Basketball.org

Everything Basketball

Basketball Size Guide & Chart

Why it's so Important to Use the Right Sized Basketball

Because bad shooting techniques are learned early and can linger for years, it is important that basketball players use the correct sized ball for their age. Young players who play with a ball that is too large may dip their shoulder and heave the ball towards the basket with two hands instead of developing proper a one-hand shot.

As players grow older and naturally stronger, proper shot technique with a lighter and smaller ball will be translated to larger basketballs. Professional and amateur leagues, such as the NBA, WNBA, FIBA, and NCAA, usually maintain their own regulation sizes and weight. This is the reason why we often see different sizes of basketballs despite being called regulation size.

Basketball Size Chart by Age & Level

Basketball Sizes for Different Age Groups:

Boys and girls age 6 and under: Size 3 ball (22 inch circumference, 10 oz.,) and size 4 ball (25.5 inch circumference, 14 oz.,) depending on the strength and development of the child.

Boys age 7-9, Girls age 7-10: Size 5 Ball (27.5 inch circumference, 17 oz., used in many standard youth leagues)

Boys age 10-12, Girls age 11 and older: Size 6 ball (28.5 inch circumference, 20 oz., used at the women’s professional level)

Boys age 13 and older: Size 7 ball (29.5 inch circumference, 22 oz., used at the men’s professional level)

These are the general guidelines for basketball sizes for all players. Youth leagues may have different protocols, and certain children, because of the varying growth rate of adolescents, may be prepared to use a larger ball at a younger age. It is important to note that all basketballs should be inflated to the proper level that, if they are dropped from a height of six feet, they should bounce back up roughly 50 inches.

3 Types of Basketball Materials

Leather – these basketballs are made from 100% genuine leather cover. When a leather ball is new, it may feel somewhat hard to feel, but with a bit of wear, it becomes soft having an appealing broken-in feel. Leather basketballs are strictly for indoor hardwood court only because the feel of the leather will roughen when used on concrete surfaces. Leather basketballs are also the most expensive of the three types of basketballs.

Composite / Synthetic Leather – these basketballs are covered with artificial or synthetic leather material that has the feel of leather, as it has been designed that way, but much cheaper to produce and manufacture. Since it is synthetic, the material has a uniform feel which is why it does not need to be broken-in as it already has that soft feel even when new.

Rubber – these basketballs are lined with rubber covering and are ideal for concrete surfaces. Rubber basketballs are perfect for beginners, especially since they are the cheapest to produce.

Basketballs have grooves on them sometimes referred to as channeling. Some are wide and some are narrow. Channels not only provide basketball players better grip, but they can also be used for better fingertip control, particularly when applying backspins.

The regulation leather and composite leather balls used in the leagues or competition mentioned above should not be used for outdoor games, particularly on rough concrete or asphalt surfaces. The roughness of the surface will quickly and easily wear down the texture of the ball making them lose their grip. For outdoor basketball games, rubber balls should be used as the material is designed to withstand the sandpaper like surface of a concrete floor.