I'm kinda thinking about buying a new ball. Recently, I've been liking my friend's Nike 1500, I'm not sure what material its made out of, but I think I'm starting to like Nike's line, even though I try not to buy their crap. However, I just played with some people that had a nice NCAA ball. It was very grippy, I could almost palm it. In the past, I played with another NCAA ball that I did not like at all, but this was a different version, not sure which, I don't think it said Final-Four on it either. Currently I have the Spalding with the built-in pump. It's a good ball I guess, but the leather has become quite worn since I play on concrete most of the time. I was really looking forward to the new NBA ball but at $100, there is no way I can spend that much for a ball. So I would like the next best thing under $30. Preferably a synthetic material, but not any cheap rubber crap. And something good for outdoor play and regulation size and weight. I'm trying to find more information on the FIBA ball. I think its like $60 bucks though? I need to check the Oshman's site again.
I go through a lot of basketballs because the ones that feel best brand new are usually the ones that wear the quickest, so it's tricky to shop for them. I have the Infusion, which is a piece of crap. I have another Spalding which is crap. Both of them are way too hard without sufficient grip. They were both used a few times and then banished to the trunk of my car ever since. I opted to play with a ball I had since high school (6 years ago) that was still way better. However, the old ball started getting too slick, so I went in search of a new one. I'm currently using this... I've only had it a couple of months, but I play quite a bit, both indoors and out. It's a wonderful ball with lots of grip and the surface gives just enough. It has moisture absorbing technology which sounds like a crock of **** but actually works. In a humid place like Houston, it actually helps the ball feel more grippy at times. It also comes in handy if you're playing somewhere that has seen rain recently. If the ball rolls into wet grass it doesn't become too slick to play with. I'll have to give it a longer time before I can for sure say that it's a great ball, but so far so good. I found it at Target for $24.99.
i play with a wilson composite leather ncaa final 4 edition ball. it might be the same as the ball above, but i don't see the words "final 4 edition" on that wilson ball (just limited edition, but i have bad vision so maybe it's there). very grippy and soft, however it wears out very quickly whenever i play on concrete with it. so i have one ball that doesn't have much grip left (it's not horrible, the ball basically loses a ton of grip quickly, then seems to stay at a low level of grip from there on out, not getting worse) that i play outdoors with and another for indoor play. i absolutely love the one i use for indoor play and it's the best basketball i can remember using. i can see it lasting for a long time, and if it ever wears out, i figure i'll just buy the same kind again. it was good enough that it eventually overtook this other guy's ball to become the game ball we would use, and his had been the unofficial game ball for about a year at that point.
I also had the infusion and felt like I was ripped off. The leather/material wore out pretty quickly and it would take me forever to pump up the damn ball. Recently bought the Spalding NeverFlat ball for about $40 @ Academy (or Dicks...don't remember). Haven't had it for too long, but so far, I like it a lot better than the Infusion.
I believe they are essentially the same exact ball. Both by Wilson and have the same feel to them anyway. I see the Final Four edition going for less though, so that's something to keep in mind. They do tend to pick up a lot of dust and dirt outside, depending on what court you play on. As long as the court isn't too trashy, it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Funny thing, I spent about an hour cleaning my ball the other day. It didn't look that dirty, but by the time I was done the rag was very black, like when you clean rubber trim on a car. Bad part was that the ball is now a lot whiter, appearantly the rag took out a lot of the orange dye in the ball. I used special cleaner too. I play on a pretty clean concrete court, but I always have to deal with my idiot friends kicking, punting the ball or it going into a huge puddle of water.
you should try for those new NBA Authentic balls, but they are damn expensive. I also have the infusion, it's all right, you just gotta pump it every week though.
For indoor court i use Hands down the best basketball ive ever owned. they're pretty espensive at $40-50 but worth it imo.
I had an Infusion that I took back after one day. That little pump is junk and I didn't like the bounce. Exchanged it for a Nike ball that felt really nice. Less than a month later the rubber was peeling off the seams. I do like those Wilson Final Four balls someone mentioned. I'll probably go for one of those next time. Skip the Nike!
yeah if money is no option, i would go with that. UT uses those at gregory gym and they are very nice. tons of grip without being sticky, nice and bouncy, not too hard or soft. i thought about taking one from the gym on more than one occasion (but i like UT too much to do that).
