Best Basketballs for Indoors & Outdoors in the UK

Spalding NBA Silver will be able to add legitimacy to pick-up games at the local park and elevate the competition levels there too. Even the ball's presence, with the NBA logo and the signature Spalding emblem, will make the games feel like there's more at stake there.

The rock looks brilliant, that goes without saying but it is the model's performance that tips the scales. First, the rubber cover is staggering durability-wise. You'll be able to hit the driveways and concrete courts, going from asphalt to concrete to even pavers without worrying about literally scratching the surface.

The cover's so tough that it makes the rock arguably too hard and heavy for hardwood but that's not something you can blame the product for as the description clearly outlines its outdoors disposition. You can blame the model for the fact that the ball deflates pretty quickly but that's normally the case with outdoor basketballs. On the bright side, the company's signature deep channel design will be able to aid grip and control, so you should be able to pull off the toughest moves even if your handles are not all-world.

Bottom line, when you go play basketball outside, Spalding NBA Silver is what you should be playing with. From most perspectives, this is the best basketball for outdoor play.

Nike Dominate 8P Basketball will dominate outside courts. First things first, you can go with the ordinary NBA-style aesthetic, we've nothing against tradition (except that the black paint that outlines the grooves and fills the Nike logo wears out with time). That being said, some might find the familiar look pretty boring, so the people at Nike allow these some to choose different designs too, from ridiculous black and white volts to the aggressive black with red grooves. From where we're standing, all these designs look ace, each in their own right.

You can choose whatever paintwork and outline you want, the basketball will always come equipped with this textured pebble pattern that not only improves the grip but also makes the ball's finish durable enough to handle extended outdoor use. The channels will remain wide too, enabling easy hand alignment and elevating ball control. The ball's shipped deflates, so you'll have to find some pump to inflate this one before you're able to play outdoors but, when inflated, it is not too bad at retaining air, so you won't have to inflate the ball especially often.

Long story short, Nike Dominate 8P Basketball lets you choose between different designs so that you can dominate the local competition with style and confidence.

Wilson MVP Outdoor Basketball has been designed to accommodate beginners but the model's versatile enough to satisfy even the most experienced hoopers. To begin with, the traditional rubber surface and the classic design means that you won't have to get used to anything new here since the rock not only looks but also feels familiar.

Sure, some might find the special coating somewhat odd but, with some time, you'll get used to the new tactile impression. Besides, the coating's important to make the ball able to handle all surfaces, from concrete and dirt to granulated surfaces and synthetic courts. What's more, the PressureLock™ bladder will make sure that the bounce is consistent so that you're able to dribble the rock and grab the boards without having to test the grounds first.

More often than not, outdoor basketballs deflate within 3-5 games but this one, thanks to its premium carcass construction, excels at air retention, so you won't have to bring a basketball pump with you to the games.

To sum this up, despite the affordable price, Wilson MVP Outdoor Basketball will be able to accommodate most skill levels, from complete amateurs that would be usually put on skates to veterans shooting sick fadeaways, pulling insane crossovers, and dropping dimes left and right.

Molten BGG7X Pro League FIBA is not cheap but that's because the ball's been FIBA approved, so you'll be shooting the same rock that the best European players are playing with. Plus, it is not like you'll be playing for the name alone.

To get the proverbial ball rolling, the FIBA Approved X technology that employs parallel pebble construction will make sure the grip is always tight and that every touch feels the same, no matter which part you grabbed. Besides that, the carcass is soft, making the ball easy to dribble with but, at the same time, thanks to the Dual-Cushion™ tech, the soft carcass does not affect the bounce, keeping it high and consistent.

What will also remain consistent is the backspin, primarily owing to the patented 12-panel Giugiaro design. Adopting full flat seams, this design not only keeps the backspin consistent but also improves fingertip control so that you don't have to grip the ball with the full palm to dribble and drop brilliant dimes.

With different technologies galore, the finish feels somewhat synthetic, not what you'd expect from Spalding and Wilson rocks but something that should take you very little time to get used to. Even taking the synthetic leather into account, Molten BGG7X Pro League FIBA is what you should be bringing to the hardwood if you're serious about basketball.

MidWest League Basketball is pretty cheap. This is not the rock you buy when you've hitting hooping for decades. This is the rock you buy your children to get them into the sport or for casual lunch games between the colleagues.

There's nothing especially bad about this basketball but nothing especially good too. Looks are subjective but we cannot make an argument that this ball is sporting anything interesting, from the outline to the colour scheme. That being said, you can choose between orange and blue and yellow and purple, with both options bright enough to aid ball games with limited lighting.

The rubber bladder will make sure that the rock remains inflated, meaning you won't be worrying about this one deflating at the park when no one has brought a basketball pump. Plus, the valve is compatible with standard basketball pumps, so you won't have to get creative when inflating the ball.

As the model's not adopting any sophisticated features, you can play with this rock indoors and outdoors, probably with matching, decent results. Last but not least, you can choose between 5 (27.5”), 6 (28.5"). and 7 (29.5”) sizes that weigh 17, 20 oz, and 22 ounces respectively, meaning that, again, you can buy this one for kids and adults alike.