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Beginners in basketball may believe that all basketballs are the same weight
A basketball typically weighs between 13 and 15 pounds (21 to 22 ounces)
The materials for the making of a basketball also affect its total weight
Let’s dive right into the article with Scott Fujita!
What Is The Standard Weight And Size Of A Basketball?How Much Does An NBA Basketball Weigh?How Much Does A Basketball Weigh In Grams?How Much Does A Youth Basketball Weigh?How Much Does A Mini Basketball Weigh?How Much Does A Women’s Basketball Weigh?
How Does A Properly Inflated Ball Weigh?How Is The Air Measured In A Ball?Final Thoughts
NBA Basketball Weighs 14 pounds
Although basketballs come in a variety of sizes, the NBA basketball weight is typically the average
So, if we’re talking about the weight of professional NBA basketball, it’ll be approximately 14 pounds
The air pressure is another critical thing to consider, which requires a normal air pressure of 75 to 85 pounds per square inch
Every player desires to play in the NBA, the most competitive and successful basketball league globally
The proper weight for men’s basketball is 137 pounds, according to NBA regulations and specifications
The circumference, on the other hand, is 295 inches tall
As a result, you have a reasonable estimate of the weight of an NBA basketball
Due to the physicality of females, the WNBA reduces the standard for weight and circumference
The WNBA basketball has a maximum weight of 113 pounds and a circumference of 285 inches
Youth Basketballs Are Size 5
The metric system employs the gram as the measurement of weight
The metric system employs the gram as the measurement of weight
A basketball of size 4 weighs roughly 397 grams for junior balls
The weight of the size 5 climbs dramatically, reaching 481 grams
As a result, the weight and size of the players expand to fit their physique
Because it is the most competitive platform, the NBA is the gold standard for every basketball player
They utilize a 7-sized ball that is 623 grams in weight
The WNBA uses a slightly different metric
They utilize a 6-sized ball that weighs 510 grams and has a 2-3 inches narrower circumference
If there is more air inflation pressure in the ball, these readings will alter as well
As a result, their men’s basketball weighs the same as the NBA but has a 30-inch diameter
The weight of women’s basketball is roughly 566 grams, with a diameter of 29 inches
Basketball sizes are also measured differently by the International Basketball Federation
Although they all weigh 566 grams, the production process causes them to feel somewhat different in hand
Men’s basketball has a circumference of 305 inches, whereas women’s basketball is 29 inches
The pro league for up-and-coming stars is the youth leagues, also known as junior basketball leagues
They do not play regular basketball and use a more miniature college basketball instead
They also utilize mini basketballs, which are lighter than professional NBA basketballs
For conventional measures, youth basketballs are often designated as size 5
It is lighter than NBA basketballs, weighing roughly 125 pounds
The circumference of the ring is approximately 275 inches
This sort of ball is used by any young player under ten for their regular training and games
A 4-sized basketball may be used by anyone aged eight or younger
This ball is 255 inches in circumference, which is much less than that of conventional NBA balls
A size 4 is typically roughly 087 pounds
How Much Does A Mini Basketball Weigh?
An Inflated Basketball Weigh At Least 22 Pounds
Basketball sizes vary according to the gender, age, and skill level of the participants
For junior players in a school-level game, the ball may be of GL
The mini basketball typically weighs around 0625 pounds (10 lb) or 283 grams (g) and is designed for children aged 3 to 5
How Much Does A Women’s Basketball Weigh?
As a result, the rules for basketball measuring varied
Basketball league sizes are mostly divided into two categories
The first is more extensive, measuring 29 inches in diameter and weighing 125 pounds
This basketball is a regular 6-inch basketball
The other one is slightly smaller than 28 inches in diameter and weighs 1125 pounds
According to the match requirements, condition, air pressure, inflation, and other criteria, the official match balls are chosen
While the Molten basketballs use some of the same materials as the Spalding basketballs, they are somewhat smaller and heavier
How Does A Properly Inflated Ball Weigh?
A Perfect Basketball Does Not Come With Sufficient Inflation
In most cases, a perfect basketball does not come with sufficient inflation
You’ll wind up over inflating or under inflating your basketball if you don’t have a good understanding of properly inflated basketball weight
The weight of an average inflated basketball must be at least 22 pounds
The inflation error margin, on the other hand, is roughly 003 pounds
How Is The Air Measured In A Ball?
Every Basketball Has Air Inside Of It The correct air pressure inside a basketball may make a massive difference in your game feel
Here, you’ll learn how to maintain a high air density within the basketball by psi, or pounds per square inch, which is the standard pressure unit for basketball
Inside a basketball, the pressure should be between 75 and 85 pounds per square inch
A pressure gauge is ideal for measuring air pressure, a standard instrument for determining the strength of a gas or fluid
Gently put the gauge into the ball’s needle aperture while determining the air pressure
You can measure basketball in several different ways in circumference, inflation pressure, and total weight
When selecting a basketball, keep in mind your gender, age, and league you will use it
Basketballs are sized and weighted differently in different leagues
As a result, understanding the proper size is critical to prevent getting disqualified from a game
Hopefully, now that you are familiar with basketball sizes and have discussed how much does a basketball weigh in pounds, grams, or ounces and how it influences player performance
Casual sports fans and basketball enthusiasts alike may wonder how much does a basketball weigh, being unfamiliar with its exact dimensions
In direct contrast to many other team sports, varying sizes of the basketball incorporated in play can be used
The size depends on the specific level of play, league, or organization
Other factors such as age or ability can also dictate the best size of a basketball to use
Dimensions of an NBA Basketball – Modern Era (1979-present day)
The current NBA basketball size is dictated by FIBA regulations, which have been in effect since 1979
The circumference of a basketball in the NBA must be 295 inches, while the diameter of a basketball can vary from 943 inches to 951 inches
The weight of a basketball is usually 22 ounces, or about 14 pounds, while being inflated at a psi ranging from 75 to 85
These dimensions are also the general standards implemented in both men’s high school and men’s collegiate basketball throughout the United States
The Wilson NBA Official game ball replaced Spalding as the official basketball of the NBA
It features longer lasting air retention, genuine leather, and official NBA branding
Wilson NCAA EVO NXT is the official game ball of March Madness
Weight and Dimensions of an NBA Basketball – Pre-1979
Before 1979, basketball size in the NBA, while many times mirroring the modern-day dimensions, would also vary
At one point, the league used balls that had a circumference of just 15 inches
That’s roughly half the size of the modern NBA standard
Another interesting aspect of the history of basketball dimensions in the NBA is that before 1979, many NBA players would routinely practice with smaller basketballs and then gradually progress up until they reached the official NBA size
From 1979-1983, they would continue to experiment with different-sized basketballs for indoor and outdoor use
But would eventually convert exclusively to the standard 295-inch circumference size starting in 1984
15 Of The Best Basketball Movies Of All Time To Hit The Box Office Either Starring Or Featuring NBA Players
Weight and Dimensions of a WNBA Basketball
Unlike the NBA, the dimensions of the basketball used in the WNBA have remained consistent since its beginning during the 1997 season
It has a circumference of 285 inches
The WNBA ball weighs 20 ounces, or about 13 pounds, while being inflated at a psi usually ranging from 75 to 8 psi
As with the men’s basketball dimensions, the WNBA basketball dimensions are the general standards implemented in both women’s high school and women’s collegiate basketball throughout the United States
The Wilson EVO NXT is the Official WNBA game ball
It features enhanced grip, moisture management, less effort need to put spin on shot, soft touch and official WNBA branding
Modern FIBA Basketball Dimensions
While the NBA has consistently maintained the original FIBA basketball size since 1979, FIBA has since modified its basketball dimensions slightly for both men’s and women’s competition
The circumference of a men’s basketball is 305 inches, while the circumference of a women’s basketball is 29 inches
However, there is some variation in the reported weights of the FIBA basketballs
Some sources report that the ball weighs the same as the NBA and WNBA basketballs, while others report that they are a little lighter
Because of the massive size of FIBA and how many countries and continents it regulates, it is probable that basketball sizes and dimensions probably vary slightly around the world
The Molten BG5000 is the Official Game ball for FIBA World Championships and The Olympics
AAU Basketball Size
Although there are many different divisions and levels of play, two primary basketball sizes are used, a 285-inch circumference and a 295-inch circumference ball
Boys typically use a 285-inch circumference ball from grades 1-6 and then switch to a 295-inch circumference ball from 7th grade on up
Girls typically use a 285-inch circumference ball throughout all levels of play
Some AAU leagues are organized by age and not grade, resulting in some overlap and variations in the ball size used
Spalding’s Precision TF-1000 is the official ball for AAU basketball
This ball features a game ready grip, superior control, a natural feel and is built for performance
Size categorizations and weight
Basketballs are also categorized into four main sizes numbered from 4-7 that correspond to different levels of play, as well as 2 other smaller specialized sizes
SIZE 7 – Basketballs in size 7 correspond to men’s pro basketball, collegiate, and high school level play, from 15 years old on up
SIZE 6 – Basketballs in size 6 correspond to women’s pro basketball, collegiate, and high school level play, from 12 years old on up
The circumference of a size 6 basketball is 285 inches, and the weight is usually about 20 ounces
The circumference of a size 6 basketball is 285 inches, and the weight is usually about 20 ounces
This is also a suitable basketball size for boys in the age range of 12 to 14
SIZE 5 – Basketballs in size 5 typically correspond to youth basketball for both boys and girls in the age range of 9 to 11
SIZE 4 – Basketballs in size 4 correspond to competition for young children in the age range of 5 to 8
The circumference of a size 4 basketball is 255 inches, and the weight is about 14 ounces
The circumference of a size 4 basketball is 255 inches, and the weight is about 14 ounces
SIZE 3 – Basketballs in size 3 are a specialized/hybrid size that corresponds to competition for young children in roughly the same age range as size 4, between 5 and 8 years old
Size 3 basketballs are often referred to as “mini” basketballs and have a circumference of 22 inches and a weight of 10 ounces
Many individuals may wonder why sizes 3 and 4 of basketballs cover the same age range of children despite possessing different dimensions
Size 4 is probably more appropriate for children who have already played basketball for a couple of years and are quickly developing into proficient basketball players
Size 3 is more effective for children who are being introduced to the game for the first time or who have very little experience
SIZE 1 – Basketballs in size 1 are another specialized/hybrid size that is commonly used for very young children in the age range of 2 to 4
Commonly known as “micro-mini” basketballs, they have a circumference of 16 inches and a weight of 8 ounces
The Most Common Weight and Sizes
While many different basketball sizes are used throughout the world, the two most common sizes are the 285-inch circumference ball and the 295-inch circumference ball
Generally, younger children should use smaller, specialized basketballs, which can better assist in overall development
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The basketball itself had many different variations
That’s why people find it hard to figure out the proper measurements for a typical basketball
The initial basketball had a structure and weight similar to football
The Significance of Basketball Size and Weight
Before any fixed guidelines or regulations, all the basketballs did not have the same size and weight
The initial balls were only 16 ounces or 1 pound in weight, whereas the current ones weigh around 22 ounces or 14 pounds
Because of this discrepancy, players could not find any stable form in their gameThey often found it tough to cope with different materials of basketballs
Just imagine James LeBron and Stephen Curry playing with balls that have different weights
Also, there are differences in prices for specific sizes and weightsIf we were to talk specifically about weight, we have to mention the impact of proper inflation
A basketball needs perfect inflation in its composite leather build, or else the ball will feel either heavy or light
So, for your safety and performance, a perfectly inflated ball with the correct size is a mustNow that you know the importance of basketball weight let’s dive deeper into the burning questions
The Standard Size and Weight for a Basketball
The Standard Size and Weight for a Basketball
Although there are many sizes for a basketball, depending on the age, the standard usually indicates the NBA basketball
So, if we are talking about the weight of a professional NBA league basketball, it weighs around 14 pounds or roughly 623 grams (0623 kg)The circumference is 295 inches
The standard air pressure is maintained around 75 to 85 psi
NBA is the most successful and competitive basketball platform that every player dreams of playing
While there are many other associations with different designs, NBA remains the standardAccording to NBA standards and measurements, the right weight for Men’s basketball is 22 ounces or 624 grams
On the other hand, the circumference has a height of 295 inches
So, you get a sound idea of how much an NBA basketball weighsHowever, WNBA lowers the bar for both weight and circumference because of womens’ physicality
The maximum weight for WNBA basketball is 18 ounces or 510 grams, while the entire circumference is about 285 inches
If you are not familiar with ounces and pounds, don’t worry
The metric system uses gram as the unit of weight measurement, and here you will find all the data in gram format for your convenienceFor youth balls, the weight of a basketball of size 4 is around 397 grams
As we mentioned before, it is pretty light if you compare it with the other sizesAs for the size 5, the weight increases significantly and becomes 481 grams
It is not so tough to understand because this size is for children aged ten and more
That’s why the size and weight increase to match the build of the playersNow, some different leagues and associations partner with varying companies of manufacturing for their events
NBA is the standard basketball for any basketball player as it is the most competitive stage
They use a size seven ball that weighs around 623 gramsHowever, WNBA or Women NBA has a slightly different measurement
They use a six-size ball that weighs 510 grams, and the circumference also differs for having a 2-3 inch less width
These measurements also change if there is more air inflation pressure in the ballNCCA does not use balls from Spalding but Wilson
That’s why their men’s basketball weighs the same as NBA but has a different circumference of 30 inches
For women’s basketball, the weight is around 566 grams and has a circumference of 29 inchesThe International Basketball Federation (FIBA) also has different metrics for its basketball sizes
The basketball company Molten manufactures basketballs for FIBAWhile these all have the same weight of 566 grams, they feel slightly different in hand because of the manufacturing process
Men’s basketball has a 305 inches circumference, whereas the women’s one measures 29 inches
How Much Does a Basketball Weigh in-lbs ?
Pounds is the standard unit for America to measure weight
That’s why this section will focus on only featuring all the data in poundsThe NBA professional players use Spalding basketballs that have a maximum weight of 22 ounces or 14 pounds
This size 7 is the highest one on the standard scaleThe WNBA uses a similar basketball, but the size and weight become smaller
The women play with size six that weighs around 18 ounces or 112 poundsThe next size in line is number 5
These basketballs are mainly used in junior level for the age group of 9-11 years
The weight of a size five basketball is around 17 ounces or 106 poundsThey use these balls to practice and compete in official events or competitions
The size 4 is perfect for children who are just growing to love this sport
These balls weigh around 14 ounces or 0875 pounds
Youth basketball game or junior league basketball is the professional league for the up and coming stars
However, they don’t use traditional basketball
Instead, they use a smaller college ball
Also, sometimes they use youth balls that weigh less than professional NBA basketballsGenerally, youth basketballs are categorized as size 5 in terms of standard measurements
It weighs around 20 ounces or 125 pounds which is lighter than NBA basketballs
The circumference measures around 275 inches
Any young player below the age of 10 use this type of ball for their daily practices and gamesAnyone aged eight or below is permissible to use a size four basketball
This type of ball has a circumference of 255 inches which is significantly less than standard NBA ballsIn terms of weight, the average weight of size 4 is around 14 ounces
There’s also a size three or mini basketball with a circumference of 22 inches and weighs 10 ounces
How Much Does a Women’s Basketball Weigh?
That’s why the regulations regarding basketball measurement differ
Women have their separate league, WNBA, where they showcase their extreme excellenceThere are mainly two standards of league basketball sizes
The first one has a bigger diameter of 29 inches and a total weight of 567 grams or 20 ounces
This basketball is the standard size 6The other one has a smaller diameter than 28 inches, and the weight is also lighter at 510 grams or 18 ounces
Depending on the condition, match requirements, inflation, air pressure, and other factors, the balls are selected for an official matchA for international formats, the specifications follow the FIBA regulations
The Molten manufactured basketballs, while having some common materials compared to Spalding, differ slightly in size and weightThese basketballs have a High-quality synthetic leather construction
A GL6 basketball has a circumference of 29 inches and weighs 20 pounds
What is the Inflated Weight of a Basketball?
Generally, an ideal basketball comes without any proper inflation
Without having adequate knowledge of standard inflated weight, you will end up underinflating or overinflating your basketballThe standard inflated basketball must weigh 22 pounds
However, the error margin for inflation is around 001-003 pounds
How is the Air Measured in a Basketball?
Air is what resides inside every basketball
Perfect air pressure inside a basketball can drastically improve your game sense
However, to maintain good pressure, you need to know how you should measure the air pressure
Here, you will know you to keep an excellent air density inside the basketballThe standard pressure unit for basketball is psi or pounds per square inch
A basketball should have 75 to 85 psi pressure inside
The usual recommendation to measure the air pressure is to use a pressure gauge
A pressure gauge is a standard tool to measure fluid or gas intensityIt can quantify the total pressure locked inside a closed space
While calculating the air pressure, gently insert the gauge via the ball’s needle opening
The screen or dial will automatically tell you the psi inside the ball
Whether it’s basketball design, weight, or gears, anything will make you fall in love with the sport itselfIn this post, we tried our best to deliver the most reliable and accurate answers to your questions about basketball weight in different formats and leagues, as well as its importance
When you are young and starting, use a size four ball to learn the basicsAfter that, play with size 5 and 6 basketball before you climb your way through the top
Always remember that these variations in dimensions and weight are there to develop your body
So, when you are ready to play on the professional stage, you will not feel uncomfortable or hesitantLastly, one should never forget to check the air pressure of the ball
So, now that you know all about a basketball play without thinking twice about its size and weight!
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