The 7 Best Outdoor Basketballs You Can Buy Right Now
Basketball is great game to get into. First off, you can easily play by yourself. Infact, there's something very relaxing just taking your ball to the local park and practicing your shooting by yourself.
Second, you can play at your own pace. If you aren't completely mobile, there's no need to start playing 5 on 5 full court. You can start with just practicing your free throws, and just the act of shooting the ball and getting the rebound and walking back to the free throw line will rack up your daily step count.
In order to start playing, you're going to need a hoop, and a ball. Hoops are pretty easy to find at most parks in the US, however, you're going to need to bring your own ball. If you have a nice indoor basketball, I don't recommend it for outdoor play, unless you're cool replacing that $120 ball every 3 months.
Durable Outdoor Basketballs
Right off the bat, it should be noted that an outdoor court is typically concrete, asphalt, or hard court (tennis court material), all of which will wear down any basketball's grip. Typically, depending on how frequently you play, the grip will wear off your ball after about 3 months, if you are playing 3-4 times a week. And that's for a composite leather ball, even less for a rubber ball. So now that I've set your expectations, here's my recommendation for a ball that will last long after the grip has been worn off.
Wilson NBA Forge Plus
Indoor/Outdoor Hybrid Basketballs
Indoor/Outdoor Hybrid balls provide more durability than indoor basketballs, but still feel great to play with. The Wilson ball is obviously not a true replica game ball (it being an outdoor ball), but Wilson is the NBA official ball, so it's still fun to see that NBA logo on the ball.
Spalding React TF-250
If you've worn through a rubber ball and are still out there hooping it up on a regular basis, it's probably time to take a look at composite leather balls. The Spalding React TF-250 is a solid choice. It provides a great grip, which will take longer to wear down than a cheaper rubber ball.
FIBA-style Outdoor Basketballs
Wilson FIBA 3x3
I love this ball. It's the official ball for 3x3 FIBA league, but it's a little different than what you've played with before. It's a size 6, ball, but weighted for a size 7. This means that playing with it won't throw off your shot if you normally play with a traditional men's ball, but it is a little different. The fact that it's smaller, makes it easier to palm, and the extra seams add to that. The end result is a ball that handles like a dream. Not only that, but the fact that it's an inch smaller than a traditional ball means your shots are more likely to go in. Seriously, if you're just playing for fun, get this ball, even with the caveats.
Molten Europe B7G2000
If you have to have the traditional FIBA basketball 12 Panel ball, then this is a good option for the price. It's rubber, so I sincerely question the 1 year claim of durability that Molten claims, but Molten is a quality brand.
Rubber Basketballs for Beginners
Rubber basketballs are less expensive, and are a great option is you aren't totally committed to regularly playing basketball. They're also a great option for kids who occassionally will shoot some hoops in the driveway.
Baden SkilCoach Shooter
When I say beginners, I mean beginners. If you, or your child needs help placing your hands on the ball, this is a great aid to teaching. However, the quality of the ball overall is pretty poor. Luckily the price point is so low that you can think of it more as training wheels on a bike. Once you've mastered your hand position, you can move on to a better quality ball.
Wilson NBA DRV Series
This ball is a step up from most rubber balls. The seems are deeper than most rubber basketballs, and that makes a huge difference to the overall feel of the ball. The price point is a little high for a rubber ball, but if you just prefer the feel of a rubber basketball over a composite basketball, Wilson balls is a step up from a traditional rubber ball.
Spalding Performance Street Basketball
This is my recommended ball for anyone who is just starting out, regardless of their age. The ball comes in Men's, Women's, and children's sizes. The Spalding Street ball is great to have around for when you want to shoot some hoops with the kids. It's inexpensive, and comes in a variety of colors, so it is easy to find the ball in your kids favorite color and makes a great birthday present.
Streetballs for Kids
AND1 Fantom Rubber Basketball
In the world of basketballs, indoor and outdoor basketball all 2 different beasts. These rubber balls are going to feel significantly different from a traditional indoor ball, but that shouldn't stop you from playing with them.
The bright color options and price point make this a great ball for the kids to have around. It's a bummer that it doesn't come in a women's or children's size. However, the size 7 is the official size for any boys over the age of 12. So if you have a son who needs a ball to shoot hoops with his friends, this is a solid choice.
Functional Outdoor Basketballs with Style
Spalding Marble Series
Factors in Buying an Outdoor Basketball
Composite Leather, Rubber, or Synthetic?
There's a lot of terms that get thrown around when discussing outdoor basketballs. Words like composite leather, synthetic leather, rubber, and even microfiber, might sound intimidating to a novice basketball player, but there's no need to panic. Let's break each of these words down?
Composite Leather is a combination of leather and synthetic materials (think plastic and rubber). The synthetic materials are used to make the ball more durable since there's way more wear and tear bouncing a ball on concrete then on a wooden floor.
Synthetic Leather is just another word for composite leather. They're literally the same thing.
Microfiber is just a type of composite leather that 'feels' more 'grippy.' than other types of composite leather. It's also usually more expensive than other types of composite leather.
Rubber Rubber basketballs are known for 2 things, their low price, and wearing out quickly.
Ball Size and Weight
There's typically only 3 sizes that you need to be aware of for basketballs.
- Size 7 - 29.5"This is the standard men's ball for ages 12+.
- Size 6 - 28.5"This ball is for women ages 9+, as well as boys ages 9-11.
- Size 5 - 27.5"Youth ages 8 and under.
Moisture Grip
One of the most important factors when selecting an outdoob basketball is how the ball feels when your hands are slightly wet. When you play basketball, you sweat. Having a ball that isn't constantly slipping out of your hand is going to make your game much more enjoyable.