For this years Best Ball awards, AVID Soccer selected four premium match balls.  We tested the best from Nike, adidas, Wilson and Select.  The first three are official balls of the EPL (and la Liga), World Cup (MLS and others), and NCAA.  The Select ball was included to round out the group.

Judging was based:

• Playability
  • The Wilson Avanti and Select Brilliant are both fairly standard 32 panel balls.  They each meet the high expectations for a $100+ match ball, but add any significant new features or material. 
  • The Nike Total90 Tracer adds a textured surface to its 32 panels and a high visibility variant.  Internal construction keeps the ball well balanced. 
  • Everyone heard the complaints about the adidas Jabulani/Jo'bulani ball in South Africa, but we found it well balanced and very playable.
• Desirability - Without and "Official" in its name, the Brilliant Superball doesn't have any innate status.  There are not many people outside of college who care about the NCAA designation (just ask Brine), so the Avanti fairs no better.  Depending on your affiliations and brand preference, either the Total90 Tracer or Jabulani  comes out on top.
• Value
  • Wilson Avanti NCAA Official Ball $120
  • Select Brilliant Superball $130
  • Nike Total90 Tracer  Hi-Vis EPL Offical Ball $150
  • adidas Jabulani World Cup South Africa Official Ball $160
  • As odd as it might sound, the current street price for the Jo'bulani Official Finals Ball with the Netherlands vs. Spain markings is under $110.  That makes this variant of the Jabulani the best value and adds to the desirability. 
• Overall Merit
  • Each of these manufacturers takes a slightly different tact in their design and all have merits.  The Wilson, with its standard design does not bring anything special to the table; however, it is well executed with foam padding for soft touch and under glass graphics.
  • Select adds a special microfiber material in the outer shell to keep the ball compliant and playable.
  • Nike adds texture to the shell for true flight and high technology to the construction for better balance.
  • adidas uses fewer panels and welds them together.  This creates the most spherical and balanced ball (at least according to adidas).  We have not been able to verify the claim, but are inclined to agree.

After significant testing and endless discussion, we ranked the entrants as follows:

4) Wilson Avanti NCAA Official Ball - At $120 it is a respectable choice, but there just isn't anything special enough about this ball to rank it higher 

3) Select Brilliant Superball - While we think "Brilliant" and "Superball" might apply singlely to this well made premium match ball, we think together they overstate the circumstances

2) Nike Total90 Tracer - This is an unparalleled 32 panel ball.  Nothing more needs to be said.

1) adidas Jabulani/Jo'bulani - All WC whining aside, we have been playing with this ball for months.  It is the best ball this year.