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Best Soccer Balls Buying Guide & Reviews of 2020

If there’s a toy that is universal and has been played with by almost everyone across the world, that’s a “Ball”. A Ball has become so admirable that it garnered its variety of games, be it, basketball, football or baseball. Football(Soccer) and cricket, in particular, have their cult following since ages that governing bodies and organisations are formed to conduct seasonal tournaments that are being embraced by larger audiences.

Soccer Ball Types

It is a well-known fact that FIFA creates different official soccer balls before every World cup. The difference is not just the colour but also various physical properties. It is difficult to count on the types of soccer balls, yet the most commonly used types of soccer balls are as follows

Beach Balls: As the name suggests, this type of soccer ball is meant for beach players. Usually lighter and softer, they ensure comfort while playing. The ball comes mostly in dark colour to enhance its vision on sandy terrain. Beach soccer balls are generally water resistant as they are often kicked into water. Though many brands manufacture these balls, Nike soccer balls are high in demand as they come for an affordable price of just $44.

Indoor Balls: Soccer balls usually have high bounce, but indoor soccer balls are built with less bounce to fit into the needs of an indoor environment. You can easily differentiate between a typical soccer ball and an indoor soccer ball by just feeling the cover of the ball. Indoor balls are hard to touch just like tennis balls. Coming in size5, they are made to withstand the hard surfaces and walls of an indoor soccer ground. Wilson soccer balls are well-known for their varieties and economical prices of which Wilson indoor soccer balls come for $12 which are quite inexpensive.

Futsal Balls: Comparatively less bouncy, they are merely for futsal matches. These small soccer balls are made to endure harsh surfaces. They come in size 4, the tiniest of all types. Nike soccer balls size4 are the best if you are waiting to purchase a good quality futsal ball. Also, a futsal ball stabilizes itself on slippery surfaces.

Training Balls: If you are new to playing soccer, training balls should be your best choice! Their specialities include durability, high efficiency and the ability to survive on any field. Training balls are safer to use even for naive players. These are the best soccer balls for kids if they are enthusiastic enough to learn soccer. They are the typical type of soccer balls you can find in any store.

Turf Soccer Balls: A turf soccer ball is made to sustain any inevitable damage from artificial grass fields that have a rough surface. These balls are made using an incredibly soft and durable material FPUG, which is best-known for improving the life of a soccer ball even on rugged surfaces.

Match-Oriented Soccer Balls: Generally, NFHS or NCAA approved, they are the high-quality soccer balls, which are best-fit for inter-college or school competitions.

Different Sizes Of Soccer Balls

Often classified according to age or purpose, soccer balls come in different sizes. The sizes also differ according to the league matches, but essentially, there are 5 sizes of soccer balls.

Size1 Soccer Balls: Also referred to as minis or skill balls, size1 soccer balls have a circumference of 18” to 20”. They are created for skill training as well as for footwork improvement.

Size2 Soccer Balls: These balls are used by children of the age group of 4 to 6 years and are also applicable for ball control drills. They have the circumference of about 20 to 22 inches, lighter in weight, and have a softer outer cover preventing any injury to your juniors.

Size3 Soccer Balls: Being the smallest official size, these balls are meticulously designed keeping in mind the youngest soccer players under the age of 8. Their circumference varies between 23 and 24 inches, weighing about 11 to 12 ounces.

Size4 Soccer balls: Exclusively designed for 8 to 12-year-old kids, a size4 soccer ball is slightly larger than size3. It has a circumference of 25 to 26 inches.

Size5 Soccer balls: Size5 is the standard size of a soccer ball, with a circumference of about 28 inches and is generally preferred by the professional soccer players above 12 years.

Parts of a Soccer Ball and The Materials Used In Making Them

The materials used in soccer balls kept changing with time. Earlier, soccer balls were purely made of leather and were held together by cotton laces. Soccer balls these days, have a valve.

A soccer ball comprises three parts. One being its outer cover, the bladder and the layer between these two, the Lining.

The Outer Cover

The outer shell is commonly called casing which represents the outer part of a ball, while the bladder is the section inside the ball that clenches the air. The casing is made up of panels which vary depending on the ball.

Panels: Panels, the octagonal quilts of leather, are seen on the outer part of a soccer ball. A standard soccer ball has 18 or 26 panels while the official FIFA-approved balls have 32 panels. More panels indicate more control over the soccer ball and a less-panelled ball can easily get curved during kicks.

Panels can be stitched, glued or even thermally moulded. If a ball has stitched or thermally moulded panels, it is a high-quality one and is long lasting than the glued one.

Manufacturers use three types of materials to bring out the best-quality outer covers. Those include:

Synthetic Leather: For a perfect grip and longevity, synthetic leather is used in premium soccer balls. Synthetic leather balls are meant for high-level playing or professional matches as they render a reasonable control for the player.

Poly Vinyl Carbonate: It is the most economic material yet very durable. Balls made of PVC look harder from outside but give less control to the player.

Polyurethane(PU): Most of the training balls usually contain this material, and it is more robust than synthetic leather. PU soccer balls are softer to touch, higher in quality and hugely responsive. The glossy finishing given to their outer shell makes them water resistant.

The Bladders

Since it is the part containing air, it is responsible for the movement and shape of a ball. A bladder can be made either from latex or butyl. The material is heated first and then moulded, after which it cools and wrinkles, giving the necessary shape. Though latex is used in high-quality soccer balls, it does not carry the capability to hold air for a long time. But latex, on the other hand, provides better air retention. An average soccer ball has the inflation of 9 to 10.5 pounds of air.

The Linings

The layer between the casing and the bladder is the lining. Linings are made up of polyester and are stuck together to enhance the ball’s strength. The more the layers of lining, the harder will be its wearing.

Tips On Choosing A Soccer Ball

With all enough comprehension about a soccer ball in hand, you can now narrow your search for a precise ball. Nevertheless, there are some important tips while you purchase one for yourself.

Know What You Want: It is imperative to determine the surface you want to play soccer on, also whether you are willing to play indoors or outdoors and then select your ball accordingly.

Decide Your Budget: Soccer balls do not come just in various sizes but also at varied prices. While you hit out to purchase a ball, consider the usage before anything.

For minimal usage, a regular training ball would suffice. It is advised to go for a cheaper ball for your kid, though he plays for a league as he ages out for the current size.

Keep in mind that the expensive balls need not necessarily be the best. Invest in an expensive ball only if you are sure of extensive use.

Test Before You Buy: Testing the ball before purchasing is essential to avoid any faulty pieces run into you. Soccer balls are either stitched by hand or can be machine made. Go for a stitched one if you are a regular player as it is long-lasting. Avoid any missing or loose panels as it affects your game. A lighter ball is less likely to hurt you when kicked. Don’t go for a very soft or a rock-hard ball as it may go off-target. Research on the internet for different brands and customer reviews before you head out for a purchase.

Since soccer has emerged the most world’s most popular sport, ball manufacturers are competing to create the next best soccer balls. As there a myriad of options already in the market, it is tough to choose the right kind of soccer ball according to your need. Good knowledge of the types of soccer balls is necessary to have a clear picture in your mind, which in turn makes your sport more exciting. In this article, we have provided all the necessary data essential for every soccer enthusiast. Be wise and choose wisely!