In an ideal world, you’d have a pump and a needle to pump your basketball in a more dignified manner. How will you manage, though, if you don’t have a needle or pump and need to fill up your basketball?
If you have a can of compressed air on hand, you should be able to simply inflate your ball. Insert one end of the can’s included tube into the ball’s air hole. Connect the opposite end of the tube to your compressed air can.
Begin by inflating the ball. Pump the air in brief bursts if you don’t want the expanding gas to take heat from the container and chill it down. This is possibly the simplest method of inflating balls without a needle after utilizing a tubeless valve stem.
How To Pump Air In Basketball?
If you do own a needle or a pump, insert the needle into the ball. Attach the needle to the pump. Soak the needle in water and insert it into the ball’s hole. Start pumping. Begin inflating your ball.
Feel your ball at 3-5 intervals to check the air pressure. The goal is to determine how much air you have pumped. Check the air pressure by compressing the ball with your fingertips.
For more clever ideas, keep reading!
Ways To Pump Basketballs Without A Needle Or A Pump
The following are some ways one can pump air in basketball without needing a needle or a pump.
Balloon Method
A balloon is another popular method for inflating balls without a needle. This approach is a little tricky, but it’s worth a try if you can’t utilize the others. You will need the following items for this method: A huge balloon is preferred. A tiny straw or anything else that will fit into the air hole of your basketball. A clamp or paper clip.
Fill the balloon as much as possible. Use a paper clip or clamp to secure the balloon. Insert your narrow straw into the hole in the balloon. Insert the opposite end of the straw into the air hole in the basketball.
Remove the paper clip or clamp to allow air to flow from the balloon to the ball. I propose that you hold the balloon to prevent it from flying away. Depending on the size of the balloon, you may have to pump it many times to inflate the ball.
Inflate Using CO2
Insert the needle for the ball into the basketball’s air socket. Attach the needle with a tubeless tire valve stem. Connect the valve stem to a CO2 cartridge. You might need to use a tube to connect the two. To release the compressed CO2 into the basketball, loosen the CO2 valve. Check the ball and add extra air if necessary.
Pen Ink Tube
If all else does not work, you may try making a temporary needle out of a pen ink tube. This approach is quite straightforward and is an excellent alternative if the other methods fail.
You will require four items: A plastic-coated metal paper clip; a ballpoint pen, preferably with a little ink left, so you don’t have to empty it; some quality sticky tape; and a pair of scissors.
Disassemble your pen and extract the ink tube. Keep the writing cap since you’ll need it to attach the DIY needle to the pump later. You’ll need around an inch of clear tubing. If required, empty the tube by withdrawing the writing point, and then wipe it with alcohol.
Cut approximately an inch from the tube with your scissors. Place the ink tube within the writing cap. Straighten your paper clip and place it inside the ball’s air hole. Remove the metal wire by cutting around the edges of the clip’s plastic covering.
The plastic covering should not be removed from the ball. Insert the plastic coating from the pointed end of your writing cap and tape the region to seal it. Put the writing cap on the end of the pump and tape it shut.
How To Fix The Hole In Your Basketball?
Dunk your basketball underwater if you think it has a hole in it. If you continue to see bubbles after dunking it in the water, your basketball has a hole in it. To repair a hole in a basketball, use tape over the location of the hole.
If you apply the tape to a damp basketball, it will not stick. After that, re-inflate your basketball. Make sure not to overfill it while you’re inflating it. Use rubber-like repair products to patch the hole in your basketball if you want a more durable remedy than tape.
FlexSeal is one tool that you may use. However, just apply the substance to a tiny part of your basketball, as it may limit its bounce. Load your basketball with air when the FlexSeal has dried, but don’t over-inflate it.
Where Did The Bounce Go?
Use your basketball regularly if you want it to be prepared for use over a long period without needing to replace it. This will keep it inflated long enough for you to utilize it. Be certain that your basketball is fully inflated before you begin playing.
If you don’t, you won’t have as much success as you typically do, and controlling the ball may be more difficult. If your basketball is so flat that it doesn’t bounce when you try to dribble it, you won’t be able to play until you obtain a substitute ball or re-inflate it.
Basketballs are simple to use when properly inflated, but they do not bounce when there is insufficient air inside of them. In that regard, they are comparable to volleyball.
One of the few reasons basketballs do not always bounce when dribbled is that they are flat. If a basketball is flat, fill it with air before using it.
Can A Basketball Be Inflated At A Gas Station Or Bike Shop?
Typically, gas stations and bike stores provide air pumps. Yes, you can inflate your basketball at a gas station or a bike shop if you know how to use the air compressor and ball needle appropriately.
How To Inflate A Basketball With An Air Compressor?
This solution will save you a few days, as canisters are pricey and expensive to acquire often. Here are the two things required: Air Compressor, and an Inflation gauge
Read more to find out.
Step 1: Place The Straw In The Hole
Because air compressors can contain a little straw, this approach does not require a needle. Remove the plastic extension and gently put the straw into the hole while holding it in place. Make sure you connect the straw’s opposite end to the canister’s nozzle.
Step 2: Push The Handle
Now, depress the handle of the compressor to release air pressure and inflate the basketball. Repeat this technique multiple times until the ball is adequately inflated.
Step 3: Check Inflation Level
Remove the compressor and use the air gauge to measure the basketball’s air pressure. If the PSI is less than suggested, you can repeat the inflating operation until the pressure exceeds the acceptable amount.
How To Determine If A Basketball Is Properly Inflated?
A basketball that is either over- or under-inflated will underperform. You may be wondering how to determine if the basketball is adequately inflated. Read the following ways to determine how to properly inflate the basketball.
Gauge
A ball’s PSI can be measured with a gauge, which is often attached to the basketball pump or can be purchased separately on the market. The official NBA basketballs are inflated to a pressure of between 7.5 and 8.5 PSI.
The suggested PSI for the majority of official size and near basketballs ranges from 7 to 9. To monitor the air pressure, just connect the gauge’s nozzle to the valve.
Ancient Way
You need not worry if you don’t have an inflation gauge. There is another ancient method for determining whether a basketball is adequately inflated. Firstly, you need to hold the basketball stationary at 90 degrees to your face.
Secondly, unleash it without force and allow it to fall straight down. Then, do not move and allow the basketball to rebound after striking the ground. A correctly inflated ball will return to your waist, but an over- or the under-inflated ball will return higher or lower.
Why Would A Basketball Keep Losing Air?
Each of the three causes of a leaking basketball can typically be resolved with a little patience. We advise that you familiarize yourself with the probable reasons for basketball leaks, as this will guarantee that you are aware of the necessary repairs.
Focusing on these three factors will let you enjoy your favourite ball for a much longer period of time, with most leather balls being repairable until their final puff of air. You must be able to recognize and repair the most prevalent causes of basketball damage.
Valve Leak
Oddly enough, a valve leak or damage is most common in the most well-maintained basketballs, since the valve wears down due to frequent use. Frequently, the valve will be damaged due to a misplaced needle, dirt buildup, or ageing.
Most individuals disregard the possibility of valve leaks because they believe the valves cannot be broken regardless of the number of times the basketball is pumped. Due to the plastic nature of the valves, however, it only takes one dropped needle to completely destroy one.
Small Holes
A leather basketball is less likely to develop small holes due to its internal bladder system, which, when inflated to the correct pressure, prevents damage. However, the vast majority of basketballs are susceptible to developing tiny holes that must be patched or repaired.
Rubber basketballs lack an internal bladder, while composite basketballs vary between manufacturers. These are the most common difficulties, as they can be caused by anything from overinflation to the ball rolling or bouncing against something small and pointed.
Seam Leaks
Rubber and composite basketballs lack seams because they are made from a single piece of material that contains the air, making seam leaks rare. However, seam breaks on certain composite and leather basketballs can harm the bladder and cause leaks.
As the materials stretch and vary over time, it is inevitable that bladder-system balls will develop seam leaks over time. This means that the seams begin to separate, and the soft, sensitive rubber bladder within the ball might be harmed by the seams or by sand that has become lodged inside.
How To Repair Each Type Of Leak
Now that you are aware of the most prevalent forms of basketball leaks, you must determine how to remedy them. However, the required repair work may vary based on how the ball was damaged, with the type of ball adding to the uncertainty.
There are a few things that cannot be mended, such as holes large enough to fit a finger, so the ball must be replaced. By carefully repairing the ball, you will be able to use it for much longer than the manufacturer anticipated.
Fixing A Valve Leak
This is the most precarious sort of basketball leak, regardless of whether the ball is made of leather or rubber. Before attempting to repair a valve, you must confirm that you are capable of completing any and all necessary tasks.
Knowing when this will occur is crucial, as is knowing how to repair the ball if it occurs. This is what will make your ball last forever. You can try the following three ways to fix your valve leak.
Wet Needle
This is the fix you should always hope will be successful, so get some soapy water and dip the needle in it. Inserting and removing the needle from the valve many times removes any dirt or debris preventing the valve from closing.
Insert Toothpick
The insertion of a needle to plug a basketball is a stopgap measure that should only be used in dire circumstances. If the valve has been completely shattered and cannot prevent the flow of air, you can insert a toothpick and break it off flush with the valve if it is still functional.
Replace Valve
This will require a special tool and is only worthwhile when performed on a leather basketball. The valves can be replaced without breaking the ball’s seams or removing the bladder; with a new valve, the vast majority of balls are good for several more games.
Fixing A Hole
Leather balls rarely, if ever, develop a hole since the materials are stronger than their rubber counterparts, with only needles easily penetrating them. If your ball is overinflated, whether it’s made of leather or rubber, it will be more susceptible to developing these holes.
Patching Kit
A basketball patching kit consists of a liquid and a needle that are placed into the hole. This liquid is drawn out of the hole and then solidifies, sealing the hole and trapping the air inside. However, this technique only works with rubber balls.
Hot Knife
A hot knife will not seal all rubber basketballs, will not seal leather basketballs, but will seal a vinyl basketball swiftly. The majority of minor holes in a basketball can be quickly sealed using a hot, blunt knife.
Repairing The Seam
We do not advocate attempting it if you have a composite or rubber ball because the cost and time required are excessive. Rubber balls do not have seams, only seam lines, although composite balls are not significantly more expensive than seam redoing.
You will need more than simply a needle and thread, as is commonly believed; you will also need the sealant. Modern leather basketballs conceal their seams with crisscrossing black lines that give the balls their distinctive appearance.
Why Does Striking A Wall Assist In Getting The Ball Into The Basket?
We strongly suggest that you submit the ball to a professional for this service; not only will they be able to assess the health of your bladder, but they will also be able to reseal everything. The threading and stitching necessary to mend a seam are tight and require stronger-than-usual thread.
The bouncing of a macro size object* turns certain kinetic energy into heat and noise. The amount of energy lost is proportional to the ball’s elasticity. The paper is not particularly stretchy. If your shot strikes the wall, the paper will distort, reducing the kinetic energy of the ball.
At lower speeds, the ball practically drops into the basket and is less likely to overshoot. Without the bounce, you’ll have to get the shot’s speed down to a smaller range. There may also be a “psycho-geometric” benefit; it is simpler to picture a direct impact at a point on a vertical surface.
Conclusion
Finding anything that will fit within the little air hole is the most challenging component of inflating a ball without a pump or needle. So, of all the solutions discussed in this article, a compressed air canister is the best option. The little needle will fit within the air hole, allowing you to easily blow air into the ball.
