Cheap balls vs Expensive balls?

[lotfilms]

Is there any real, noticable differance between a cheap ball, and an expensive one?

i.e:

Is there a defferance in terms of curling, power, speed, etc between this:

http://www.sportolino.de/artikelbilder/802286d1.jpg
(a replica)


and this:

http://www.sportolino.de/artikelbilder/948709d.jpg
(the real thing, baby!)

[jcsd]

Yes there is a difference and it's not difficult to tell.

tbh I wouldn't buy either as when you buy one a lot of whta you pay for is the novelty of playing with a ball that is identical to or looks the same as the balls used in the World Cup.

The actual ball not really any bettre than many other decent balls which cost a lot less. The replica is just a cheap and cheerful football made to look like the offical ball and you can buy balls just as good for a fraction of the price.

[lotfilms]

Yes there is a difference and it's not difficult to tell.

tbh I wouldn't buy either as when you buy one a lot of whta you pay for is the novelty of playing with a ball that is identical to or looks the same as the balls used in the World Cup.

The actual ball not really any bettre than many other decent balls which cost a lot less. The replica is just a cheap and cheerful football made to look like the offical ball and you can buy balls just as good for a fraction of the price.

I don't care too much about the price (I've been saving for a loong time), but what I need to know is if I went to the official FIFA store, and bought the official World Cup ball (not the Buckminster replica), will it be more accurate? A more pronounced curve? Increased speed?
etc..

[jcsd]

I don't care too much about the price (I've been saving for a loong time), but what I need to know is if I went to the official FIFA store, and bought the official World Cup ball (not the Buckminster replica), will it be more accurate? A more pronounced curve? Increased speed?
etc..

The replica ball costs about £14, I've paid as little as £2 for balls that are just as good. The replica is alright for a kick around, but it's not a quality ball taht you should use if you're playing in game that you're tkaing with any real degree of seriousness.

The offical ball is one that can be used at the absolute highest level of football, so of course it is more accurate and you can get more pace on it.

[astabooty]

quality balls ($70 and up) are noticeably different in a good way. they will go a lot faster, farther, and curve more. i still stick to cheap ones tho.

[lotfilms]

Thank you all for your responses. However, I would like to post a follow up.

Is there any real differance between Nike Balls, and Addidas Balls (or boots for that matter)?

[dmar]

Call me nostalgic, but I'd rather kick a classic:

http://www.vpisports.com/images/SB9500.jpg

[comme]

Call me nostalgic, but I'd rather kick a classic:


I agree, although I prefer even more of a classic. I prefer black and white panel balls. Tangos are classic though.

[dmar]

I agree, although I prefer even more of a classic. I prefer black and white panel balls. Tangos are classic though.

I think the one you're talking about is the Telstar. Tango España was the one we used to play with herer thanks to hosting the World Cup in 82. Azteca was popular, too.

[comme]

I think the one you're talking about is the Telstar. Tango España was the one we used to play with herer thanks to hosting the World Cup in 82. Azteca was popular, too.

Well I wasn't specifically talking about the adidas version but yeah, the panelled ball was called the Telstar. They first used the Tango at the 1978 WC, and basically kept a very similar design until they used the Fevernova in 2002.

[impalemeplz]

just buy a smaller size ball. those things fly and get wicked movement in the air.

smaller size balls do cause injury so dont try and use it apart from free kick practise, etc.

[lotfilms]

I've been using a size 1 ball for better ball controal (and it has made a huuuuuge differance). But is there a real differance between Nike and Adidas balls?

[celito]

I've bought many of the WC/Euro Replica balls and they are good ... and I always thought there wasn't much difference in the play. For the first few times you use them, they are OK. Then as you inflate and dis-inflate, the ball baloons and loses it's roundess really quick.

With the replica balls (and other cheap balls) I find it tougher to keep the ball low. I can also tell the better shooting accuracy with the WC ball and the one right below it (which Adidas sells for $70), which is the one I have today. I think it's well worth the money.

[hanul21]

I don't care too much about the price (I've been saving for a loong time), but what I need to know is if I went to the official FIFA store, and bought the official World Cup ball (not the Buckminster replica), will it be more accurate? A more pronounced curve? Increased speed?
etc..

if i bought the real deal ball and not the replica, i wouldnt be kicking it around. id keep it in a case for display or something.

i dont really see the difference between replica and authentic balls. its probably because i never had a chance to kick an authentic ball before :o

[thebigman]

footballs are footballs, enjoy the game whether it be a replica or official, if u aint playin in the wc why do u need an oddicial one?

what about the players who grow up in poverty playing with balls made of rags?

seriously, why pay 50£ for a real wc football when your not playing at the highest level

[k_nico]

footballs are footballs, enjoy the game whether it be a replica or official, if u aint playin in the wc why do u need an oddicial one?

what about the players who grow up in poverty playing with balls made of rags?

seriously, why pay 50£ for a real wc football when your not playing at the highest level

there's a huge difference between the cheap and the expensive balls.
Depenting on your talent in football, you can go to a soccerfield and try kicking the ball from the middle-spot to the goal. it's very very hard to kick a cheap ball half a field through and if you do, the bad aerodynamics of the ball has driven it to the cornerflag (not litetrally) - and if you take the teamgeist or t90 it is much easier to kick on those distances.

you can almost "measure" the ball:

$2 plastic ball--------------------$30 leatherball----------------------------------------------------------$100 teamgeist

[thebigman]

all balls are round, u kick them

honestly, why pay for an official ball unless its semi pro-professional?

and then the balls would be provided

[Caesar]

If any ball has stamped on it

http://www.geocities.jp/my_son_is_asato/26845_FIFA_Approved.gif

http://sport.glg.pl/images/fifa%20inspected.JPG

or

http://www.fifa.com/images/cms/static/ims_s_4cf.gif

then it's acceptable for games under the Laws of the Game, and should be of a good standard. The first two are all going to be quite good balls, and are the only criteria I look at when I want to buy a decent ball. I wouldn't bother spending huge amounts on fancy balls - I'm not a good enough player for it to matter that much.

[Fat Eric Cantona]

I've been using a size 1 ball for better ball controal (and it has made a huuuuuge differance). But is there a real differance between Nike and Adidas balls?



yeah nike make theres in a sweatshop using childern and adidas is across town somewhere in in pakistan

[mookhead]

I remember in high school our conference used expensive Brine balls. They sucked. They were so hard, you hated to head the ball.. The ball was even worse when it was cold out. My $20 Diadora was way better.