What is the best soccer ball? Which is the best soccer ball? Hard to say. The kind of usage is the one to influence the choice under normal circumstances. Anyway, even if the ball may be for personal use such as practice with your friends or family, you could still expect a decent quality level.
First of all you need to think of the correct size you will need to use. For children under eight, the best soccer ball is a size 3. For players between 8 and 12 years of age, a size 4 would be suitable whereas from 13 on, the official international soccer ball size 5 works well. Then, think of the kind of ball you want from the softness perspective; young players ought to use a softer ball, especially when practicing heading. A good ball would be a PVC plastic ball, meant typically for young players/users. Advanced players will prefer a harder soccer ball for striking it. The softness or the hardness is best checked by pressing the ball with the thumbs. If you’re not convinced yet, talk to someone knowledgeable such as a more experienced soccer player or a coach. Usually people find their best soccer ball among those imprinted with the FIFA Approved or FIFA Inspected logos.
There are other warnings and tips you should bear in mind when shopping for the best soccer ball. You should always go to a specialized store whose personnel is knowledgeable. The best locations are those with large collections of sports equipment belonging to more international brands. To get the best soccer ball possible, you must, among other things, check out the inner materials because the key to the feel of the soccer ball is the bladder or inner part that holds the air. Higher quality balls have latex bladders which also mean higher prices.
Another element worth considering is the way the ball is actually built: most high-quality balls are stitched – actually the best ones are stitched by hand. Laminated balls on the other hands have the panels glued together. Such products are a bit heavier despite lamination. If possible, have the balls tested by a player on the ground. Furthermore, consider the weather conditions and the climate because balls tend to get harder when it’s cold. One final piece of advice would be for you to also buy a small hand pump because you need to keep your ball inflated.
