How To Fix A Basketball That Won’t Hold Air – Get Hyped Sports
Every single basketball will eventually start leaking in some way, whether you want it to or not, with even the best cared for balls becoming a problem. It’s essential to know how your basketball can leak and what you may stop the air from escaping.
Your basketball may have dirt, or something else stuck in the valve that needs to be cleaned out to help it seal properly. If you have a small leak, you can melt the hole shut with a hot melt, patch it with a kit, or you may have to resow the seam that has been broken and needs to be resealed.
You must understand just how your basketball can suddenly start leaking air when you least expect it. Many things can cause this issue, and people have made the mistake of disposing valuable balls that can be fixed within a few minutes.
Why Would a Basketball Keep Losing Air?
Three things can cause your basketball to leak, each one of them usually being fixable with just a bit of patience. We recommend familiarizing yourself with the potential causes of basketball leaks, as this will ensure that you know what you need to fix them.
Focusing on these three will allow you to comfortably have your favorite ball for a lot longer, with most leather balls fixable until their last puff of air. You must ensure that you know how to fix and identify the most common ways to damage a basketball.
Valve Leak
Oddly enough, a valve leak or damage is most familiar with the basketballs cared for the most, as the valve becomes damaged because it is often used.
The valve will often be damaged because the needle is wrong, dirt is stuck in the valve or aging.
Most people often rule out valve leaks as they assume the valves will not be damaged no matter how many times they pump the basketball. However, it takes one needle accidentally dropped to entirely ruin a valve as the valves are made of plastic.
Small Holes
A leather basketball is not so likely to suffer from small holes as they use an internal bladder system, and when pumped to the correct pressure, it will not be damaged.
However, most other basketballs can quickly develop tiny holes that must be patched or fixed.
Rubber basketballs have no internal bladder, with composite basketballs differing from manufacturer to manufacturer. These holes can be made by anything from overinflating to having the ball roll or bounce onto something small and sharp, making these the most common problems.
Seam Leaks
Rubber basketballs and composite basketballs do not have seams as they are one solid piece of material containing the air, making seam leaks unlikely. However, select composite basketballs and all leather balls seam leaks can cause damage to the bladder, causing leaks.
Seam leaks are natural for all balls made using the bladder system as the materials stretch and change over time. This means that the seams start to open, and the soft, sensitive internal rubber bladder can be damaged by the seams themselves or by sand stuck inside the ball.
How To Fix Each Type Of Leak
Now that you know the most common types of leaks for your basketball, you need to know how to fix them. However, depending on how the ball is damaged, the required work to fix the ball will be different, with the type of ball creating further confusion.
A few things cannot be fixed, with holes large enough to put your finger through, meaning that the ball needs to be replaced. Repairing the ball properly will easily and comfortably have you enjoy the ball for a lot longer than the manufacturer expected.
Fixing a valve leak
This is the most touch-and-go type of leak you can find with your basketball, whether a leather ball or a rubber ball. You need to ensure that you can do everything that may need to be done to your valve before attempting to fix them.
Generally, we recommend not trying to fix a valve that is holding no air at all; once you remove the needle, the valve lets all the air out, you have to consider replacing it. Knowing when this will happen is important and how to fix the ball otherwise is what will help your ball last forever.
Wet needle: This is the repair that you should always hope works, get some soapy water, and dip the needle into the water. Insert and remove the needle multiple times from the valve; this cleans out any dirt or debris stuck inside the valve that stops it from closing.
Inset Toothpick: A temporary fix that should only be done if you have no other choice is to insert a needle to plug the basketball. If the valve has been broken entirely and cannot block the air, you can insert a toothpick and break it off flush with the valve.
Replace Valve: This will require a unique tool and is only ever worth doing with a leather basketball. The valves can be replaced without breaking the ball’s seams or removing the bladder; with a new valve, most balls will be perfectly usable for another few games. Here are some great replacements on Amazon that we found.
See Our Complete List Of Helpful Basketball Articles Here.
Fixing a Hole
Leather balls rarely, if ever, get a hole as the materials are stronger than their rubber counterparts, with only needles or thorns pressed into them easily breaking through. If your ball is overinflated, it will be more prone to developing these holes, whether they’re leather or rubber.
To fix a small hole causing the ball to lose air slowly, you must identify whether the ball has an internal bladder. Most rubber basketballs do not have bladders inside; composite balls may or may not have an internal bladder, while all leather balls have bladders.
Patching Kit: Basketball patching kits consist of a needle inserted into the area where the hole is and a liquid inserted. This liquid is sucked out of the hole and then hardens, sealing the hole and keeping the air inside; this only works on rubber balls. Here is an example of a patching kit.
Hot Knife: Using a hot knife will not work on all rubber basketballs, will not work on leather, but will quickly seal a vinyl basketball. These basketballs look similar to others, but you can easily seal most small holes on a basketball with only a hot, blunt knife.
Replace Bladder: We recommend doing this every few years anyway as the bladder will be damaged and deformed as the ball is used. Replacing leather or composite basketball bladder requires a few special tools that you may not want to buy, but you can send the ball away to have it done.
Repairing The Seam
We don’t recommend you attempt when you have a composite or rubber ball as the cost and time needed to do it are overwhelming. Rubber balls do not have seams to start with, just seam lines, while composite balls are not much more expensive than redoing the seam.
You will require more than just a needle and thread, which many people assume you need; you will also require the sealant. The seams on modern leather basketballs are hidden by the black lines that crisscross the entire ball; these give the balls their iconic look.
We highly recommend that you send the ball to a professional to have this done; not only will they be able to test the health of your bladder, but they can also reseal everything as well. The threading and stitching required to repair a seam are tight and need stronger thread than usual.
Conclusion
Your basketball can have multiple reasons that it will be leaking air out of it at a steady pace, with most people assuming it’s easy to fix. Knowing how to and when to repair your basketball will allow you to enjoy the basketball for a lot longer.
Whatever you do, please don’t try to fix a basketball that has any cut in it larger than a few inches!
Can A Basketball Be Patched And How? [A Complete Guide]
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Adam Gotelli
Chief Editor | Product Tester at Outdoor Basketball Hub
Born and raised in California, Adam is a professional basketball player, currently crushing it in Messina, Italy.
Read more about Adam.
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We’ve all been there; the dreaded ‘psssss’ sound of a leaking basketball as you play or the lumpy, distorted mess a ball inevitably becomes. Nobody wants to be there, but it’s par for the course and comes with the territory of being a basketball player or any athlete playing ball sports.
The average basketball lasts about five years, back and forth and up and down the court. To extend their lifespan and for balls with a sentimental value, many hoopers rely on patching and/or repairs to ensure they get the most out of their game.
That’s why a valid question is: “can a basketball be patched?”
Your ball may be leaking, but you don’t always need to replace it. A basketball can be patched, and here we take a look at the best ways to go about it.
Let’s take a closer look at how to fix your leaking basketball.
Contents
Can A Basketball Be Patched?
What Is The Best Way To Patch a Basketball
How To Identify An Air Leak On A Basketball?
What Are The Main Reasons For A Basketball To Lose Air?
Valve Leaks
Small Holes
Seam Leaks
Is It Better To Patch A Basketball Or Buy A New One?
What Are The Best Tools For Repairing A Basketball?
FAQ
How Do You Fix A Hole In A Basketball?
Can You Fix A Flat Basketball?
How Do You Fix A Lumpy Basketball?
Can You Replace The Valve In A Basketball?
Why Does My Basketball Keep Deflating?
How To Plug A Basketball?
Can A Basketball Be Patched?
Yes, you can absolutely patch a basketball.Both leather and rubber balls will lose air or leak at some point in their life after diligent dribbling and hard play.
The NBA ensures the integrity of their balls by swapping them out every 1-4 games. For the average hooper using a rubber ball posting up at the neighborhood court, swapping out balls after every pickup game just isn’t doable; that’s where patching comes in.
Proper ball care can only take you so far, and to get the most out of your game and for longer, here are the best patching and fixing methods.
What Is The Best Way To Patch a Basketball
The best way to patch a basketball will depend on the nature of your air leak. The first step is going to be locating the leak.
How To Identify An Air Leak On A Basketball?
Inflate the ball using an air pump and submerge it in a bucket of water. From there, locate any air bubbles escaping from your ball.
It’s important to note that some bubbles may be coming from the space between the ball’s panel and bladder and may not be a leak.
These bubbles should stop once the trapped air is released; continuous bubbles mean you got yourself a leaking basketball. In this case, or any other holes and leaks, mark the spot with a permanent marker.
From here, the best way to patch a basketball will be based on the most common results of why a basketball deflates and loses air: valve leaks, small holes, or seam leaks.
What Are The Main Reasons For A Basketball To Lose Air?
Valve Leaks
The most common leak you’ll find in basketballs is the valve leak. It’s the result of heavy usage, as the valve hole itself is relied on to keep your ball inflated in the first place.
Basketballs (both indoor and outdoor balls) are constructed with an outer vinyl or leather coating, with an internal rubber air bladder, while rubber balls are missing this bladder system.
The bladder contains the valve, which can be opened and filled by a hollow needle into the valve to inflate the ball. As the needle is withdrawn, the valve is sealed.
If you have a valve leak, that means the air inflated into your ball is no longer containing itself in the ball’s bladder.
If you can locate bubbles emanating from the center of the ball while it’s submerged, you have a leaky valve. First, clean the valve with a wet inflating needle to wash away any dirt or debris you may have in the ball’s bladder.
With these kinds of leaks, proper replacement with a new valve is the best way to go. You could always plug the valve with some form of leather stripping that’s melted down, but it’s more of a temporary solution to a bigger problem.
Watch this useful video on the topic!
Soak your new valve in soapy water, then open the valve hole and screw it tightly into place. To ensure you’ve replaced the valve correctly, inflate the ball and let it sit for 24 hours, checking the next day for ball pressure and elasticity.
If replacing your valve isn’t doable, many hoopers comment on the tried-and-true method of plugging your valve with a toothpick by inserting the pick and breaking it off inside the ball, remaining flush with the ball’s surface. Again, this is a short-term fix, and your leak will most likely return.
Small Holes
Small holes are related to hooping on outdoor courts, uneven or wet playing surfaces, or as a result of over-inflating. These kinds of leaks are not uncommon for most basketballs.
There is a hole or a surface leak if bubbles are coming from the surface of the ballwhen your ball is submerged in water. To fix this, you can use a ball repair sealant kit, where an insertion needle found on the can is moistened, pushed into the valve, and sprayed.
After that, briefly bounce your basketball (no more than five times) to allow the sealant to be evenly distributed on the inside of the ball’s bladder. Then, your ball should sit for an hour with the hole facing the ground, letting the sealant settle.
These user-friendly patching kits seal up small holes fast, but are only suited for leather balls. For other alternatives, if you have a vinyl basketball, you can heat a hot knifeor screwdriver over an open flame and place it over the hole, almost like you’re searing the leak.
I recommend using a dull knife for obvious safety reasons.
Seam Leaks
Seam leaks are natural leakage for all bladder system balls, as the materials and the dots expand over time. The seams of the iconic, modern basketball are hidden behind crisscrossed black lines.
As the seams open, the sensitive internal bladder of the ball is damaged by the seams on the surface or by sand, dirt, debris, etc., being lodged into it.
Seam repairs require an experienced hand with a needle and thread, as well as sealant. We can’t emphasize enough that you consult a professional for these kinds of repairs.
Not only will they be able to reseal the seams of your ball with threading and stitching, but they can also test the integrity of your ball’s bladder. The downside here is that the cost ofrepairing your leather ball may be greater than buying a new one.
If your basketball has sentimental value, I’d still recommend a quick google search for a professional ball repair service. This brings me to my next point.
Is It Better To Patch A Basketball Or Buy A New One?
It’s better to patch or fix a basketball rather than buying a new one, in the case of repairs costing less than buying a replacement. This is generally known as the 50% rule, and while it’s usually applied to the higher ticket, techy items, the same goes for fixing basketballs.
If the cost of repairing your leaking basketball exceeds 50% of the price of a new one, you should be replacing your ball. In the case of seam leaks on regularly relied-on basketballs, you’re better off with a new ball.
A repair or patching kit for valve and little hole leaks will cost you less than $10, while a new basketball goes for over $20. It’s a no-brainer here to stick to repairing the rock rather than swapping it out.
What Are The Best Tools For Repairing A Basketball?
We answered the question, “can a basketball be patched.” Now it’s time to see what are the tools needed for that. For most valve repair kits, the necessary tools included are replacement valves, a crochet hook to open the valve chamber, and air needles to increase air pressure.
These three tools are required for valve repair and to give your basketball a new life. Forsmall hole and seam repair,sealant is required to pressurize your ball and fully plug any air leaks.
The best tools to fix a basketball will work on balls with a bladder, as bladder composition is the most popular design among modern basketballs. Recent posts and reviews of Amazon ball repair products are a reminder to read the product descriptions.
Negative online reviews of these products are a result of hoopers only realizing the tools they ordered weren’t compatible with their ball’s inner air chamber or surface material after they’d already been delivered.
FAQ
How Do You Fix A Hole In A Basketball?
You can fix a hole in a basketball by locating the hole and using a ball repair sealant kit. You’ll be inserting a needle and spraying the interior bladder of your ball, thereby plugging up the hole so no more air can escape.
Can You Fix A Flat Basketball?
Yes, you can fix a flat basketball by inflating it to its full air pressurewith a pump and submerging it in water. You’ll be able to identify air leakage and patch or use a repair kit from there to restore your basketball’s health.
How Do You Fix A Lumpy Basketball?
To fix a lumpy basketball, you’ll need to fully deflate the ball, then pump it up at a lower air pressure level than you would need while playing. Some lumps in basketballs can be a result of over-inflating your ball. If that doesn’t work, run your ball under warm water and use your hands to buff out the deformities.
Can You Replace The Valve In A Basketball?
You can replace the valve in a basketball by finding a compatible valve for your ball, removing the previous valve via a crochet hook, and inserting the new one. This will only work on leather balls, as vinyl basketballs have a bulkier weave than rubber balls.
Why Does My Basketball Keep Deflating?
Your basketball keeps deflating because of either a valve leak, small hole, or seam leak. It’s essential to identify which one by placing your ball in a water bucket and spotting the air bubbles’ source. If the bubbles are coming from the center of your ball, you have a defective valve; if they’re coming from other points of the ball’s surface, it is a seam leak or tiny hole.
How To Plug A Basketball?
You can plug basketballs with a patching kit or drag a blunt, hot knife across the leaky spot for hoopers with steady hands.Patching kits use a liquid insertion method where the liquid hardens and corks the hole in your basketball.
How to repair a soccer ball?
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How to repair a soccer ball?
Despite the fact that the design of most soccer balls from trusted manufacturers is durable and practical, for a number of reasons various “emergencies” can occur with a game projectile. Shards of broken glass, pointed ends of metal fences, constant pumping, improper operation - all this can lead to various types of damage. The list of possible damage to football equipment includes:
- Damage to the chamber (puncture formation)
- Damaged nipple
- Damage to the tire (seam rupture)
What to do if a soccer ball hits?
The most annoying thing is when the ball breaks down at the most inopportune moment, for example, before a long-awaited important match or training in good weather. So, what to do if a soccer ball is punched? In such a situation, you have three options. You can send the damaged ball to rest and purchase a new ball from the sports shop. Also, you can give it to the workshop for repair, but this will entail additional financial costs. Well, finally, you can try to repair the projectile on your own. By choosing this option, you will save your money, but at the same time you will have to make some efforts and spend some amount of precious time.
Any repair starts with problem diagnosis. If tire damage can be determined visually, then with the nipple and the camera the situation is a little more complicated. In order to make sure that the nipple is functioning normally, you need to apply soapy water or saliva to its opening. The absence of constantly appearing bubbles will indicate the working condition of the valve. In this case, you should look for damage on the camera itself. If the "hole" is large enough, then it can be detected by simply putting a hand to the camera. When you encounter a microscopic puncture, finding it will be a bit more difficult. To do this, you will need to carefully open the seam, remove the camera and place it in a vessel with water (bath or basin). The puncture will be in the place near which the water will bubble. Be sure to mark this area with a pen or marker.
How / How to seal a soccer ball?
Now that the problem has been identified and you have decided to repair the projectile with your own hands, two reasonable questions arise: “how and with what can you glue a soccer ball?”.
It should be noted that some manufacturers and sellers of balls supply a so-called “repair kit” for cameras (or “first aid kit”) complete with a projectile, which includes: special active adhesive, patches of various sizes, a set of auxiliary tools, as well as repair instructions, following which even the most inexperienced master can fix the problem with the camera.
The process of repairing a damaged chamber of a football apparatus consists of several successive stages. First you need to slightly rip the seam so that the threads begin to diverge. Then, with a knife (or scissors), cut the threads along the seam and pull the tube out of the tire, being careful not to damage the nipple.
There are two options for this step. You can simply replace the punctured chamber with a new one, or repair it by sealing the puncture area with a patch. If you chose the second option, proceed to the next step.
Before starting restoration work, bleed all the air out of the chamber. Sand the selected patch with sandpaper for a firmer grip. There is a need to clean the puncture area, use alcohol or acetone. On the fragment marked during the diagnosis, apply a thin layer of activating glue and let it dry a little for several minutes. Then we apply a pre-treated patch to the puncture area. Take two small wooden blocks, attach them to the patch and place them in a vise for 4-5 hours.
By the way, self-adhesive patches for chambers with a pre-applied adhesive layer are commercially available, which greatly simplify and speed up the process of repairing the soccer ball chamber.
After the specified time, release the camera from the vise and place it back into the tire. At this stage, it is extremely important to make sure that the sealed chamber does not let air through. To do this, pump up the ball with a pump and set aside for 20 minutes.
If the chamber continues to blow air, try another patch. It is also possible that there are other punctures and cuts that need to be identified and repaired following the algorithm described above.
If, after repair, the chamber holds air securely, you can proceed to stitching the ripped seam. Also, the actions performed at this stage are applicable to situations where the chamber is intact, but there are damage to the seams in the ball structure. Next, we will tell you how to sew up a soccer ball at home.
How and how can a soccer ball be sewn up?
Before you start sewing, you should prepare improvised means - needles, thread, pliers, a piece of wax. Cut a piece of thread about 50 centimeters long, press it against a piece of wax and stretch it several times in both directions. This will allow you to more easily pass the thread through the eye of the needle and through the holes in the tire panels. In order not to accidentally pierce the chamber, it is recommended to use blunt needles when stapling, which will be more convenient to pull with pliers.
Then we determine the sequence of joining the joints for several seams, and thread the thread into the needle hole. It is necessary that both ends of the threaded thread have the same length. One of the ends must be inserted into another needle. The seam is applied in a zigzag way, similar to lacing shoes. Pull the thread tightly to complete the stitch. After creating a seam, place both free ends of the thread under the tire and tie in a few knots. Next, shorten the ends to about 2 centimeters with scissors and tuck them in. When the required number of stitches has been made, proceed to tying the last knot. To do this, first pass both needles between the panels to be connected, and then, after removing the needles, tie a few strong knots and shorten the end of the thread. After that, it remains only to very carefully fill the ends of the thread inward. Do not use sharp objects to avoid damaging the camera. Now you can slightly stretch the material of the tire and the seams, in order to verify the integrity of the resulting structure and pump up the repaired projectile. That's it, your soccer ball is ready to play again!
Where can I repair a soccer ball?
If you do not have the ability and desire to do repairs yourself, but you do not want to throw away an item dear to your heart, you can give it to a repair shop. Such workshops are often available at sports shops. For a fee, professional craftsmen can, for example, repair a nipple, or perform even the most complex types of tire or tube repair work. The tire of the ball can also be sewn up at a shoe repair shop, and you can patch a punctured inner tube at a center where car tires are repaired.
From this article, you have gained the following useful knowledge:
- What to do if a soccer ball was hit
- How to fix a broken ball
- How to sew up the cover of the ball
- Where footballs are repaired
Displaying 1 - 10 (total 18 reviews)
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Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 11/27/2022 author: Guest
No comments. ..only stupid recommendations
Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 10/06/2022 author: Guest
The nipple fell into the inside of the ball. What can be done?
Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 05/03/2022 author: Chingiz
No comments...
Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 05/03/2022 Author: Guest
Hello. Nipel flew out into the sword, tried to get it, it doesn’t come out. What should I do ?! Help(
Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 12/15/2021 Author: Guest
Very good article. Thank you. Helped me.
Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 03.11.2021 author: Kolya
No comments...
Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 03.11.2021 author: Kolya
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Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 07/20/2021 author: Almaty
No comments. ..
Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 07/20/2021 Author: Guest
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Rating: [5 out of 5] Date added: 07/18/2021 author: Almaty
malades No comment...
Displaying 1 - 10 (total 18 reviews)
Pages: 12 >
Gallery of ball repair works from our workshop "Ball Lab"
Adidas professional soccer ball replacement with thermal seal
Replacing the chamber in a hand-sewn leather soccer ball
Nike Football Puncture Repair with Machine Stitch and Reinforced Chamber
Sealed a puncture in a Mikasa MVA200 volleyball with a thermal seam
Patched a puncture in an Adidas practice soccer ball with a thermal seam
Puncture-through repair in Adidas Telstar soccer ball with thermal seam
We sealed a puncture in the Adidas Conext 19 soccer ball, using thermofusion technology
However, depending on how the ball is damaged, the required work to fix the ball will be different, with the type of ball creating further confusion.
Insert and remove the needle multiple times from the valve; this cleans out any dirt or debris stuck inside the valve that stops it from closing.
If your ball is overinflated, it will be more prone to developing these holes, whether they’re leather or rubber.
The threading and stitching required to repair a seam are tight and need stronger thread than usual.
Nobody wants to be there, but it’s par for the course and comes with the territory of being a basketball player or any athlete playing ball sports. 
Both leather and rubber balls will lose air or leak at some point in their life after diligent dribbling and hard play. 
As the needle is withdrawn, the valve is sealed. 
To ensure you’ve replaced the valve correctly, inflate the ball and let it sit for 24 hours, checking the next day for ball pressure and elasticity. 
Then, your ball should sit for an hour with the hole facing the ground, letting the sealant settle. 
Some lumps in basketballs can be a result of over-inflating your ball. If that doesn’t work, run your ball under warm water and use your hands to buff out the deformities. 
Patching kits use a liquid insertion method where the liquid hardens and corks the hole in your basketball.
So, what to do if a soccer ball is punched? In such a situation, you have three options. You can send the damaged ball to rest and purchase a new ball from the sports shop. Also, you can give it to the workshop for repair, but this will entail additional financial costs. Well, finally, you can try to repair the projectile on your own. By choosing this option, you will save your money, but at the same time you will have to make some efforts and spend some amount of precious time. 
When you encounter a microscopic puncture, finding it will be a bit more difficult. To do this, you will need to carefully open the seam, remove the camera and place it in a vessel with water (bath or basin). The puncture will be in the place near which the water will bubble. Be sure to mark this area with a pen or marker. 
First you need to slightly rip the seam so that the threads begin to diverge. Then, with a knife (or scissors), cut the threads along the seam and pull the tube out of the tire, being careful not to damage the nipple. 
This will allow you to more easily pass the thread through the eye of the needle and through the holes in the tire panels. In order not to accidentally pierce the chamber, it is recommended to use blunt needles when stapling, which will be more convenient to pull with pliers. 
After that, it remains only to very carefully fill the ends of the thread inward. Do not use sharp objects to avoid damaging the camera. Now you can slightly stretch the material of the tire and the seams, in order to verify the integrity of the resulting structure and pump up the repaired projectile. That's it, your soccer ball is ready to play again! 
..only stupid recommendations 
.. 
