Knowing Your Soccer Balls

Soccer balls aren't just simple balls. How it was created affects how fast or how high it moves or flies when it is kicked. There are different types, sizes and weights which are major factors on how the ball reacts when a certain force is applied on the ball.

Ball Construction

Soccer balls have 4 major components which are the cover, stitching, lining and the bladder. A person can meet his or her playing and quality needs when that person understands these components.

Covers

The coverings or the surface of the soccer balls are made of synthetic leather. Full grain leather is no longer used when making soccer balls because real leather absorbs water which makes the ball heavier.

In the construction of soccer balls, a lot of variations of synthetic leather are used. The synthetic leathers used by professionals and in competitions are AI-2000, Ducksung, Cordley, different types of PU (polyurethane) leather or Microfiber. Some indoor soccer balls are made of materials similar to the material used on tennis balls.

Panels

The number of panels (varies for each design) are the segments on the outside covering of the ball. The most commonly used soccer ball especially in professional games is the 32-panel ball. The 26 and 18-panel constructions are also used in English and Scottish leagues including Major League Soccer (until 2002).

Panels can be glued, stitched or molded thermally together. The stitched balls have the highest quality, the glued ones are low-end and the thermally molded ones were used in 2010 world cup.

Linings

The thickness of the material plays an essential part concerning the quality of hand-sewn balls. Several layers of lining are needed to be placed between the bladder and the cover. These layers are filled with cotton and/or polyester laminated together to strengthen the ball and give it bounce and structure. The soccer balls used in professional soccer usually contains 4 or more layers of lining.

Bladders

In a soccer ball, the bladder is the one that holds the air. Usually, bladders are made from butyl or latex. Compared to the latex ones, butyl bladders hold air longer. Latex bladders on the other hand, provide surface tension better. But butyl bladders give great combinations of air retention and contact quality.

Butyl valves are used for most balls for air retention, using a silicone-treated valve with high-end balls for better performance. This bladder is used in balls for professional games, which means this kind of bladder is the best kind.