Spalding Rookie Gear Indoor/Outdoor Composite 27.5 Youth Basketball

Bought for my 6 year old son that just started playing in a league. I first thought a ball was just a ball. The first ball I got was the Wilson Street Shot. That ball was composite leather too but much harder and less grip. That other ball also was standard weight. My son had a hard time making baskets.This Spalding Roookie Gear ball (brown) is just perfect. Not only is is clearly lighter but it feels better, more grip, softer more leather like feel, and it bounces higher with less effort. I measured the weight of both balls with a digital food scale with both balls at the same 9 psi.For comparisons here are some more detailed comparisons:Spalding Rookie Gear 27.5 ball (brown)13.6 oz (22% lighter than Wilson Street Shot ball), it definitely feels lighter toobounced half a ball higher when dropped from adult chest height (same psi)much easier to dribble as it bouces with less effortsofter nicer more leather like feelmore gripWilson Street Shot 27.5 ball17.4 ozFeels heavy and hard to bounceharder surface and feels more like rubberhas good amount of bumps but has little grip, hand slides on surfaceMy son is doing much better with the new ball.

My kids have a lot of basketballs. Initially, the ball was great. the first 11 monthsPros: The colors popped so my kids' ball was never misplaced during practice or open gym with the other kids on the basketball team. All the kids wanted to dribble using their ball. Most of kids on bbal team thought the color was cool and different from the other brown balls. Team used his ball during bball practice drills indoors.The cons: This ball is supposed to be indoor & Outdoor. We used on primarily indoor for practice and occasional outdoor to shoot with in the backyard. The ball once went into a puddle in the backyard. Big problem here.... This ball is the only ball we had that peeled. All the colors and covering started peeling off after about 11 months of use. We never had a ball peel before.For short term use great. But, we are going to go buy a wilson brown ball without colors next time.

Nice looking ball and pretty light, but it is made of someWeird synthetic material that has decent grip but doesn't bounce naturally. My 5 year old noticed right away. I even pumped it to make it bounce but now it's hard as a rock.

The colored panels on the ball have already started peeling off. Haven't had it two months and have only used it 5 times.

This feels like a high-end basketball, and is very enjoyable to use. Anytime my nephew goes to basketball practice, his teammates, coaches, and just about everyone that has a chance to come into contact with it just feels the urge to use it. Unfortunately, it comes to the point where sometimes kids or coaches will use it too much and bring out your kids possessive side, becoming unwilling to share...but that's a consequence of just having a great ball that's sought after. It's hard to describe a product that just begs to be used. It's the nicest kids basketball I've seen, at least. Hopefully your little one can share.

I got this ball for my 10 year old daughter, since it was recommended for smaller hands. She didn't care much for it and uses the regulation sized ball we have. I, however, enjoy being able to palm this ball and produce some showtime dunks in my driveway. Of course, the hoop has been lowered to the lowest setting for...um... my daughter. Yeah.At any rate, it's a good, solid ball.

This ball has a specific purpose. It’s durable as long as you keep it stored indoors. This ball is lighter and smaller which is intended for youth play typically in Pre-Kinder to First Grade (4 to 6 yr olds). This ball is to encourage the children towards basketball and build their confidence in ball-handling and to make a basket on an 8 foot rim. Check with your youth basketball organizations on the standards ball sizes and rim heights. Our league moves to from Size 7 (Pre-K to First), Size 8 (2nd to Fourth) and Size 9 / Adult Men (5th grade +). This applies to boys. Girls will stay with the Size 8 ball. Your local youth league may vary.

Not as grippy as it should be for small children and the bounce is rather flat to say the least (possibly because of how light it is). I'm a lifelong basketball player, including college, and while I like the idea of a "rookie" ball for my kids to play with, it doesn't live up to my expectations as far as quality. A basketball should bounce correctly, including a direct line back to your hand.

Well I never got a greeting at my niece's like that before. Her kids were waiting at the door and we never got our feet on the driveway before we received our calvacade of "Thank Yous". The good quality balls were quickly taken from my wife and my hands and were ripped out of the packaging, pumped up and out with names sharpied on were out the door and down the street to the neighborhood hoops. A week later after hard use I saw the eldest's b-ball and even after hard use was holding up well. I'll see what it looks like this fall. I still smile when I think of their joy of a brand new ball.

This ball is excellent. Use it in our driveway. Perfect for my 10 year but my 5 year old is also learning to handle it. Dribbles very well, smooth, excellent bounce. I enjoy this one out of the various sizes we have as well. I have smaller hands. The kids love the colourfulness - and i do too - easier to keep track of ;) Great quality!

My son LOVES this ball. It is his first "real" basketball, and it has been the perfect next-step for him!

Much more easily handled than standard sized balls at the school court. Very durable for black-top and backyard hoops. There's no "I" in basketball.

Llego en perfectas condiciones, inflado. Muy agradable presentación, de excelente peso para niños de 8 y 12 años.