Soccer Ball Construction

Cover
Your choice for the cover of the soccer ball depends on how much you want to spend and your level of skill.

• Synthetic
  • The best quality soccer balls are all made of synthetic materials
  • Synthetic balls offer superior feel and softness, but are generally less durable and less water-resistant than their polyurethane counterparts
  • They are more expensive
• Polyurethane
  • Polyurethane soccer balls offer the benefits of synthetics (for feel) and plastics (for durability)
  • These balls are made of a durable synthetic material that offers a feel much like leather
  • These balls are very durable - only slightly less than PVC, scuff-resistant, and water-resistant
  • They often have a glossy coating for additional protection
• PVC
  • PVC balls are molded out of a plastic-like PVC material and are generally the least expensive balls
  • These are very durable, scuff-resistant and water-resistant but offer less feel and softness than polyurethane balls
  • They often have a glossy coating for additional protection

Panels
The number of panels -- the segments that make up the outside of the ball -- varies for each design. A 32-panel ball is the most common and is the type used in most professional matches. Other traditional designs are 18 and 26-panel constructions, used in various professional leagues, including Major League Soccer. Fewer panels generally means the ball can be curved more when kicked because of less stability to the cover. Panels can be either stitched or glued:

• Stitched
  • The highest quality balls are stitched with a polyester or similar thread
  • High-end balls are hand-stitched, while most mid-priced balls are machine-stitched
• Glued
  • Lower-end, practice balls generally have the panels glued together onto the lining
  • These offer a harder feel and are generally less expensive than stitched balls

Lining
Linings are inserted between the cover/panels and the bladder to provide shape, feel, control and structure. Higher end balls usually have four layers of polyester and cotton lining for superior shape retention and durability. Mid-level balls generally are comprised of two or three layers of cotton and two layers of polyester. Lower-priced balls generally are constructed of two layers of polyester.

Bladder
The bladder is the inside part of the ball that is filled with air. Most balls use butyl valves for air retention, with higher end balls using a silicone-treated valve for superior performance. Don't forget to buy a small pump and some needles to keep your ball inflated. There are two basic types of bladders:

• Latex
  • Traditional bladders that are soft and offer a good feel
  • Generally used on higher-quality balls
  • Do not hold air as well and generally require more frequent filling, so much so that FIFA says that 25% air loss is normal. 
• Butyl
  • These bladders retain air better than latex bladders
  • Most mid-priced soccer balls utilize a butyl bladder that combines 70-80% butyl with rubber