How Do They Make Soccer Balls?

Looking for soccer balls for sale? You may want to know about the materials used for making a soccer ball. There are two major components of a soccer ball including the cover and the bladder. In addition to these two, the ball consists of inner lining, stitch, and valve. Different materials are used for making the valve, stitch, bladder, inner lining, and outer cover.
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Outer cover 

This is the outermost part of the ball. It is made from PVC to protect the ball from wear. The appearance of the ball also comes from the outer cover. Traditionally, pure leather is used for making outer covers. However, this material is not water resistant. So, you cannot play in wet playing conditions as leather gets heavy. Manufacturers are now using synthetic leather coated with polyurethane for making the outer body of soccer balls.

Inner Lining 

This is lining between the outer cover and the bladder. The bounciness and responsiveness of the ball depending on the material used for making the inner line. Soccer balls used in major events such as the World Cup come with inner linings having multiple layers. Usually, there are four layers of cotton and polyester. Polyester makes the ball durable and responsive and cotton makes it soft. The inner lining of cheap soccer balls is made of two layers of polyester. Cheap soccer balls are durable but difficult to control.



Bladder 

The bladder holds air. Most of the manufacturers use butyl for making bladder. It is a very durable material and bladder made of this material are known for retaining air very well. However, butyl is less responsive to kicks as it is easily deformed. Latex is used for making bladders of soccer balls used in major events. This material is highly responsive when kicked. However, it is less durable than butyl and not good at retaining air.

Stitch 

Stitches are used for holding soccer ball panels together. Polyester is ideal for stitching soccer ball panels. It is a durable and non-absorbent material. Kevlar thread is used for enhancing the durability and water-resistance of stitches. While looking for soccer balls for sale, you might come across a soccer ball with no stitches. To make these soccer balls, manufacturers use thermal heating to glue the panels together. Soccer balls with glued panels are smoother and more accurate. These soccer balls are used in The World Cup and most of the other international competitions.

Valve 

Air pumped in to inflate the ball passes through this part of the soccer ball. A valve is a needle-like structure. The tiny hole you see on the outer coating of the soccer ball is a valve. A soccer ball valve is usually made of butyl. Silicone valves offer better air retention.

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