How to pump up a basketball with an air compressor

How to Inflate a Basketball (What You Need + 5 Steps)

Inflating a basketball is not something you really need to do all that often. When you buy a brand new basketball, it is usually already inflated so you really don’t think too much about it. After a while, basketballs tend to lose a little air and if you let one sit around for a long time, it will definitely end up flat.

Even an often used basketball will eventually need air. You may go out to play a game and notice that your ball is not bouncing quite as it should. Cold weather may also lower the pressure in a basketball making it seem unresponsive when you dribble and shoot. In either case, you can always add a little air to solve the problem.

Why should you care if your basketball is properly inflated? How do you know when your basketball is properly inflated? What is the best way to properly inflate your basketball? These are all common questions with fairly simple answers. Let’s take a look at each question one at a time.

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Why Should I Properly Inflate My Basketball?

A properly inflated basketball will ensure that your practice, one-on-one game, full-court five-on-five game or even your game of HORSE is the best experience that it can be. An underinflated ball will not have any “action”, meaning it will not bounce very well, which will make it more difficult to dribble. Also, it will not bank off the backboard as well and bounce passes will not go as far as you intend them to go.

An overinflated ball can be bad as well. It will bounce too high when you dribble, bank too hard off the backboard and bounce passes will go farther than you intend them to go. This is why it is important to have your basketball inflated to the specified pressure or at least near the specified pressure.

How Do I know If My Basketball is Properly Inflated?

The standard pressure recommended for a basketball is 7 – 9 PSI (48.26 – 62.05 kPa). Unless you have a pressure gauge, and many air pumps do (we’ll talk about that in the next section), then you will not know what the air pressure in your basketball is. Not to worry, there is a simple method that you can use to check the inflation of your ball. It won’t give you the PSI (or kPa), but it will be good enough to get you back out on the court.

1. Hold the basketball at about the level of your face.
2. Drop the basketball.
3. Let the ball bounce.
4. If the ball is properly inflated, it should bounce back up to around your waist level.

Another great way to tell is just by playing with the ball and dribbling it. You can often tell if it is under or over-inflated. Different players prefer various levels of inflation, so an ideal inflation level to one player may be too much or not enough to others. An interesting thing to do next time you watch a game or attend one live is to watch which players walk over to the referee before tip-off and test the ball by grabbing it and dribbling.

What’s the Best Way to Properly Inflate a Basketball

I have seen many videos and instructions out there on the internet that explain how to inflate a ball without the proper equipment. While these methods may or may not work, it is always best to use the proper equipment because you can ensure that you are inflating the basketball to the correct pressure. Using the proper equipment will also help prevent you from damaging your basketball.

Let’s take a look at what you will need to properly inflate your basketball.

What You Will Need

Inflation Needle

These are relatively cheap and can be found at almost any store that carries any type of athletic equipment. They can also be found easily online.

See the picture below if you are not familiar with what they look like.

Inflation Needle. Photo by Melissa Medina.

Air Pump

There are many different types of air pumps. Below are a few types that can be used such as a hand pump, a bicycle pump or an electric pump. Basically, you need a basketball pump that can connect to the needle. Some air pumps come with built-in pressure gauges which can show you the air pressure as you are inflating the ball. You can also use an air compressor but that can be a little more complicated depending on the type of compressor and the connectors available.

Three types of air pumps.

Air Pressure Gauge (optional)

If your air pump does not have an air pressure gauge, you may want to get a separate air pressure gauge to check the pressure in your ball. Air pressure gauges can be found online or in stores, but as we mentioned above they are optional and not necessary to inflate your basketball.

Don’t have a needle? Also read this article: how to pump a basketball without needle

Steps to Inflate Your Basketball

Step 1: Attach the inflation needle to the air pump.

How to attach the needle will depend on the type of air pump you are using. Most hand pumps made for a basketball will be threaded and you can screw needle onto the pump. If you are using a bicycle pump, it will probably have a connector with a latch (see below). You must put the needle into the connector and tighten the latch to hold the needle in place.

Attach the needle to the pump.

Attach the needle to the pump.

Electric air pumps may have the same type of latch, but a big industrial compressor may need some type of adapter and I wouldn’t recommend using an industrial compressor unless you really know what you are doing.

Step 2: Moisten the inflation needle.

Get a wet paper towel and wipe the needle to moisten it. If you don’t have a wet paper towel, you can run it underwater or even spit on it. The moisture allows the needle to slide into the valve easier and prevents damage to the valve. If the valve is damaged it can cause your basketball to leak air.

Step 3: Insert the needle into the valve.

Once the needle has been moistened, slowly insert it into the valve of the basketball until the needle is all the way in the valve.

Insert the needle into the valve of the basketball.

Step 4: Begin inflating.

If you are using a hand pump or a bicycle pump you will need to manually pump the air in. If you are using an electric pump or a compressor you can turn it on. WARNING! When using an electric pump or a compressor, monitor the inflation at all times. The ball will fill very quickly and if overfilled it can pop and destroy the ball.

Step 5: Check the air pressure.

Monitor the air pressure as you are inflating. Use one hand on the ball as you are inflating it to feel the pressure rise. If your pump has an air pressure gauge, check it regularly. If it does not use a separate gauge or check it using the bounce method described above.

Once the air pressure seems good, get out there on the court and start having fun!

Additional Resources

There are many types of air pumps on the market. Take a look at some of the following if you are interested.

• Basic Hand Pump with needles and gauge
• Bicycle Pump
• Electric Pump

If you would like to see how to inflate a basketball using an air compressor, check out this video.

Final Words

Eventually, all basketballs will need to be inflated because they will lose air over time. Fortunately, the process is fairly simple as we have shown above and the equipment needed is relatively cheap. So, if you want to have an enjoyable game of basketball, make sure your basketball is always properly inflated, then get out there and have some fun!

Have you ever tried to play basketball with an under-inflated or over-inflated basketball? We’d love to hear from you, so please leave your comments.

How to Inflate a Basketball – With a Pump and Air Compressor

Last Updated March 3, 2022 by Edward Pullen

A basketball needs to be inflated at recommended air pressure for it to perform at its best. If you are wondering how to inflate a basketball, here we’ll explain easy ways to pump up the ball. Inflate the basketball at recommended PSI (pound-force per square inch), it will have consistent bounce while dribbling and precise flight to the hoop while shooting the goal.

As we know new basketballs come inflated and the best basketballs will retain the PSI for a long time. However, it loses some pressure after playing a couple of games – resulting in inconsistent bounce and poor performance. Weather also plays a role in the air pressure: the pressure drops if you are playing in either too cold or too hot weather on outdoor courts. Also, the basketball gets deflated if you don’t play with it for too long. So, if your ball is flattened by any of the above causes, we’ll guide you through the process of how you can inflate a basketball at home following easy steps.

Table of Content

• How to Inflate a Basketball Properly – Right Ways
  • How to Inflate a Basketball with a Pump
  • How to Inflate a Basketball with an Air Compressor
• How to Find out If the Basketball is Properly Inflated?
• Final Verdict

It is important to inflate a basketball properly and in the right way for feel, bounce, and durability. An under-inflated basketball will not bounce well while dribbling, bank shots will fall back and the ball will not travel the expected distance in long bounce passes.

On the other hand, an over-inflated basketball will bounce too high, bank shots will be too hard and off the rim. Plus, the bounce passes will travel a longer distance than expected – resulting in weak performance. Therefore, it is essential to follow the recommended PSI advised by the basketball company while inflating the ball.

Fond of dunking? Read about how to jump higher to dunk.

Inflating a basketball with a pump is the most effective and recommended way. These pumps are quite handy, cheap, and small in size – easy to carry in your basketball bag.

• Air Pump
• Needle
• Wet Paper Towel (Optional)
• Inflation Gauge

Most of the hand pumps especially made to inflate basketballs have needles attached. However, you need to attach the needle if you are using a normal ball pump, a bicycle pump, or an electric pump. Use a connector with the latch to connect the needle as shown in the image.

Lost the needle? Here’s how to pump a basketball without a needle.

The insertion valve area is quite sensitive and you need to moisten the needle for easy insertion. You can moisten the needle with a wet paper towel, by dropping the water downwards or by spitting on it. There are chances of damaging the valve if you insert the needle dry. A damaged wall will cause leakage and basketball will keep losing air more often.

After moistening the needle, insert it slowly in the valve by applying the same force throughout. Do not push it hard and keep the angle straight – make sure the needle goes all the way in.

Now the main part comes – to start pumping. If you are using a bicycle pump or a hand pump, begin to pump to start inflation. However, if it is an industrial compressor or an electric pump, make sure to observe the air pressure all the time because it will inflate too fast.

Basketball pumps have an air gauge mounted on them, keep your eyes on it to monitor the pressure. However, if the pump you are using does not have the air gauge, use the separate air gauge unit to check the PSI. Insert the needle of the gauge in the valve and it will immediately give you the PSI reading.

Check which are the top-rated indoor basketballs of 2022.

There are ways to inflate a basketball without a pump – using an air compressor is the most common. This method will save you a day or two, canisters are expensive and costly to purchase a new one again and again.

• Air Compressor
• Inflation Gauge

This method does not require a needle because air compressor cans have a small straw. Remove the plastic extender and insert the straw in the hole gently, hold it tight for it to stay in its place. Make sure to secure the other end of the straw on the canister’s nozzle.

Now, push the compressor to handle down to release the air pressure to inflate the basketball. Repeat this process several times until you find the ball is inflated properly.

Remove the compressor and monitor the air pressure of the basketball by using the air gauge. If you find the PSI less than recommended, you can repeat the inflation process until it reaches the advised pressure level.

Tired of replacing the backyard hoop every year? See which are the most durable in ground hoops of 2022.

As we mentioned above, an over-inflated or under-inflated basketball will not perform well. So, you might be thinking about how to find out if the basketball is properly inflated? Well, there is a gauge to measure the PSI of a ball, this gauge is mostly mounted on the basketball pump – or you can get it separately from the market.

The NBA official basketballs are inflated between 7.5 to 8.5 PSI. Most of the official size or close basketballs have recommended PSI from 7 to 9. Simply attach the gauge nozzle with the valve to monitor the air pressure.

Do not worry if you don’t have an inflation gauge. There is another ancient way of finding if the basketball is inflated properly – follow the below steps;

1. Hold the basketball still at your face level at 90ᵒ
2. Release it without any force and let it drop down straight
3. Do not move and let the basketball bounce back after hitting the floor
4. A properly inflated ball will bounce back up to your waist, over or under-inflated will bounce either higher or lower

Want to jump as high as the rim? Read about the best basketball shoes for jumping.

Basketballs lose air over time and we all wonder how to inflate a basketball properly. Either you are playing with the ball, or it has been stored for a long time, it will need to get inflated the next time you bring it to the court.

We recommend getting a basketball pump to inflate the ball properly. A pump will have an inflation gauge to keep monitoring the recommended PSI. These pumps are small and cheap, you can find some even under $10. You will definitely experience extended joy if you play with properly inflated basketball.

Planning a pool party on a sunny day? Get yourself a rust-resistant poolside hoop.

Frequently Asked Questions: (FAQs)

How do you inflate a basketball at home?

There are two simple ways to inflate a basketball at home. You can either use a basketball pump or an air compressor. Moisten the needle and connect it with the pump, insert the wet end of the needle into the valve and start pumping the air.

If you are inflating without a pump – use an air compressor. Connect one end of the straw to the canister and insert and hold the other end at the valve hole. Now, press down the handle of the can release air. Repeat this process until the ball is properly inflated.

How do you inflate a basketball without a needle?

There are different ways to inflate a basketball without a needle. However, using an air compressor is the most common and easiest way. Take a small straw, insert one end into the hole of the basketball against the valve and connect the other end with the canister. Now, push down the handle of the can to release air pressure. Repeat this process until the ball is inflated at recommended PSI.

How do you measure air pressure in a basketball?

You measure air pressure in a basketball using an inflation gauge. This is a small meter to monitor the PSI of a basketball.

What PSI should basketball be?

Recommended PSI of a basketball should be from 7 to 0 PSI. The Official NBA basketballs are inflated at 7.5 to 8.5 PSI.

• About
• Latest Posts

Edward Pullen

Hi, I'm confessing that I'm a basketball fanatic and I've been training to become a professional basketball athlete since my childhood. After years of hooping, now I have started to review products related to basketball sports after in-depth research and consulting coaches, because there are plenty of fanciful products in the market. Check out my reviews about Best Outdoor Basketball, Best Indoor Basketball and Best Portable Basketball Hoops, Best In Ground Basketball Hoops. Also, read about Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes and Best Basketball Shoes for Ankle Support. In-depth reviews of Dunking Shoes and how you can improve your vertical jump to perfectly dunk a basketball with the help of Dunk Calculator.

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Author Yulia Abdulbarova December 30, 2017

Almost every ball - football, volleyball, children's, basketball, gymnastics - is suitable for use only when it is properly inflated with air. Therefore, a special pump, a needle, and sometimes even silicone grease are often sold with it. But imagine that all this is simply not at hand. How to pump up a ball without a needle? We have selected for you several effective folk methods.

Method 1: Compressor

How to inflate a ball without a needle? Contact any of the car services in your locality - workers will help you for free or for a nominal amount. Do not ignore tire shops: there will definitely be powerful compressors for pumping car tires. One thing: there is a risk of pumping the product with air, which will lead to its damage or even explosion.

Compressor - equipment from which air is released under pressure. Therefore, this is a perfect answer to the question: "How to inflate a ball without a needle and a pump?" If possible, it is recommended to carry out the procedure together: one person will turn the compressor on and off, and the second person will hold the ball and press the cord, controlling the process of air intake. The hose with the nozzle is pressed tightly against the valve, after which the device turns on at full power. It must be deactivated immediately as soon as the surface of the ball becomes hard. That's all!

We also draw your attention to the fact that many models of car compressors have special nozzles for pumping balls with air.

Method No. 2: electrical tape, syringe needle, bicycle pump

The tools here are among the most affordable: a bicycle pump is in almost every home, you can easily buy electrical tape in a manufactured goods store, hypermarket, a syringe in a pharmacy. How to pump up a ball without a needle in this way? Easier than simple:

1. Take a needle from a syringe - first of all, you need to grind its sharp tip on asphalt, brick, stone, curb or with a special knife. Too sharp, it will easily pierce the nipple, which will make the ball unusable. The best would be a needle for blood transfusion systems - it is thick, durable, does not bend.
2. In the second step, you make a kind of adapter from electrical tape - 10-12 layers of it are enough. They need to be wound tightly so that the air does not come out when pumping back.
3. How to inflate a ball without a needle? Attach the invention to a bicycle pump and proceed with the procedure.

Method No. 3: syringe

How to inflate a ball without a needle - volleyball, basketball, football? Use a large medical syringe! This is in the most extreme case, because the method is quite exhausting - you will spend about 2 hours on the procedure.

As with the second method, you will need to blunt the needle, otherwise you will damage the nipple and the ball will deflate all the time. Which syringe to choose? The more, the better:

• It's really possible to inflate the ball with 20-cubic meters in 30-40 minutes.
• 10cc syringe will keep you busy with the ball for one to two hours.

Before starting the procedure, we recommend that you treat the nipple with silicone grease - this will protect it from damage by an imperfect needle from a syringe. It is simple to act: insert the needle into the hole, pressing the lever of the syringe, release the air. Then remove the tool, return the lever to its original position and repeat the procedure.

Method 4: Needle but no pump

We've figured out how to inflate a ball without a needle (basketball, volleyball, football, etc.) But what if you have one (or you made your own needle), and is there no pump? We offer the following instruction:

1. The pump will be replaced by an ordinary plastic bottle from a carbonated drink. As a last resort - a dense plastic bag without holes.
2. Now you need to screw the needle into the cork of the container or solder it. This will be the switch. Check that it does not let air through.
3. Then lubricate the ball nipple with silicone grease.
4. But now you need to pump air with your hands (or, if you prefer, with your feet) into our homemade pump, from where it will flow through the needle into the ball.

Other ways

Here are some more tips:

• If you can't find a medical syringe, you can replace its needle with an empty ballpoint pen.
• If you managed to pump up the ball just a little, then you can restore its hardness and elasticity like this: just hold it for a while in hot water. From this, the air inside the product will heat up, which will expand, which will complement the effect of jumping.
• Silicone nipple grease can be replaced with machine oil.
• The needle can be attached to the cap of a plastic bottle for a homemade pump with a glue gun.
• Instead of a compressor, bicycle pump, bag or bottle, you can also use a regular rubber bulb.
• A compressed air bottle, car spare tire or trash bag can also act as a pump.

So we have sorted out all the available ways to pump any ball with an air valve, if there was no pump and a special needle nearby. Contact a car repair shop, wield a medical syringe, build your own tool - choose what is most suitable for you.

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👆 How to properly inflate the ball: instructions

Football, basketball, volleyball and children's rubber balls are filled with air, giving the necessary volume and hardness. Any ball gradually deflates, becoming unsuitable for a comfortable game, and many do not understand how to pump it up correctly, so we will tell you. The service life of the product and the convenience of the players depend on the correct pumping. It is recommended to use a pump and a special needle, which can be bought in sports stores and hypermarkets.

How many atmospheres to inflate the balls

Many people determine how much to inflate the ball empirically, but it is better to be guided by the manufacturer's recommendations. This information is usually located near the nipple and is indicated in the Bar indicators. The average values ​​for how many atmospheres to inflate balls are as follows:

• for playing on hard surfaces up to 0.8 bar;
• in the gym - about 0.6 bar;
• on loose ground or lawn - 0.6-0.8 bar.

This applies to football, basketball and volleyball, but a gymnastics ball or children's rubber ball requires less pressure - they are pumped up by eye. Professional soccer balls, which teams play on the field, are pumped up to a pressure of 0.8-1 bar.

But how can you inflate a soccer ball at home if the pump does not have a pressure gauge? A properly inflated product should be moderately firm and elastic. A loose structure is a sign of insufficient pressure.

Checking the pump is very simple: raise the ball to head level and release. If it bounces off the hard floor to waist level (basketball is higher), the pump is good.

Instructions for inflating the ball

There are videos on the net on how to inflate the ball, and recommendations for inflating with a syringe, plastic bottle and other non-standard devices are published. Most of them are useless in real life, so let's see how you can inflate the ball with a pump and a needle:

1. Check the quality of the purchased needle. On its surface there should be no roughness and points that could damage the rubber nipple.
2. We recommend that you buy silicone oil for balls, which is applied to the needle before inserting it into a tight hole. So you protect the valve from damage and increase the elasticity of the nipple, extending its service life.
3. Use a pump with a built-in pressure gauge and refer to it.
4. If the pump does not have a pressure sensor, determine how the soccer ball should be inflated by eye.

To prolong the life of the ball, experts advise to release the pressure a little after the game. So the product will retain elasticity, and the seams will last longer.

How to inflate a ball without a needle

We will immediately note such instructions as how to inflate the ball with a syringe or a plastic bottle. In real conditions, this is impossible to do or the process will take an unreasonably long time. If there is no special needle, try the method with a medical needle.

See also

• How to determine the size of shoes by the insole
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You will need a needle purchased from a pharmacy. The thicker it is, the better, so you can look for a needle from a blood transfusion system. Grind the sharp end on asphalt or a knife sharpening stone. The blunt tip will not damage the rubber nipple.

Wrap tape around the base of the needle to secure it firmly to the pump. Try to create a tight connection so that it can withstand the necessary pressure. Inflating a rubber, jumper ball or gymnastic fitball will not be difficult, but inflating a basketball or soccer ball will be more difficult due to higher pressure.

The main thing is to insert a homemade needle into the hole of the nipple smoothly and carefully so as not to damage the inner walls or pierce the rubber. Careless actions can damage the valve, causing it to stop holding air.

Is it possible to inflate the ball with a compressor

How else to inflate the ball without a needle and without a pump? Use a car compressor, the tip of the tube of which must be firmly attached to the nipple and turn on the device. The method is effective, but there is another one.

You can use the compressor in a tire shop or car service, but in this case there is a risk of pumping the ball or damaging the nipple. It is necessary to act carefully, gradually applying pressure. It is better not to trust the process to service workers, but ask them to do everything on their own. It is necessary to pump air from the gun smoothly and in small portions so as not to exceed the number of atmospheres when pumping, or so that the nipple does not fall inside.

Helpful hints for inflating the ball

How to inflate a fitness, football or basketball ball with a pump with or without a needle should be clear to you, but we also recommend that you follow these tips: Exceeding the recommended pressure will affect the geometry of the ball and result in excessive tension at the seams.

Do not store the ball in the sun or in freezing temperatures. If you store it in the trunk of a car, the air inside will compress and the ball will shrink a little. When you come to the hall and pump up the ball, it will soon warm up and may burst from a strong blow.

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