Whether playing indoor court volleyball tournaments or outdoor beach competitions, having the right volleyball is an important piece of equipment for volleyball players.
Today’s top volleyball ball brands are designed for specific playing conditions and player preferences. Quality volleyball brands are constructed to respond differently to indoor or outdoor playing conditions, as well as player skill level. Recreational players may choose a basic less expensive brand, while competitive players will demand a premium brand that is built to withstand professional tournaments and competitions.
Comparing the Best Indoor Volleyball Ball Brands
There is a wide variety of volleyball brands and styles to choose from for competitive and recreational indoor volleyball. Top brands offer lines that feature both game and training balls.
The best brands for indoor volleyballs include:
- Wilson i-COR indoor volleyballs.Wilson’s line of i-COR volleyballs are constructed with a premium cover material featuring high rebound latex that enhances the touch and playability for competitive players. Choose between the Wilson i-COR High Performance (MSRP $89 USD) or the Wilson i-COR Power Touch volleyball (MSRP $59 USD).
- Wilson recreational indoor volleyballs. A less expensive line of recreational volleyballs, Wilson’s recreational balls are made of composite leather and come in varying weights for training or game purposes. Options include: Wilson Reaction (MSRP $49 USD), Wilson Reaction Light (MSRP $49 USD), Wilson Tournament Edition (MSRP $39 USD) and Wilson Pro Tour (MSRP $14.99 USD).
- Mikasa indoor volleyballs. Mikasa has one of the largest selections of indoor volleyballs with 29 different balls in their Championship Series, Premier Series, Varsity Series and Training Series. Of note are: Mikasa Indoor Olympic Volleyball (MSRP $55 USD), Mikasa VQ 2000 (MSRP $49 USD) and Mikasa VFC 200 (MSRP $69 USD).
- Tachikara indoor volleyballs. A popular volleyball brand, Tachikara features a wide variety of styles and colors in their Competition, Performance, Recreational and Training collections of indoor volleyballs. Their patented Dual Bladder Construction ® enhances the overall control, performance and responsiveness of the volleyball. Top balls include: Tachikara SV5W Gold (MSRP $59 USD), Tachikara SV5WS "Super Soft" (MSRP $49 USD), Tachikara TB18 "The Setter" (MSRP $49 USD), Tachikara SVMN "Volley-Lite" (MSRP $39 USD) and Tachikara OTB-10 "Primary" (MSRP $29).
- Molten indoor volleyballs. Molten offers Elite Competition and Competition volleyball collections. Their balls feature a unique cotton soft touch and Uni-Bladder core construction. Popular choices include: Molten Pro Touch (MSRP $49 USD) and Molten Super Touch (MSRP $49 USD).
Top Volleyball Ball Brands for Beach or Outdoor Games
Outdoor volleyballs are designed for all weather play in the grass or on the beach (sand) for competitive outdoor volleyball games.
Popular choices for outdoor grass or beach volleyball games include:
- Spalding King of the Beach All Weather (MSRP $59 USD)
- Wilson AVPTM Official Game Ball (MSRP $59 USD)
- Spalding Top Flite 18 Gold Leather (MSRP $69 USD)
- Mikasa Beach Champ (MSRP $69 USD)
- Wilson Gold AVPTM Leather (MSRP $69 USD)
- Mikasa Beach Classic (MSRP $35 USD)
Selecting Official Size, Weight and Materials for Competition Volleyballs
Competition volleyballs should be official size and weight for regulation games and be NFHS approved. According to FIVB (International Federation of Volleyball) regulations, an official volleyball weighs between 9 and 10 ounces with ball pressure between 4.5 and 6.0 pounds. The volleyball must be made of leather or synthetic leather materials for indoor games. The best volleyball brands have balls that meet official volleyball regulations, but also offer a variety of training and recreational volleyball options.
Sources: Wilson Sports, Tachikara and Mikasa Sports
Volleyball enthusiasts may also be interested in the Best Brands for Volleyball Knee Pads.
Diane Seltzer - Diane is a branding, pr and social media marketer with experience ranging from advertising to corporate marketing and consulting.
