There isn’t a lot of equipment needed to play the sport of basketball. Sure, finding a court to play on might be a struggle at times, but all a person needs to bring is a ball to get started.
Basketballs come in all shapes, colors and sizes. They can be made of different materials as well. Outdoor and Indoor/Outdoor basketballs are designed to take the beating of pavement a lot more than an indoor basketball. At the same time, many who play indoors on a consistent basis will be wanting to invest in a ball for that use.
Below is a look at some of the most popular indoor basketball balls out right now. Price and brand can sway a lot of people into buying a specific option, but for basketball players, feel and durability is always going to be important. That is why I focused in on how each one of them plays not only brand new, but after it is broken in.
Wilson Evolution Game Basketball – $54.95
Initial Thoughts
I have seen hundreds of these balls in my lifetime, so out of the box, the Wilson Evolution is pretty basic. The brighter orange really pops, and it might be the best looking ball out of all of these (except the official NBA ball).
That traditional sponge-like feel with the cover of the Evolution is preferred by some, and loathed by others. The ball tends to be easy to over-inflate, so take it easy initially or the ball will not play right at all in the beginning.
First Few Plays
The ball feels great in the hands, at least at the beginning of the playing session. The ball has a soft cover, it is easy to bounce, pass and control and most players are used to it.
Things get to be a little trickier if the weather is hot, or too many people are just sweating like crazy. The ball is hard to keep dry. Since basketball is played a lot during the winter months, it might not be a huge deal for some. For others, this can be a true deal breaker.
Final Recommendation
I might not personally be the biggest fan of the Wilson Evolution Game Basketball, but anyone who plays basketball on a consistent basis will probably be using this a lot. I want to stress that even though I would prefer playing with this ball over others, it is still one of the very best indoor basketballs out there. It will play better indoors compared to any indoor/outdoor or completely outdoor option.
Wilson Solution NCAA Official Game Basketball – $69.95
Initial Thoughts
Wow, is this ball tacky. I have relatively small hands, but I can palm this basketball with ease. It almost feels small with the way I am able to handle the ball out of the box, but that obviously changes some in time.
The ball is a darker brown, with hints of red compared to the Evolution. The cover is a little less spongy as well. Overall, I like the feel of the Solution better out of the box, as it just seems like a truly professional ball.
First Few Plays
The tackiness fades a little bit, but if you are trying to palm the ball when dunking (or just to impress friends), the Wilson Solution is the ball to own.
The ball feels slightly heavier than the Solution out of the box, and since it can absorb sweat a bit, the ball remains just slightly heavier. It is not a breaking point by any means. As stated above, the Solution can sometimes feel a little bit too light.
Since the ball has good weight to it and a tacky feel, I feel as though the Solution is one of the easiest balls to shoot with for those who have good rotation. The ball will stick a little bit longer on the rim, and the bounces of the backboard are a little more controlled.
Final Recommendation
The debate between the Evolution and Solution has been going on for a while. Personally, I feel like the Solution is the better model of the too, and Wilson seems to think so as well, which is why it is priced slightly higher. The majority of gyms I’ve been to seem to favor the Evolution, but that might come down to familiarity since there are more out there in the wild.
With the Solution, it just feels like a ball that has a better bounce, and a much improved grip. For warmer months, the Solution seems like a true no-brainer. No one wants to continually have to wipe the ball off if it gets wet.
Baden Elite Indoor Game Basketball – $49.49
Getting past the brand name, this basketball continually gets high marks. If this was dribbled and played with without any type of branding, basketball players would love the feel. The power of marketing and what our mind automatically thinks is real.
Initial Thoughts
This might be the tackiest ball out of the box out there for indoor use. Those who have trouble with grip at time will love this ball. Despite being tacky, it is soft. Baden uses their own composite microfiber material for the cover, and it comes with Cushion Control Technology. This is supposed to help with feel, bounce and durability.
Design is pretty simple on the ball. It comes in a size 6 as well as an official size 7, so it is an option for those with younger players/women players.
First Few Plays
This ball takes very little time to break in. That probably is due to the material used on the cover. Within a few minutes, the tackiness is reduced a bit. This is a good thing, because honestly out of the box it is too tacky. The ball also starts to feel just a little bit softer, which helps it slide into the form that makes it ready for play.
Durability is great with this ball. It is one of the main selling factors without question. The ball not only is difficult to scuff up, but it doesn’t feel all that used after several sessions. Even people who play basketball a lot will get a ton of use out of the ball.
Ideally, it would be nice to see this priced just a little bit lower, and I think it would benefit Baden as well to steal some of the market share. It’s just difficult for them to be in the same price range as other options, with a brand that is not trusted as much by this current generation of players.
Those wanting to try something not found at a lot of other gyms should be satisfied. There is really nothing amazing about the ball, but it performs well, holds up after hours and hours of use and can be a great alternative option to the norm.
Final Recommendation
As the cheapest option for a person to consider, the Baden makes a great ball that people can enjoy indoors for many games to come. Just because it is a bit different and unfamiliar to players does not mean it is not worth checking out.
Molten X-Series FIBA Basketball – $50.49
Initial Thoughts
The ball stands out with its unique color and pattern, but the ball also has more seams than the other options on this list. In theory, that should provide a better grip, but I really didn’t notice too much of a difference. It feels pretty much the same in the hands initially.
Some people who are traditionalists are just simply not going to like the color. It does look a little bit weird at first, but it can be used as a solid coaching tool. Being able to see the rotation of the ball a lot clearer than other options is very beneficial for those just starting out, or those seasoned players looking to refine a few things.
First Few Plays
This ball breaks in very quickly. The improvements they made with the X-Series compared to the past version is pretty evident to me. It has a very uniform surface texture that doesn’t really change even after that initial wear.
Grip is solid, and after a few plays, it is a little bit noticeable that the extra paneling can help with grip. This is especially true if the ball is getting wet because a lot of sweat is getting on it. Twelve panels on the ball might not feel natural to some players, but it is pretty easy to get used to. Of course, it might be a bit more difficult for a person to convince others to buy into this way of thinking and actually play with the ball when others are available.
Post Break-In
This ball really does get better and better as the ball breaks in. Not only is it much easier to get used to the slightly different feel, but the ball retains its overall grip as well. I am very pleased with how this ball ages, although the off white/beige stripes on the ball can show some dirt a bit if playing on dusty courts.
Final Recommendation
Those people who want a unique ball that is very affordable should consider the FIBA Molten X-Series basketball. It is a ball that is great for training, has excellent grip and stands out from the crowd. Not everyone is going to buy into using the ball at the very beginning, but it performs at a very high level that is comparable to any ball on this list. For just around $50, it’s a steal and a great ball to invest in for those on a bit of a budget.
Spalding NBA Official Game Basketball – $138.98
Initial Thoughts
The official NBA basketball is iconic. When you first open it up and take your first shots and dribbles with it, chances are there will be a little smile on your face. Anyone who grows up a fan of the sport at one point dreams about being in the NBA, and even if it’s just a ball, it does make you feel pretty cool.
Details on the ball are very well done, yet minimalist. The NBA doesn’t clutter their ball too much, having just the brand name Spalding, as well as a few details on the ball (including the official NBA logo). Others who play with the ball should be able to tell right away that this is a NBA ball.
Materials are great, as the cover is made of full grain Horween leather. Out of the box, this ball won’t look exactly the same as the one they are using in the game later that night on TV. That is because those balls have been broken in (I’ll get into that more below).
It’s definitely an eye catcher from the very beginning. Every new ball ends up motivating a person to hit up the gym as quickly as possible, but this one will make you want to cancel any plans that night and go right away.
First Few Plays
The first thing I notice when shooting around with the Spalding NBA Official Game Basketball is that there will be some break-in period. The ball feels slick brand new, and will really feel slick to to people who don’t play with indoor balls often. In fact, I can see some people feel as though they might have a faulty basketball in the beginning because it doesn’t feel like a $100+ should. I urge people to just stick with it though. It gets better.
I knew going in that this would be a break-in process, so I didn’t play any games with it. I focused on shooting around, practicing my dribbling and more. The ball shoots very well, and the ball has the truest bounce of any I’ve tried.
Some people recommend using leather lotion or some other type of formula to help with the feel. To me, I’m a firm believer in just playing with the ball and letting things work out. Lotion might speed up the process, but it will break-in after some time.
Post Break-In Play
After the leather on the ball starts to show some wear on it, the ball becomes the best on the market. It truly justifies the cost, not just because of the name recognition, but the way it plays.
Everything with the Spalding NBA Official Game Basketball just plays as it should. Shots feel true off the fingertips. Dribbling is great. The ball holds air better than any other on the market. It’s just the a dependable ball that a lot of players at any skill level can grow to appreciate.
The leather used on the NBA basketball breaks in nicely and actually has more grip as time goes on. It handles sweat extremely well, and I definitely recommend it for those warm summer nights in a gym when half the players are losing control of the ball.
Final Recommendation
This is THE basketball in many people’s eye. The ultimate goal of any basketball player has the ball that should be the ultimate goal to invest in. Yes, it’s expensive, and many casual players will probably not see the value. It’s a durable basketball that plays as true as any ball that can be purchased. In the end, the ball is still cheaper than a pair of new signature basketball shoes.
Sports. Music. Philly Native. Not Rude.