This year's AVID Soccer Equipment Review Shoot-out pits the top balls in the game including the adidas Europass official match ball, the Brine Championship official match ball and the Puma V1.08.

Premium match balls are the flagships of these companies and represent the pinnacle of technology, innovation and quality.  Our combatants were all tested on the field of battle for style and desirability; touch, feel and playability; and durability.  For some of our testers, this may be the only time during the year that they get to play with a ball of this caliber.  For others, the orders were placed as soon as we finished the tests.

Our test parameters:

• Premium match ball used in official competition
• Currently available through a variety of retailers
• Inflated to recommended pressure
• Survive a week with our testers
• Cost is no object (we love that part)

Our three victims contestants are:

• adidas Teamgeist II Official Euro 2008 Match Ball
• Brine NCAA Championship Official Match Ball
• Puma V1.08 Official Match Ball for a variety of National Teams

In a premier match ball, durability is important, but counts the least in our ratings.  We were surprised at how well each of these balls held up to our abuse.  The Puma finished last, but was more than respectable.  After the hardest testing, only the seams show any significant signs of wear.  The adidas finished second in this category, showing more boot scuffs than the Brine.  We would consider this comparison largely a wash with all holding up well.

Next in importance is style and desireablility.  This is why we started the shoot-outs in the first place.  The Brine, while the most recognizable, is also the most mundane.  It definitely holds more credibility than the Puma, but has been around long enough to be passé.  The Puma, falls next.  Players were intrigued by the panel design and the X-Ray (white on black) version of the ball is truly cool.  It is just useless for night games.   With the Euro 2008 sponsorship, adidas wins this category in a landslide.  The detailed graphics are remarkable with a variety of subtle touches that kept our testers looking to find everything.

Third, the most important attribute of a match ball is consistent play.  We tested the balls for balance, touch, feel, flight, etc.  Each was very consistent as would be expected for official match play.  The Brine, with its traditional 32 panel cover, was the comfortable to all of our players, but in the net and on the pitch.  The flight is consistent and true.  The glossy cover did get slick when wet and let it in third.  The adidas uses thermally bonded seams, giving the Teamgeist II the lowest water absorption.  The pimpled cover keeps the friction level up even under wet and muddy conditions.  Given the amount of rain in Austria for Euro 2008, it had to.  The ball does tend to knuckle when it flies.  It is more susceptible to spin and curve than the others.  Finally, the Puma combines the best of both worlds.  The slightly dimpled cover and unique panel design give the V1.08 the truest fight and most consistent control.  However, the d3o material used in the mid-layer is what puts this ball on top.

Finally, we asked each of our testers to rate the balls in order.  The one consistency was the Brine in third.  Everyone agrees that it is a spectacular ball, but it just doesn't have the excitement the Triumph 20-600 did when it won last year.  The adidas and Puma split votes with results coming down to "The ball I most want to get signed and display" Winner - adidas Teamgeist II Europass.  "The ball I most want on the pitch" Winner - Puma V1.08

Overall, the scores reflected our testers responses.  The Brine is just out of date.  It is a great ball, but last in this group.  The Puma and adidas each have their champions, but the Puma caught the corner of the goal for our winner.