How Heavy Is a Volleyball?

The standards and proportions of volleyball’s elements are essential to a safe match. If you’re new to volleyball or just interested, you might be asking “how heavy is a volleyball?” and how much it affects the players.

How Heavy Is a Volleyball?

A professional indoor volleyball should weigh from nine to ten ounces and it should be from twenty-five to twenty-six inches in circumference. This is due to the FIVB regulations that allow the game to be comfortably played by all players.

The ball is one of the most important tools in volleyball, therefore, its dimensions and weight need to be carefully controlled. After all, if the ball is too heavy, players might find it difficult to hit, or even worse, it could injure their fingers and hands.

Furthermore, a volleyball must have numerous features that, while not official, have a significant impact on a volleyball player’s game. Knowing these details will help you understand volleyball as a game and, eventually, will help you progress as a player.

What Are the Characteristics of a Good Volleyball?

In addition to the characteristics proposed by the official volleyball organizations, a ball must have certain characteristics that help athletes feel more comfortable when playing. These can vary depending on the player, his age, and his overall needs.

Here are the best characteristics of a good volleyball.

Soft Touch

It is no lie that volleyballs can feel too rough on the arms sometimes, even worse if the ball is not soft enough. This softness grants players the ability to comfortably hit the ball without feeling that ‘’tingly’’ sensation.

If you are an experienced player, this will not be an issue; however, if you are a novice player, this may feel excessively hard on your arms. This is why some beginners often use softer volleyballs to practice.

Additionally, if a ball is overly hard and rough, even elite players will refuse to play with it.

The Right Purpose

The purpose of a volleyball has great importance when it comes to comfortable gameplay. For example, if the volleyball is intended for kids, this one should be soft and lighter than a regular one; if it is too heavy, the children wouldn’t be allowed to make a play on it.

The same goes for new players and professional players; if a ball is too light and soft, an elite player won’t be able to perform great movements on it. On the other hand, if the ball is overly hard, a new player would have a lot of trouble controlling it.

Therefore, when a ball is manufactured, the creators must take into account what purpose it will serve and which players will use it. This is why the best volleyballs are labeled specifically for certain kinds of players.

Durability

Despite durability not being an official volleyball quality, it can have a significant impact on your volleyball journey. After all, a durable volleyball is beneficial for athletes who use it on a regular basis; this way, you won’t need to change too many times over the years.

Coaching

If you are coaching or teaching a big quantity of students, durability is one of the most precious characteristics for you. Although these balls are resistant to impacts, if you use them on a daily basis, they can deteriorate much faster.

This is why coaches often struggle with students who frequently kick the ball. A bad volleyball would not endure those kinds of treatment and it could easily become useless over time.

Capacity to Retain Air

A volleyball with a good capacity to retain its air is very convenient, especially if you need to use it on a daily basis.

However, many volleyballs often lose their air after a few days of being inflated, which could be an annoying situation. Here you can see the flaws of a ball with a bad capacity to retain air.

• The constant inflation and deflation of the ball can cause damage to it, which could also deteriorate its material over time.
• If you don’t have a pump to inflate the ball, you won’t be able to do it all the time, which could be truly inconvenient, after all, you wouldn’t be able to play.
• If you are a new player, you might not be able to correctly inflate it.
• In case your ball requires a special pump, you would need to acquire a new one.
• It can get damaged if you overinflate it.

Related Questions

Here are some related questions about volleyball balls.

How Heavy Is a Beach Volleyball?

Beach volleyball balls weigh between 9.2 and 9.8 ounces, which is slightly lighter than their indoor counterparts. It is also slightly bigger, with a circumference of approximately 26.77 inches.

What Is the Minimum Weight of a Volleyball?

The lightest volleyballs are created specifically for kids; these are designed to weigh no more than eight ounces. This allows children to comfortably bump the ball without any trouble.

Conclusion

Since the ball is one of, if not the, most important components of volleyball, a lack of laws and restrictions regarding its proportions might damage the game’s integrity. After all, it is too hefty it may injure the player’s hands, wrists, and fingers. Perhaps investing in good quality, however costly volleyball ball might just be worth it.