches the ball, gently and smoothly lower your hand down. So you will improve the cushioning, the inventory will not bounce, and you will not damage your finger.
This stage is one of the most difficult and requires patience on the part of the freestyler, athlete and just wanting to master the skill. When you learn how to catch the ball, at first it can control you: jump off and make you “run” after it to keep your balance. Be patient and keep practicing.
Once you are comfortable with a spinning ball, try to keep it spinning and spin it further. To do this, with light flapping movements, move your free hand along a tangent. But remember that strong twists can shift the center of gravity and the projectile will lose balance.
Tips
Here are some helpful tips from the pros:
practice throwing a few times a day before moving on to other stages;
workouts can be quite tiring, so take breaks between sets to give your hands a rest;
use only a well-inflated ball;
when accelerating the rotational movements, do not apply much force, otherwise the ball will slip off the finger;
Trim your nails before practicing, this will increase rotation control;
do not throw the ball very high: you can damage or break the phalanges;
You can reduce the risk of wrist injury by warming up before practicing the exercise.
Knowing how to spin a basketball on your finger and approaching the matter responsibly, in a week you will be able to show a cool trick to friends or sports colleagues.
universal, indoor or outdoor
How to choose a good basketball and not be disappointed in your purchase.
How to choose a good basketball and not be disappointed in the purchase.
What types of basketballs are there.
First you need to decide where you will play: do you need a ball for the hall, for the street, or is a universal ball best for you? This is one of the most important selection criteria.
Indoor basketball differs markedly from outdoor basketball. It properly "sticks" to the athlete's hand and has good adhesion to the smooth surface of the parquet. Such balls are made of genuine leather or synthetic materials, additionally covered with composite compounds and microfiber inserts, which provides a comfortable grip. They are forbidden to play on the asphalt surface: on the street they quickly lose their qualities and become unusable.
How do you choose a good basketball for street play? For open areas, models made of synthetic materials or ordinary rubber are suitable. The first option is more expensive, but will last longer and will be better in the hand. Outdoor balls are much more durable, and additional surface treatment improves traction.
The third type is universal. Picking it up is the most difficult, since such a ball must combine the characteristics of both “parquet” and “street” - for hard surfaces like asphalt. In order to make the material wear-resistant, special synthetic additives are added to the composite leather, but only top manufacturers do this. Most of the universal models that you can buy at an average and low price are made from cheap PVC, which is called “synthetic leather” in the composition. Such balls quickly deteriorate, crack and lose their playing qualities.
When choosing, pay attention to the raw materials used in production. The most durable balls are made from artificial materials, while professional indoor balls with parquet, on the contrary, are made from genuine leather. If it has the mark "Supreme Leather" on it, then premium leather was used in the production. Not a single serious basketball tournament can do without such balls.
How to check the quality of the ball.
Having decided on the type and material, you should pay attention to the properties and quality. The first indicator of evaluation is the rebound. A good and properly inflated ball bounces to a height of about 130 centimeters. There is a more practical way to test this characteristic: raise the ball to the level of the head, and then release it. He must bounce to the height of the belt.
Flexibility is another important quality indicator. A good ball retains its shape and does not become soft during a short game or practice.
An important point: the initial characteristics matter a lot, but no less important is how you use the ball. You can’t sit on it, you can’t kick it with your foot and the ball must be periodically pumped up, but this must be done using a special nozzle, and not a football needle. Proper operation will help maintain its original playing qualities for as long as possible.
How to choose the right size for a basketball?
We have decided on the purpose, material and quality. It remains to choose the size: weight and circumference. Everything here, as in the previous paragraphs, depends on the players.
#7. Diameter - 749-780 millimeters, weight - 567-650 grams. The largest size is suitable for adult men's competitions.
#6. Diameter - 724-737 millimeters, weight - 510-567 grams. Balls of this size are used in women's basketball.
#5. Diameter - 690-710 millimeters. Weight - 470-500 grams. These balls are used in mini basketball.
#3. Diameter - 560-580 millimeters. Weight - 300-330 grams. Balls of this size and weight are intended for children's basketball.
As you can see, the main defining characteristics for different categories of balls are weight and size. They directly affect the dynamics of the game, the accuracy of the shots and the results.
Children's basketballs are lighter and smaller than adults so young athletes can grab the ball and hold it in their hand, and the reduced weight allows them to make accurate basket shots even from outside the 3-second zone. For children under 7 years old, balls at number 3 are suitable, and for children from 7 to 12, the best choice would be the option for minibasketball at number 5.
Why are all basketballs orange?
We are used to all basketballs being orange, although this is not a requirement. Until the middle of the 20th century, balls were made from natural leather without much post-processing, which is why they had a natural brown color. But the problem was that such balls merged with the parquet, and this created some inconvenience for the players. In the 50s of the last century, it was decided to play only with brighter orange balls, but today this rule is conditional. Top manufacturers try different shades and it is not uncommon to find basketballs in blue, purple, black and other colors in stores.
A basketball is one of the main elements of the game along with sneakers and sportswear. Its parameters, materials, quality characteristics and even color affect the outcome of the game, so professional players, teams and leagues do not save on balls, choosing the best options for their game.
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.
The designs are usually applied via stickers that glue to the ball itself.
After a week of practicing your skills, you will master the technique of this trick and show it to your friends. In the step-by-step instructions below, we will show you how to learn how to spin a basketball on your finger. 
Having fixed the object, sharply spread your arms and slightly “throw” the ball up. 
To do this, remember the following nuances: 
But remember that strong twists can shift the center of gravity and the projectile will lose balance. 
The first option is more expensive, but will last longer and will be better in the hand. Outdoor balls are much more durable, and additional surface treatment improves traction. 
Not a single serious basketball tournament can do without such balls. 
For children under 7 years old, balls at number 3 are suitable, and for children from 7 to 12, the best choice would be the option for minibasketball at number 5. 
