What Are Nike Footballs Made Of?
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the U.S. during fall and winter are dominated with watching or playing football. Every year thousands of footballs are created for use. Nike is a leader in sports equipment and supplies and provides footballs for many high schools, collegiate and professional sports teams. For consumers, their footballs cost anywhere from $10 to $60.
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Professional, College and High School Footballs
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Just like their variety of shoes, Nike has a large amount of footballs for consumers to choose from. For professional, collegiate and high school games and practices, all ball exteriors are made out of leather. They are about 11 inches long and 22 inches around. The four leather panels are tanned a natural brown color and stamped with small granular texture for an easier grip. All balls are stamped with the Nike name and famous swoosh logo as well as the logos of the leagues the ball is used in.
Ball Construction
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To construct the ball, two of the panels are perforated along the edges and laced together. One of the panels also gets center reinforcements as well as room for an inflation valve. An inner lining called a bladder is inserted, and all four panels are attached. Leather laces are added to the center for grip. All four panels are stitched together and the ball is inflated to an air pressure of 12.5 to 13.5 PSI.
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Synthetic Balls
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For recreational purposes, many people purchase balls made out of synthetic material. These balls are much cheaper but do have a different feel. Although the synthetic is made to be as much as possible like leather, players have noted the ball tends to slip out of their hands much more easily. The inside bladder is made out of polyurethane, as are the laces.
Rubber Balls
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Nike manufactures a rubber ball that is heavier than a typical football. They advertise it as a learning tool for centers and quarterbacks in being able to adjust to gripping a heavier object. They say it will also work on speed, agility, reaction time and quickness. Rubber balls are also used by younger children so they can learn to grip it more easily.
Nerf-Like Material
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In the past, Nike has experimented with a solid, spongy cellular material to create footballs that are safe for indoor use, similar to the popular Nerf product line. But it's difficult to currently find a Nike football made out of this material.
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