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As the new season progresses smoothly, now is the best time to buy the best football that you or your team can afford.
For lovers of this exquisite game, these have been frustrating seasons. The global pandemic forced most amateur leagues to end early in 2020, and multiple suspensions resulted in suspensions for the 2020/21 season.
These interruptions allowed many players to play in the garden or practice their skills in the garden, but as restrictions were lifted, players from all over the country came to the ground in droves.
If you are one of the millions who play the game again, it is important to ensure that the equipment you use meets the standards. Apart from a decent pair of football boots and some shin guards, you really only need a good football.
However, not any old ball will do. Footballs vary greatly according to the environment in which they are designed and used, and come in a variety of sizes.
This makes it even more important to find the right product for you. This may be a durable training ball that can be used for several years, or it may be a technologically advanced miracle enough to be used in the World Cup or the Premier League.
In this guide, you will find all the information you need to pick the best football for you, as well as our selection of the best footballs on the market.
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The first thing to consider is the surface on which you will play the ball: this is the key to the durability and playability of the ball, so be sure to determine where you use the ball most often. If you train and play on the grass, then you will want a standard football, but if you play indoors or on the street, these will not be great. There are professional balls suitable for playing indoors, on rough surfaces and even on the beach. Think about where you plan to spend most of your time, and start from there.
Size is the next consideration. When you enter your teenage years, the No. 5 ball is standard and available, although skill training with a smaller ball can be fun. The only occasion where a smaller ball is used in a game is when playing futsal. It uses a number 4 ball which has the same weight as the number 5 ball.
In addition, you also want to decide how close the professional football you want to play is. The game ball officially recognized by FIFA is much more expensive than any other ball. Although it is made of the best materials and is absolutely enjoyable to play, it may not be as durable as a training ball. Finally, it has some playability. cost. There are also quite a few changes in high-quality game ball holders-there are some more durable options that are cheaper than the absolute top balls used in the World Cup or Champions League.
There are also professional balls suitable for different types of footballs, such as indoor balls, which have less elasticity than outdoor balls, and have felt on the surface, and beach balls, which are softer and suitable for barefoot kicking. Astroturf surfaces tend to vary greatly, but in general, you can use regular footballs on it. However, if you think your artificial turf is particularly hard or itchy, you'd better make sure that your ball has a durable outer surface.
Synthetic leather is used to make the best footballs, providing players with the best feel and control. Polyurethane (PU) is a durable material that can be used to make high-quality game balls, as well as most training balls, but some cheaper ones use PVC.
You also need to consider what the bladder inside is made of. Latex is used in high-quality balls to provide a softer feel, but latex bladders need to be inflated frequently. Cheaper balls use heavier materials, such as butyl rubber. They may not feel good on the feet, but they will remain inflated for several months at a time.
If you want to imitate the best players in the game and use high-quality footballs used by professional players at the highest level, you might spend between £70 and £130 on a ball. Cheaper game balls sell for 25 to 50 pounds. The cost of training balls is much lower, and you don’t have to spend more than £20 to get a great ball. In fact, it is easy to find a good one for less than £10. There are several footballs that can be bought for a few pounds, but in general, these footballs will burst often, so it is economically wise to spend 5 to 8 pounds for a stronger ball. Professional footballs such as futsal, indoor and beach balls are slightly more expensive; you can expect to pay around £20-30 for a ball, or slightly more if you get an official match ball.
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Price: £125 | Buy now from Nike
Nike Flight is the official football of the Premier League and was updated before the 2021-22 season. Thanks to Nike’s Aerowsculpt technology, the ball remains stable in flight, and the molded grooves disrupt the airflow through the ball and reduce drag.
Like its predecessor Nike Merlin, Flight has four fusion panels to create a big sweet spot, and combines the company's full-condition control technology, which makes it easier to maintain your condition regardless of the weather.
If you want a football that is designed for professional players to pass and shoot accurately, then you can buy this ball.
Main specifications-surface: grass and artificial turf; outer layer material: synthetic leather/rubber/cotton/polyester; airbag material: latex; panel: 4
Price: £10 | Buy now from Amazon
Draw this popular ball once and you will benefit for life. It can be used continuously on almost any surface and in any weather, this is its durability, and it keeps the air like an absolute champion. The outer layer is durable, so the foot feel is not as smooth as a high-quality game ball. However, there is a soft foam lining inside, which helps cushion the impact of the ball and increase its playability.
If you are willing to spend a little more money, you can buy Mitre Impel Plus or Miter Impel Max training balls for just a few more pounds. These three products have excellent durability, but as you climb, the outer surface tends to improve. Max provides a beautifully textured PU outer layer to enhance control.
Main Specifications-Surface: Indoor/Laminate; Outer Material: Felt; Airbag Material: Reinforced Rubber; Panel: 30
Price: £84 | Buy now from Adidas
Football may not be home yet, but the 2020 European Cup champions will remain in people's memory forever. If you want to recall the Three Lions playing first-class football to the finals, you will want to pick up Adidas Uniforia, the official match ball used in the game.
Its design elements reflect the host cities of the tournament, and it is one of the best-looking balls we have seen in recent years. It has passed the FIFA Quality Pro certification and has a seamless polyester surface, which is easier to control. Adidas describes it as a "more realistic trajectory."
If the price tag of £120 is a bit high, but you are eager for some nostalgia for Euro 2020, the Uniforia "League" is a budget option for only £30.
Main specifications-surface: grass and artificial turf; outer layer material: polyester; airbag material: rubber; panel: 4
Price: £35 | Buy now from Amazon
There are three different Delta footballs to choose from in Mitre's lineup, the cheapest of which is the standard Delta. It has the FIFA Pro quality certification mark for the top ball, but the price is easier to obtain than the official Delta ball used in the English Football League.
The PU outer layer is elastic and has a textured surface to enhance ball control, while the laminated power airbag inside the ball is designed to keep your shot straight and real when flying to the top corner, or actually for throwing the ball. The limit depends on how precise your lens is. The 14 panels on the outer surface are glued together using Mitre's Hyperseam technology, which is designed to minimize water absorption and maximize air retention, so you don't have to pump the ball frequently.
If you want to spray more, you can choose Delta Max. Its outer material is made of superfine fiber PU. Compared with the ones used on Delta, this material is more durable and more resistant to wear and scratches.
Main specifications-surface: grass and artificial turf; outer layer material: PU; inner liner material: laminated butyl; panel: 14
Price: £120 | Buy now from Adidas
The official UEFA Champions League ball this season is one of the most beautiful so far, and its design Adidas said it “reflects the intensity of the most prestigious club competition in European football”. Obviously, some hot stars and 22 professional athletes play each other on the same level, but we appreciate this sentiment and think the design looks quite smart.
The thermally bonded panel means that the ball has no seams at all, reducing its water intake and helping to ensure a more predictable trajectory when hitting the ball. Pyrostorm comes with FIFA's Quality Pro approval seal, and it has also received our strong support.
Main specifications-surface: grass and artificial turf; outer layer material: PU; inner liner material: laminated butyl; panel: not specified
Price: £20 | Buy now from Amazon
Indoor football requires a very different type of ball, and Mitre’s option is just for playing in the school hall or playing competitive games on a laminated surface. Its felt panels reduce the extent to which it bounces off the walls and make it easier to control when playing indoors. It is worth noting that indoor balls will be punished in particular, so they will not be as durable as balls designed for outdoor use.
Main Specifications-Surface: Indoor; Outer Material: Felt; Liner Material: Polyester and Rubber; Panel: 20
Price: £15 | Buy now from Amazon
Going to the park is not always feasible, and not everyone has a back garden big enough to play football. This is where the Vigoreux Chastep Foam ball comes in. This 8-inch football is flexible, soft and light, and is very suitable for some passing exercises in the hallway or in the kitchen.
It is not recommended to use it in priceless heirlooms or expensive household technology, but used responsibly under the supervision of parents, this ball is perfect for kids' first step towards becoming a potential football star.
Main Specifications-Surface: Indoor; Outer Material: Foam; Airbag Material: Not Applicable; Panel: Not Applicable
Price: £25 | Buy now from Sports Direct
Nike Strike is an excellent everyday football shoe with a textured machine stitched outer surface, which perfectly balances foot feel and durability. This external elasticity is supported by the butyl rubber bladder. Even if you use the ball every day, it can maintain its shape and stay inflated for a long time.
Strike has a variety of designs, including European league-related balls and top players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, but all Nike Strike balls are designed with eye-catching graphics to help you track the ball as it reverberates on the court . If you want a ball that performs almost as good as a game ball and is strong enough to last for months, then Strike is your best choice.
Main specifications-surface: grass and artificial turf; outer layer material: TPU; inner liner material: butyl; panel: 12
Buy now from Sports Direct
Price: £22 | Buy now from Amazon
Futsal is smaller and less flexible than standard football, so it is more difficult to control and kick the ball. This is why futsal tends to attract skilled players rather than old-fashioned tough guys. Well, this and the fact that sliding tackles are usually a bad idea on indoor courts.
Mitre Ultimatch futsal is available in size 3 and 4 and several different colors-bright yellow as shown in the picture above and more traditional white. Its 30-panel design incorporates Mitre's Hyperseam technology to help maintain the consistency of the bounce, and its PU outer layer is designed to withstand the rough handling that would be encountered when playing a futsal on an indoor hard surface. Inside the ball is a 4.5 mm soft foam lining, which helps cushion the ball’s impact on the foot and makes it easier to control.
Main specifications-surface: indoor (futsal); outer material: polyurethane; inner liner material: butyl; panel: 30
Price: From £19 | Buy now from Amazon
Forza is the official ball supplier for English beach football. This FIFA-approved ball uses 14 pieces of soft shell and is equipped with a 4 mm foam layer to ensure its excellent cushioning performance. It is also thermally bonded, which means that the panels have been bonded and bonded together by heat. This reduces water absorption, which is crucial when you are playing close to water.
There are three sizes to choose from-3 for children, 4 for teenagers and 5 for adults-it is perfect for casual playing on the beach, but it is also durable enough to withstand competitive action.
Main Specifications-Surface: Sand; Outer Material: Polyurethane; Liner Material: Butyl; Panel: 14
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