Basketballs

The sport of James Naismith has captured the imagination of youngsters the world over due in no small part to the simplicity of the game and its instruments: all it takes to play are a basket (wooden crate or metallic hoop) and a ball. In suit with this simplicity, choosing which ball to buy is purely a matter of size and material. It doesn't get easier than that. Of course, there are brand choices as well, but that won't have as much to do with performance as the material or size.

So you know, 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 ALSO make this ball unique. There are lots of fun types of balls out there that aren't just the plain old leather colored ball. 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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