Best Outdoor Basketball Buying Guide

Posted by delia on December 19th, 2020

Any amateur with zero basketball background or experienced player can tell you that basketball matters as much as the quality of the hoop and the court surface. You will notice a significant difference in the bounce if your ball is uneven. As a result, you are going to lose control of the ball that will end up lacking in confidence. Your goal shots towards the hoop will unpredictably end up somewhere else.

The first thing you should consider before buying basketballs is the material. Players use leather basketball at a professional level whereas synthetic and composite material balls are good for outdor and indoor courts. And, rubber balls are mainly perfect for outdoor courts since their response is divers on indoor fields.

Read experienced reviews of best outdoor basketballs.

The stickiness on the cover’s surface changes the amount of grip necessary t.old the ball, bounce it, and move around the court. However, too much stickiness is just as much of a problem as one that is slippery. The inner core also changes from ball design to ball design with different products and ball manufacturers taking a varied approach to the basketballs in their product range.

Of course, I am not going to deny the fact that indoor basketball feels much nicer as compared to the outdoor ball. However, we all love playing outside in summer, thus it requires the right ball to enjoy the game. The brand manufacturers design outdoor basketballs to withstand the weather conditions and rough surface of outdoor play. There is no need to worry about a ball being damaged by concrete or asphalt courts, you can even carry a portable hoop and start playing on the street or paved park.

In case you might be asking yourself how to find the right ball, that will let you improve your skills to the NBA level. Believe me, it is a painful journey if you are a basketball fanatic. No athlete would prefer playing with a ball that just looks like a basketball – at least not me! That is why there is a need for a perfect sized basketball suitable for your hands for credible grip. The right amount of bounce to play skills like ankle break – that is only possible when you get the ball where you expect it to be. Lastly, a durable ball to last for a few seasons.

You should consider the size of the ball before buying basketballs, both basketballs indoor & outdoor come in different sizes. So, how to buy the right ball for outdoor play? To make things easier for you, here are some of the key factors you should look to find the best outdoor basketball.

Material:

1. Leather – Avoid leather balls for outdoor basketball; they are soft and difficult to control when your palms are sweaty. Also, they require some break-in before use and quite pricy. I suggest you to keep leather basketballs for indoor courts only.
2. Composite – On the other hand, synthetic or composite balls are highly durable and they do not need a break-in before use. These are suitable for both indoor and outdoor courts. The only drawback is that they do not offer the soft feel the same as a leather ball.
3. Rubber – However, rubber balls are generally the best to use for outdoor play. They offer extreme durability and good bounce. They are specially designed for outdoor courts and for beginners to master their skills. Comparatively, these are much cheaper and affordable basketballs as compared to leather or synthetic balls.

Grip:

Grip is very important when you are buying a basketball. A basketball with a perfect grip and great feel gives you the confidence to dribble and perform ankle-breaking crossover moves and offers a soft touch on your shot finish. A top-quality outdoor basketball gives you an awesome feel and performs well overall.

No doubt the ball is going to contact with sweat or rain. However, it becomes difficult to perfectly grip a ball when it gets wet. Fortunately, there are a few basketballs that are specially designed to absorb your sweat. As a result, your performance stays consistent throughout the play. However, only premium quality basketballs has moisture-absorbing feature.

Bounce:

Another important feature of a good basketball is its bounce. The ball should have a proper amount of bounce if you want to experience a good game. The bounce must not be too short or too high, otherwise, it will feel like a toy.

Furthermore, every time the ball bounces on the outdoor court, it wears down a little bit because of the dirt or asphalt surface. Not to worry, you will not notice a significant impact on the bounce suddenly. However, there will be a notable difference after a few years of play.

Durability:

You must have noticed that some basketball manufacturers claim that their balls are perfectly suitable on outdoor concrete surfaces. Actually, the ball does not hold up as they describe. Indeed, you will experience perfect play for the first few games, but none of us is willing to replace the ball after a couple of months.

The expected life of an outdoor basketball should be close to a year if you are playing with it quite often. However, cheap outdoor basketball will wear out quickly and there is no fun dribbling with a torn ball.