Basketballs are good quality leather balls that are used in both private and professional settings. Spalding was the first organization that invented basketball in 1894.
Basketballs were mainly brown before the late 1950s. Butler University’s senior basketball coach, Tony Hinkle, believed this color was difficult for both players and viewers to see. He planned to make a ball that everyone around a basketball court could see. He introduced the orange-colored basketball.
Hinkle collaborated with the Spalding Company to create a redesigned basketball in 1957. The orange ball first appeared at the 1958 NCAA Finals in Louisville, Kentucky. The NCAA adopted the ball after being impressed by its vibrant color, which has since become a requirement for all basketball institutions.
Reasons For Using Orange Coloured Basketballs
Despite the diverse color schemes used by different basketball teams, the orange color of basketball always remains the same. Some reasons are listed below:
- To make it more visible and distinguishable from the surroundings.
- To reduce the likelihood of the ball blending into the basket’s backdrop when the backboard is opaque.
- Most color-blind persons can see orange.
- Helps players stay focused on the ball and helps with defense
How Long Do Basketballs Last?
Basketball condition is critical to success in the sport. It should be able to maintain its form, grip, and size. Considering this, you may question how long a basketball is meant to endure. We’ve done the research to offer you the solution.
Basketball can endure up to five years for the average person. The NBA, on the other hand, only employs a basketball for 1 to 4 games every season. Of course, you may play the same basketball for a longer period of time, but it may not be of the highest quality.
Your ball can last longer if properly maintained, such as storing it in a cool, dry place, deflating the ball if not in constant use, not leaving it in direct sunlight, and placing it at room temperature.
What Are Basketballs Made Of?
Basketballs must be of the finest quality to withstand all the wear and tear that comes from continuous use.
The majority of basketballs are composed of leather and rubber. A basketball’s base is wrapped in fiber layers and then coated with a surface composed of leather, rubber, or synthetic material. Traditional basketballs are made of leather.
Spalding’s basketballs, which are used in the NBA, are constructed of the highest quality full-grain leather. They also contain an interior inflated rubber bladder.
Due to being bounced on hard, rough concrete rather than a polished gym floor, outdoor basketballs often wear out far faster than indoor basketballs. The grip wears away first, and then the air flows out.
Conclusion
The orange color is now widely used today because Tony Hinkle designed a more visible color for players and spectators. Today, internationally renowned basketball organizations use the orange ball as a standard. However, the colors vary for individual teams, such as Wilson’s all-team red, white & blue basketball for ABA leagues.
