Athletic Gear: The Balls of the Trade

There are a lot of sporting disciplines out there that don't focus on balls, but everyone's aware that most of the world's most popular sports use them. From the heavy (bowling balls) to the light (golf balls), from the big (basketball) to the small (tennis ball), this article describes some of the most recognizable round objects in the world.

Basketball

One of the most popular sporting balls around, the basketball is the heart of the game that carries its name. Usually 30 inches in circumference, the basketball is usually orange in color; there exist variants, such as balls of the darker shade and the tricolor (blue, white, red) balls used in the defunct ABA. There are black lines that follow the contour of the ball and aid the basketball player in his/her grip.

The basketball is usually made of rubber, leather, or synthetic material. One trait that is unique to the basketball is its bounce – every ball is properly inflated such that it can rebound to a certain height when dropped on the floor (also from a certain height).

Foot / soccer ball

If the sport football (soccer) is called "the beautiful game", then the ball should be rightfully called "the beautiful ball". It’s also the most popular sporting ball on earth, following suit after the sport. Footballs brandish a wide variety of colors, but the most popular of all is the black pentagon / white hexagon pattern. Standard soccer balls have a circumference of 27-28 inches and a weight of 410-450 grams.

Most footballs today are made of 12 pentagon and 20 hexagon panels of waterproofed leather or plastic. These panels are stitched together; quality control assures that no stitches have been missed prior to shipping.

American / Canadian football

One look at the ball used in American / Canadian football leads you to think – is this still a ball? This type of football is unique as it’s not as spherical as most balls. This football is pointed at the ends and usually measures 11 inches long and 22 inches in circumference.

As expected of its uneven shape, the American / Canadian football is difficult to catch and has unpredictable bounces. It consists of four leather panels sewn together and usually tanned to a brown color.

Baseball

An icon of American culture, the baseball is an object made for precision and speed. According to Major League standards, a baseball must measure 9-9.25 inches in circumference and weigh 5-5.25 ounces. Cowhide covers the interior composition of the baseball; the inside is made of a cushioned cork pill in the center and wool and cotton windings.

Golf

Golf balls. You often see them soaring into the sky over and across a landscape of green, water, and sand. These light and little spheres are probably the cutest balls in the world –they're dimpled! A golf ball's dimples serve to increase and shape the lift and drag forces acting on the ball. They are there for aerodynamics, not style. Usually, a golf ball sports 300-450 dimples.

A standard golf ball measures no less than 1.680 inches in diameter and weighs no more than 45.93 grams.

Tennis

Tennis balls seem light in appearance, which is helped by its cloth covering. However, anybody who has missed hitting the ball with a racket and ended up getting smacked on the face will tell you that it’s solid hard. Usually, tennis balls come in a light green color, though white balls are also popular. Tennis ball standards dictate that the balls’ seams must be stitch-less.

Volleyball

The volleyball is lighter than most sporting balls of its size – it needs to be, as players send it flying swiftly across the court! This inflated ball is often made of leather (synthetic or natural) and measures 65-67 centimeters in circumference. There are no color / pattern restrictions, though balls with blue, yellow, and white stripes are widely used.

Bowling

In contrast to the buoyant volleyball is the heavy, rock-solid ball used in bowling. Again, it needs to be, as its purpose is to knock down a set of pins, which are also quite robust in build. These balls have finger holes with which bowlers can hold the ball. Bowling balls often come in a wide array of sizes (e.g. either for ten-pin or duckpin bowling), colors (some are even neon, eye-catching ones!), and weights (e.g. for men and women).