Do you need to buy a basketball and don't know how to choose the best product? We will try to guide you to find the solution that best suits your case. We at Triple are all players, coaches, basketball enthusiasts who have been playing on the best and especially the worst courts in Italy for 40 years. Trust our advice!
DOES THE BASKETBALL HAVE DIFFERENT SIZES?
Yes, the Basketball has different sizes and their use depends on age and gender. Let's start with the most used.
Size 7 - Used by the U13 men's championship and up. They measure 29.5 inches, or 75 cm in circumference. Official weight 624 grams.
Size 6 - Used in women's leagues, from U13 and up. They measure 28.5 inches, or 72.4 cm in circumference and weigh 567 grams. This size is also the one used by all 3-on-3 leagues.
Size 5 - Used in MiniBasketball by all mini-athletes from 6 to 12 years old. With a circumference of 27.5 inches (69.8 cm) and a standard weight of 397-454 grams, they allow children to learn the fundamentals of the game in a way that is best suited to their physical structure, without forcing them to distort the movement of dribbling, passing and shooting.
Size 4 - Easy Basket, used in preschool age, up to 6 years. Lighter, less "hard", not to be inflated too much, allows children not to get too hurt if they hit it in the face!
Size 3 - A play ball that has no real specific use. It is smaller than size 4, but harder. Often purchased for home use or for small children.
Size 1 - Home ball. Rubber or foam.
Dribbler - A small ball that usually "fits in one hand", suitable for exercises to strengthen the muscles of the limb or very popular for learning the fundamentals of dribbling.
INDOOR OR OUTDOOR? AND HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
This is the most important factor in choosing the right ball! Basketball balls can be made of different materials depending on the field and terrain they are used in. If you are thinking of getting a ball to train in an indoor gym, whether it has a parquet or linoleum base, you should focus on indoor balls. Indoor balls are covered with a softer material that is better to the touch. Many years ago leather was used, but now a microfiber composite is used that is soft and delicate to the touch, but maintains a great grip and durability. In recent years these materials are evolving with the use of special fabrics that also manage the problem of sweat and slipperiness. These balls should be used exclusively in the gym. Use them on a nice concrete playground and it will become smooth in no time!
We can make some good examples in this category of balls -
