Getting the right basketball is important not only to ensure a good game, but also to avoid the risks of getting injuries during play. In fact, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has specified the appropriate basketball sizes both for official and unofficial games for men, women, youth and children.

Basketball involves a lot of physical effort such as running, shooting, jumping and blocking. And any player is not spared from getting an injury. Basketball injuries may be classified into upper and lower body injuries. Lower body injuries can be minimized or prevented with the right training as well as proper sports apparel while upper body injuries can be prevented by using a basketball of the right size and weight.

In a survey by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was found that basketball ranks fourth among the top causes of injuries in the United States. An online study also showed that 20% of all injuries in children between the ages 10 to 14 are due to basketball. It also suggested that proper size and weight of a basketball could greatly help in reducing or preventing injuries. Moreover, the NBA’s recommended basketball size and weight for children aged 10 to 14 is 27.25’ and about 12 oz, respectively.

CDC’s study also showed that girls are more often injured than boys during play. The NBA recommends basketballs with a circumference of 27.75” and a weight of about 18 oz. for teenage girls aged 14-16. Moreover, the ball for women’s official basketball games should have a circumference of 28.5” and weigh 20 oz. while the men should have a basketball size of 29.5” and weight of 22 oz.

Injuries caused by wrongly sized basketball are also present in children under 7 years of age. The NBA recommends rubber or foam basketballs with a size and weight of 22” and 8 oz, respectively.

In addition, training balls not used for official games also have specific size and weight as well. The recommended size of men’s basketball for shot training should have a circumference of 36” while the women’s should be at 33.5”. For muscle building exercises, the recommended weight is 29.5” and 28.5” in circumference for men and women, respectively.

Also, when choosing the right basketball, you need to consider what type of surface you will play on.

Basketballs for indoor use are usually made of leather and are only limited for that purpose. These balls are usually orange with black colored ribs. Standard size for these balls is 29.5 inches although there are smaller sized balls for women and youth players as well. Popular brands of indoor basketballs are Spalding, Molten and Wilson. 

On the other hand, basketballs for outdoor use are manufactured strictly for outdoor games. These balls are typically made of rubber and are available in different sizes, usually 29.5, 28.5 and 27.5 inches. Smaller sizes are also available for younger players as well. The material by which outdoor basketballs are made of can last longer when used on rough surfaces such as gravel and asphalt. Outdoor basketballs can withstand wear and tear longer especially on rough surface, hold moisture better, are way cheaper and are widely available compared to an indoor basketball.

Meanwhile, basketballs for both indoor and outdoor use are also very popular and widely used as well. This type of basketball is made of durable composites and even rubber, which make it cheaper than indoor basketballs. Indoor/outdoor balls are widely available in 27.5 and 28.5-inch sizes. These are used in many city basketball leagues and high school varsity teams both for play and practice. Spalding, Molten and Wilson all produce this type of basketball.

Now that you have gotten a good grip of the right basketball to use, it’s time to bounce it off on the court and get the ball rolling!