Basketballs

The sport  Dr. James Naismith created in 1891, has captured the attention of youngsters all over the world, due in no small part to the simplicity of the game and its instruments. All it takes to play is a basket (wooden crate or metallic hoop) and a ball. Preferably a ball that bounces. Of course, there are brand choices as well, but that won't have as much to do with performance as the material or size.

Different leagues or levels of play require different sized balls, and certain materials are better suited for indoor or outdoor surfaces. Here's a breakdown of the material types and the pros and cons of each:

Rubber Meant for outdoor use. Cheap, tough, and durable. Perfect for kids. Great grip but awkward feel and poor handling.	Composite/Synthetic Indoor or outdoor use. Generally cheaper than leather. Texture similar to broken-in leather. Next step up from rubber balls as far as price and quality are concerned.	Leather Indoor use only. Pricier than rubber or synthetic. Superb feel and handling; improves with some use. Best choice for pros.

Ball Sizes for League Play

Making the Ball Unique

If you are buying a ball for someone as a gift, follow the recommendations for sizing and material, and make this ball unique. There are lots of  basketball designs that venture of the beaten path of the plain old orange leather or rubber basketball. These desgined basketballs are good for kids or fans that are just looking to memorabilia. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Get a ball with a person's favorite team name on it.	Get a ball with the name of a favorite player on it.	Play around with the recipient's favorite colors.	A signed ball is very cool for the serious fan.

Major Manufacturers

• Spalding 
• Wilson 
• Rawlings 
• Molten 
• Baden 
• Nike 

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Basketball Systems	NBA Merchandise	Basketball Shoes	Basketball Jerseys