AVID Soccer Awards 2006 “Best Ball”
With balls starting below $10 and hitting well over $100, there is no truly fair comparison. So, we picked the ones most likely to get purchased and used.
Our nominees included balls in the $15-30 range from four leading manufactures. Each had varied characteristics and ardent fans. In the end, it came down to the ball that most people wanted to use at practice.
Our nominees included the Hummel H Spot. Immediately labeled “the Chick Ball” by the U16 boys that tested each of these, it became the absolute favorite of our keepers. The cover is very sticky against the latex of their gloves and its heavy weight was a great training tool. That extra weight was unwelcome by the field players.
The Lotto Leggenda Pro was listed as the coolest graphics. Unfortunately, those same graphics showed wear from the first sessions. This ball has good feel and can be well controlled, except when wet. It becomes slick and is harder to manipulate.
The adidas Teamgeist Replique owns the association with the world cup. It provided the most consistent play in all weather. It also is the easiest to head and place. Unfortunately, price leaves this a very close second place.
“And the winner is…”
The Brine Premier only finished first in two categories: price and wear. However, finishing in second for every other category was enough to take the crown. The Brine shows the least wear in six months of use. It is the most selected ball by our U13 girls group. They love the look of the taffeta like cover. The under-glass graphics show no sign of wear. The ball can be a bit slick when wet and is very hard if over inflated, but with a current retail price of about $12, it makes a fantastic training ball.
Our nominees included balls in the $15-30 range from four leading manufactures. Each had varied characteristics and ardent fans. In the end, it came down to the ball that most people wanted to use at practice.
Our nominees included the Hummel H Spot. Immediately labeled “the Chick Ball” by the U16 boys that tested each of these, it became the absolute favorite of our keepers. The cover is very sticky against the latex of their gloves and its heavy weight was a great training tool. That extra weight was unwelcome by the field players.
The Lotto Leggenda Pro was listed as the coolest graphics. Unfortunately, those same graphics showed wear from the first sessions. This ball has good feel and can be well controlled, except when wet. It becomes slick and is harder to manipulate.
The adidas Teamgeist Replique owns the association with the world cup. It provided the most consistent play in all weather. It also is the easiest to head and place. Unfortunately, price leaves this a very close second place.
“And the winner is…”
The Brine Premier only finished first in two categories: price and wear. However, finishing in second for every other category was enough to take the crown. The Brine shows the least wear in six months of use. It is the most selected ball by our U13 girls group. They love the look of the taffeta like cover. The under-glass graphics show no sign of wear. The ball can be a bit slick when wet and is very hard if over inflated, but with a current retail price of about $12, it makes a fantastic training ball.
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