Basketball
is the all important equipment used in this game. Before buying a
basketball you should know about the sizes, materials, weights,
qualities, constructions etc. Basketball : Size
Most manufacturers design basketballs according to rules and regulations provided by repective governing bodies. The size and weight of basketballs vary for youth, male, and female.
| Gender | Circumference | Weight |
| Youth | 27-28 inches | 16-18 ounces |
| Male | 29.5-30 inches | 20-22 ounces |
| Female | 28.5-29 inches | 18-20 ounces |
Basketball : Materials
Basketball covers are constructed from several materials. It provide options for comfortable handling and for play on various surface
- Leather
- Synthetic
- Rubber.
Synthetic or Composite Leather Basketball
Synthetic basketballs are used for indoor as well as outdoor play. These bashetballs feels like leather, but they are more durable and moisture resistant. Usually synthetic leather basketballs are made from polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chlorides (PVC). PU balls are of higher quality than PVC synthetic balls. PU synthetic balls are usually comparable in price to leather. But they are more costly than the PVC synthetic balls.
Rubber Basketball
Rubber basketballs are good for indoor and outdoor use. They are very durable and inexpensive. These basketballs are harder than leather ones and have a rougher feel. These balls are mainly designed to take the wear and tear of the outdoors.
Basketball : Circumference & Weight
Basketball has different circumference and weight for men and women.The ralated data is as follows:
| Basketball | Circumference | Weight |
| Men | 30 inches (76cm) | 600g ( 1 lb 5 oz ) |
| Women | 29 inches (73 cm) | 540 g ( 1 lb 3 oz ) |
Basketball Construction
A basketball has several layers which perform different functions. Let's know about the construction of basketball.
- Bladder: The bladder is the most
important part of a basketball as it is reponsible for holding the
air inside the ball. It is the strongest part of a basketball and is
usually made of rubber or butyl rubber.
- Thread Windings: usually made of
polyester or nylon are wrapped around the bladder to maintain its
shape.
- Carcass: reinforces the inner
components and covers the windings, and generally made of a thick
rubber material.
- Cover: The cover is serarated and
cut into 8 separate panels and then bonded to the carcass.
- Channels: are the visible black
lines that seal the leather strips together. Depending on their
width, they are often referred to as wide or narrow and are no
larger than 0.25 inches.
- Pebbles: are the visible indentations on the cover of the basketball that provide texture.
