Most balls used in several sports feature a spherical design to allow easy rolling and bouncing. However, American football balls stand out with their elongated spheroid shape, which causes an irregular bounce. Although their design aids in carrying and throwing, the unpredictable bounce makes it difficult for players to gather and control.
That’s also the reason why fumble recoveries are one of the most exciting parts of a football game. Skilled players with the best play and best strategies may be able to win the game by scooping a fumbling football.
The American football game is one of the favorite sports in America. The NFL game is so valued that the NFL Superbowl is highly anticipated and celebrated completed with family gatherings and grand halftime shows. Therefore, it is really no surprise that players start training football at a very young age.
They begin investing in buying football gear and balls. The distinct American football balls for collegiate and professional football are made of cowhide leather while the younger players use football balls made of vulcanized rubber or synthetic material. The following products are the finest options for training football, playing high school or collegiate football, and even a choice for pros.
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Best for Training Youth
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Best for Pee Wee
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Best Grip
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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$26.99
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$8.00 ($8.00 / Fl Oz)
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N/A
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ESPN knows their sports and the gear and ball you need to train to be like the NFL pros. Their junior footballs are best to be used as training balls for aspiring NFL players. The ball is printed with hand guides to practice throwing a soaring spiral and foot punt labels for field goal kick targets. These features help the trainees for easier retention of football basics.
This junior football is made of a durable anti-skid composite PVC cover, with a butyl bladder for outstanding air retention. The ESPN Future Pro Series is strategically designed with training elements to develop the football skills of any aspiring NFL athlete.
- Instructional elements for training and practice
- The best ball size for junior players
- Reasonable price
- Durable
- Smooth texture, challenging to grip
The Nike Vapor football for the young players is covered with propriety leather providing you and your trainees with a superior and actual professional football feel. The leather exterior is textured with tack for better grip.
The lace stitching is designed with a high grip to make sure that quarterbacks can have improved control to deliver perfect spiral throws even at a young age. Constructed with a TPU bladder for the interior, this ball maintains ample air for consistent use and performance.
The size and weight are perfect for ages 6 to 9, but it doesn’t limit any age to enjoy playing a game or two with this ball.
- Leather football for kids
- Great air retention
- Great grip
Historically, the official footballs for the NFL games have always been Wilson footballs. Getting a trusted reputation from the NFL has made this brand recommended for high school and college football. That’s why Wilson also made different sizes of footballs so that as early as 6 years old, eager young players can experience a high-quality product from Wilson.
The Wilson Composite is made of reliable leather for cover and a pebbled Patented Accurate Control lacing, providing 174% increased grip in any conditions. The white grip stripes of the ball provide added finger point grips during throws causing an outstanding spiral. Just like the famous GST quality, only more affordable. This football comes in different sizes: pee wee, junior, youth, and official.
- An affordable option for GST quality
- Best grip
- Best for a practice game
- Easily loses air
The Wave Runner made a different playing field for a football game. The Grip It football is a 9.25 inches ball with Sure-Grip technology for excellent throwing and catching game wherever playing field you are. The double-lace patterns on this water football provide impressive aerodynamics, perfect for spiral throws.
This football is durable, designed to endure indoor and outdoor play settings, and suitable for beach, lake, pool, park, garage, and more.
- Sure Grip Technology
- Football with heavy-duty bladder built for durability
- Perfect for spiral throws
- Suitable for wet weather
- Light built for leisure playing, not for football sport training
The Wilson GST Leather Game Football series is one of the best footballs; this ball is created with a modern design with a combination of the signature GST performance. Constructed with Wilson’s Light Leather formula, the football provides an incomparable feel for your fingers to secure control of the ball.
It features a pebbled Accurate Control Lacing (ACL) for increased grip in all conditions with patented sewn-on stripes that are also made of composite material that contributes to better release for more accurate throws.
The Wilson GST balls are available in different sizes: Pee wee suitable for 6 to 9 years old, Junior size for ages 9 to 12, youth size appropriate for 12 to 14 years old, and the official size for ages 14 and above mostly used on high school football, college football, and by professional athletes. The National High School Athletic Association uses this ball.
- The sewn-on stripes work well for gripping
- Available in different sizes
- Good for practice games
- The football is hard and requires to be prepped to maximize performance
As the saying goes “Start them young,” the NFL Downfield Youth football from Rawlings is designed for young hardcore NFL fans who also enjoy passing and throwing footballs with their just developing hands. This ball features Rawlings’ patented HD grip design meaning it is 5 times more pebbles for easier grip than the standard rubber patterns.
This ball may be smaller than the official size but this can be enjoyed by the adults wanting to throw a long pass.
This officially licensed NFL football product has a team option embellished on the ball. The team emblem is placed on one side, while the wordmark is on the opposite side, making it a great gift for a young football fan. The material of this football is made of molded rubber. It is waterproof and weather resistant.
- Patented HD grip
- Perfect size for young players
- Well-made
- The pebbled surface of the football is not great for autograph
The Xedge brand is a newcomer when it comes to football product manufacture. However, they have been producing balls made from high-quality materials using creative technology and professional design for over 20 years.
This football has a butyl bladder for enduring air retention and is covered with high moisture absorption PU composite leather. To ensure excellent grip, this ball is double leather laced, which helps control spiral throws. The football is made of multi-layered lining for advanced strength and durability.
The Xedge football offers junior, youth, and official size balls for indoor and outdoor recreational activities and practice.
- Butyl bladder for air retention
- Reasonable price
- Available in 3 sizes option
- Not recommended for league games
Pros use the best footballs in the official NFL game. The Wilson brand has been the only official NFL football used to score since 1941. The Wilson NFL Enforcer football is made of a composite leather cover combined with raised pebbles for excellent grip and double laces for long-lasting. This ball is tough enough to take on the roughness of the game.
This football includes a pump for refilling air and a kicking tee. This ball is a junior-size football that is intended for use by players aged 9 and above.
- Inexpensive NFL branded football
- Durable
- Easy to grip by young players for catch and throws
- Great as a gift
- The tee is not durable
For leisure plays of the family and friends with kids, the Diggin Black Max football is a soft foam football that is safe for young players engaged in catching and throwing footballs. This ball's accidental body hits won’t hurt, and they minimize giving bumps. Other small foam footballs are incorporated with hard plastic tips that can hurt.
The size and weight of this ball are ideal for beginners and young players. The hammered surface of the foam football makes sure that it’s easy to grip, allowing the kids to throw an excellent spiral without breaking the ball.
The patented spiral ring also helps with the rotational inertia of the ball for longer spiral throws. And because of its material, this ball can be enjoyed at any outdoor game, such as backyard football, outdoor park games, and beach football.
- Perfect for long spiral throws
- Soft and safe for kids to use
- The dimples enable easy grip
- Suitable for wet weather
- The foam material for footballs are not long-lasting
If you’re a great fan of a particular NFL football team, the Rawlings Air It Out Game Time ball offers a team option embossed on their footballs. In a very revealing way, the team emblem is placed on one side while the team wordmark, including the division below, is located on the opposite side.
Despite its team option embossed design, this youth-size football is playable. The ball is constructed with soft-touch, synthetic pebbled leather material for easier grip. It is weather-resistant and licensed by the NFL.
- Great for display and usable for practice play
- With team logo option
- Well made with synthetic pebbled leather for easy grip
- Reasonable price
- 9 inches football may be too small for some youth players
With a size of 10.5 inches by 6 inches and a weight of 11 ounces, the Franklin Sports Grip Rite youth size football is perfect for junior players ages 9 to 12 to practice and develop their throwing and catching skills. Season after season, this football is an ideal practice ball.
The young players can play rough with this football as it is made of high-quality synthetic leather that can endure usual football-playing conditions. The cover is designed with deep pebble surface material with hand-sewn pro-style laces to make sure extra traction and grip when throwing and catching this football.
The ball cover is also made all-weather resistant, it does not wear when soaked in the rain or exposed to the sun.
- Great as practice ball for young football players
- Good grip
- All-weather resistant, suitable for wet weather and dry season
- Tends to become slippery when wet
If you’re always up for a backyard football, the Wilson NFL MVP Football is the game to bring the competition to your young aspiring NFL players. Giving your trainees a feel of a composite football at a young age of 6 will accustom them to the experience and feel comfortable and confident for their future football official game.
The pee wee size of Wilson NFL MVP football is described as “tackified” for easy grip, especially for the sub-teen players who are just yet to develop their throwing and catching skills with their little hands. The synthetic laces on the ball’s seams hold the cover well. Recommended for grass field playing for long-lasting use.
- Great size for pee wee players
- Reasonable price
- Leather ball for beginners
- Not recommended for concrete pavement playing
Nike is a known brand for sports apparel. But the brand has also explored manufacturing sports balls. Nike’s leather ball for football has an engineered shape for firm spiral throws. The cover is made of tacky synthetic leather for better handling, while the extruded lace system of the football offers an enhanced grip and feel.
This official game football size comprises 52% cow leather, 23% woven graphite, 13% thermoplastic polyurethane, and 12% thermoplastic elastomer. Though it’s not an official game ball for college football, it serves as one of the best footballs for drill practice.
- Great college game ball for drill practice
- Engineered shape for spiral throws
- Good grip once prepped appropriately
- Unstable air retention
Franklin Sports football has an extra-long bladder for air retention. This football has a deep pebble surface design for easy grip, constructed with precise stitches and double tuck synthetic laces. The built of the ball is tough that it can withstand everyday football situations of being dragged around on grass field and pavement.
Though an official size football, this can be enjoyed by players as young as 8 years old. This is an inexpensive ball but the best quality gift for football enthusiasts with a leisure pursuit of tossing balls around.
- Durable
- Value for money
- Best for holding air
- Best for family football
- Made from synthetic material, not a traditional leather ball
Balls from Champion Sports Pro may still be far from being an official NFL game ball, but it shows great qualities to be one of the best footballs made from butyl. Available in various sizes, football players and enthusiasts alike can enjoy a fun and friendly game with this ball for a very affordable price.
The football has an amazing grip and balanced weight. The laces are not too bulky to distract from the handling.
This football is good for all weather conditions and can withstand intense gameplay.
- Good quality for an affordable price
- Good grip
- Available in 4 sizes
- Can withstand any weather conditions
- Weak air retention
How to Choose the Best Football
Leather footballs are often used for official leagues such as the NFL, NCAA, and High School footballs. But not all leather footballs manufactured by different brands can withstand the tough playing situations and changing weather conditions. Therefore, leather footballs can’t always be labeled as the best. Also, considering game ball for recreational activities, it requires a different built and materials that leather footballs can’t achieve.
Purpose
One important thing to remember when buying a ball is your purpose for buying one. If you are an aspiring NFL player or engaged in a serious league game, without a doubt you would choose a ball with the right shape, size, and weight to accustom yourself to the feel in preparation for the game.
Footballs for official use will cost more, so you may opt for the more affordable version with the same feel for drill practice. The same goes if you are training young players. As much as possible, you would give them the right gear and game balls to adapt and be confident to hold and throw the ball.
A game ball for recreational purposes does not necessarily require a specific size or even a perfect shape. What matters on these balls is their ability to increase the fun factor for the users and their ability to last for a long time. But it’s also nice to have if they can have an aerodynamic feature that can mimic perfect spiral throws to provide the user with a sense of achievement and satisfaction.
Material
A leather ball will be a great choice if it comes to texture for an easy grip. Tacky material for the exterior cover of footballs is one of the things you should consider since the game requires the players to throw, catch, and hold on to the ball until they reach the goal.
The ball should also be reinforced with pebbled lacing for more grip coverage. A butyl bladder on the interior helps maintain the air pressure inside a ball. If you can score a composite football with a secure grip for long-lasting use at a lesser price than the official balls used in the NFL, you would be a true winner.
The backyard and beach footballs are not really into composite leather material. Since the nature of their game field may involve bodies of water and get wet, the materials used for these kinds of balls are usually foam backing or rubber because leather and water are not really that good together. Nevertheless, these unusual material footballs are also being textured with pebbles and dimples for easy gripping, especially when wet. The more durable these footballs are, the more fun they will serve.
Design
More than aesthetics, the design of white stripes on a composite football serves a purpose for the players, especially during a night game. This enables the player to see the ball better when receiving. Footballs used in the NFL used to have these white stripes on the ball. However, they have changed the design to prove that the players’ skills are worthy of the league. The footballs for the NFL have different lengths. It is longer and bigger around the middle for increased difficulty compared to college composite footballs.
Price
Value for your money goes hand in hand with the purpose of your purchase. People tend to buy an expensive ball for a purpose that the ball is not intended for. A classic example is footballs meant to be played in grass fields but ended up being played on paved streets, getting beat up, out of shape, or broken.
The setting is very different, especially the ground texture. In these cases, you may not have made a great choice in buying that ball, and you would feel it was a waste of money. But, if you analyze your purpose and browse the ball products, you will surely get your money’s worth.
The best football does not necessarily mean expensive. A great ball is a great buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ball is used in the NFL?
Wilson Sporting Goods have been supplying NFL footballs for official games. From 1941 to 1970 and since 2006, any ball used in the National Football League is stamped with “The Duke” in honor of Wellington Mara, the owner of the New York Giants for a long time, who is also named after the Duke of Wellington.
Wilson The Duke returned made a comeback in 2006 in respect and memory of Mara after his death in 2005. Mara made it possible for Wilson to get the contract to manufacture the league’s footballs.
How many balls are used in an NFL game?
In the NFL, the home team must have 36 balls for outdoor game settings and 24 for indoor games. In precisely two hours and 15 minutes before the kickoff, both teams are to bring 24 footballs – 12 primary and 12 back-ups. These balls will be inspected by two-game officials. Once approved, each game ball and the backup ball will be stamped with a distinctive mark from the referee.
What are NFL balls made of?
The modern football that the NFL use is made with cowhide leather and rubber. The game ball has four panels, and the 250 stitches keeping the panels together are stitched by hand.
Also read: A Guide to 2021 Best American Football Pants
Conclusion
Football games are a true test of skills and endurance. Therefore, the gear and the ball with it should demonstrate the same. Generally, the ball gets kicked, dragged, tossed, thrown, and received over and overall throughout the game. Only a tough ball would be able to withstand repetitive rough handling. Composite balls are great to be used for practice games and drills.
Rubber and foam balls are suitable for non-competitive games to protect your kids from harm. There are also footballs applicable to wet conditions. Whatever game you are into, the ball will surely provide the fun. To maximize use and have long-lasting composite balls, there are ways to prepare them with simple steps before using them. The preparation technique will increase the grip quality of the ball. Proper playing field and storage will also help improve your ball’s lifespan.
