Which Volleyball Should I Get? A Review of Volleyballs
A volleyball is a volleyball, right? WRONG! Not all volleyballs are created equally, but most people can’t tell the difference. This is why I’m going to explain the different types of volleyballs, when it is best to use each, and even include a few to avoid if possible.
“FIRST TOUCH” - Best Volleyball for Small Children
Designed for the youngest of volleyball players, this first touch ball is basically a volleyball-shaped balloon. At only .5 ounces, children of all ages will have fun with this! Although sometimes marketed as 10U, I would recommend this ball for 1st graders and below if you have competitive volleyball in your area.
Large organizations that offer “minis” programs might invest in these specifically for training young players, and families with small children in the house would have a lot of fun with one of these. Although light, be sure to keep an eye on your kids when these are out. They could definitely break a few things around the house!
“Volley Lite” - 12U Practice/Game Volleyball
One of my favorite features of this ball? It comes in fun colors! This is the ball I recommend for players 1st-6th grade (12U), the Volley Lite is an incredible training tool! Although there are plenty of light volleyballs out there, I prefer the feel of the Volley Lite. Weighing in between 7.0-7.7 ounces, this is a great starter ball for young players.
It is important to note that these are for indoor volleyball only! If you are a parent who is wanting a ball that can be used inside and outside, do not purchase this ball.
“U12 Molton” - 12U Practice/Game Volleyball
I’m not a huge fan, but some coaches/programs prefer this slightly heavier ball (8.1 ounces) to prepare their athletes for the standard ball once they enter 7th grade or progress beyond 12U. If you purchase these and run a program with 12U and anything over 12U, be sure to get this ball in different colors than your standard volleyballs! These look and feel very similar when you’re organizing ball carts and can get mixed up easily.
Note: This ball is the official ball of USA Volleyball… but that doesn’t mean I have to like it! haha. If that is important to you, use that in your purchasing decision.
“Tachikara SV-5WSC” - Standard Practice Volleyball
So the name isn’t as easy to say as “Volley Lite”, but I promise it’s worth remembering! This is a favorite standard volleyball of mine because it has a great feel, lasts at least a few seasons for teams, and again, comes in fun colors :)
Be sure to write your team name (or even player names) on them! These are very popular and there’s a good chance you could lose a few if you have the same colors as another team.
Approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), this ball is the perfect practice ball for school and club teams who use a standard size volleyball (9-10 ounces).
“Tachikara SV-5W GOLD” - Standard Game Volleyball
I’d love to practice with these if possible because these are game balls! That said, they tend to be much more expensive, making a large purchase difficult (and unnecessary) for most programs. Still, I’d recommend you have a couple for game days/tournaments.
I recommend you order an all-white volleyball if you are using them for competition.
Note: They also offer a true “gold” ball that can be used for awards or even as a fun practice tool to award extra points during certain drills (Vegas, for example)!
The Setter Ball - Setter Training Ball
I don’t use this often, but it could be a helpful training tool for your setters. It is a weighted ball (15.5-17.7 ounces), so it is heavier than a standard volleyball. One is enough for a team since you can send two setters to set to each other on the sidelines. If a setter wants to work on setting at home, you could also recommend this to their family.
These are not necessary to train setters with, so if you don’t plan on using them regularly, I would skip this purchase. However, players do enjoy using them because they’re “different” and specialized, so that may incentivize them to train more than they would with a regular volleyball.
Wilson AVP - Beach Volleyball
My personal preference for playing outdoors is the white and yellow Wilson volleyball. It is affordable, good quality, and has a good feel to it. I’m not a huge outdoor volleyball enthusiast, but if I were, I’d probably get the yellow, red, and black OPTX version (the official game ball of the AVP). For the average outdoor player, however, the white ball should be good enough.
Molton Flistatec - International play
There are a few volleyballs out there with this new design, which appears strange at first sight! The new design is supposed to allow for better control as the surface changes how air flows around the ball. A version of this ball is used in NCAA Men’s Volleyball and this particular ball is used in North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) competitions. Give it a try if you’d like! It’s not my cup of tea, but I know there are plenty of high-level players and coaches who prefer this ball (or something similar).
VOLLEYBALLS I DO NOT RECOMMEND for regular use… but maybe as a gift!?
Almost any volleyball that has a fun pattern (think flowers, animals, etc) is manufactured to be visually appealing and rarely holds up to extended use. Don’t get me wrong! These can still be fun and get young players interested in the sport! However, the quality is usually not there and these balls will wear out much quicker than any of the balls mentioned above if your athlete is training with the ball.
If you want a less expensive ball that can get beat up and go from inside to outside without you worrying about it, these could be a great option for you.
