, When deciding, what Field Hockey Ball would suit your standard of play, you must a first try to understand a little about the types of Hockey Ball available. The Hockey Balls are manufactured by many different companies but some are made by the same factory but branded differently. Companies are very precious about their brand so, do not openly admit to this.
Hockey Balls come in many different colours and 3 different designs. There are also many different price points for each ball too. It can be very confusing, at the outset. So, what is the best for you?
It really does depend on what standard you play and what type of pitch conditions you have available. I will outline the major factors in Hockey Balls but, ultimately you will decide which you prefer, by reviewing the facts and playing with various balls, to get the feel for them.
Lets start with the Brands:-
The leading brands are:-
Kookaburra
Slazenger
Readers
Grays
Malik
Mercian
There are many more but you see the problem to start with, there is a lot of choice. In sport I have favourite manufacturers, that i go back to time after time. I use the same Hockey manufacturer (Kookaburra and Slazenger) year in year out, as they tend to be the easiest to get hold of.
Types of balls:-
Match, Training, Smooth, Dimple, Coloured and Lightweight balls.
The one that is most commonly used is the Dimple training ball. The Match Dimple ball is obviously used for matches. Many players believe the Dimpled ball is best but, the very latest expert advice shows the smooth ball can react better on sand based astro pitches. Kookaburra originally designed the dimpled ball, for use on water based pitches. Its design Pink Hockey Jersey was to allow the ball to run smoother on the water based pitches. The dimple design was unique at the time and a major selling point. All other manufacturers now have a dimple ball within their ranges.
The main colours of ball are White, Pink or Orange. I am of the belief that Pink Hockey Jersey White is still the best colour to use, as you are able to see to ball well, in different light conditions. There are other colours available but, these are more for recreational use, Mixed swirl colour, glitter blue and glitter pink. To ensure you get maximum life out of your purchase, you should wash regularly, in warm soapy water to maintain their primary colour. The lightweight ball is designed, generally for use with younger players.
The cost of Hockey Balls vary from £2.50 up to Pink Hockey Jersey £15 for training balls and £5 to £25 for good quality match balls. There are a few retailers that now offer bulk prices to help clubs and schools get a better deal.
The best ball for my standard of play is the Kookaburra White Dimple Training Ball or the Slazenger Club Dimple Training Ball. We have a few Kookaburra Burra Smooth balls at home, to use in the garden.
When choosing a Hockey Ball, what do you look for, is it price, colour, manufacturer or availability? Stuart is a qualified coach and keen sportsman. He also has an extensive insite into Hockey Balls and the manufacture of Hockey Balls.
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