Dipping shots, free-kick goals, knuckleball shots, and inch-perfect passes— what do all of these have in common? Training.
As a soccer enthusiast, there are so many skills you can learn to elevate your game. However, you can only learn these skills by practicing with the best soccer training balls.
Most people focus majorly on routines and fitness and all that. However, what if we told you that the quality of your training ball can also make a difference?
If you want to play like the best, you’ll need to train like the best, and that includes using the best soccer training balls.
Top 5 Soccer Training Balls
If you visit a sports store, you’ll find that there are several different soccer training balls currently available. All these balls may look identical at a glance, but in reality, they are far from the same.
In terms of quality and class, some of these soccer balls are simply in an elite class of their own. These are the soccer balls you’ll want to train and practice with.
It’s also worth mentioning that the best soccer training balls have a FIFA quality approval stamp. So you can be sure you’ll be training with quality. That said, let’s get right into it.
1. Select Numero 10 Soccer Ball Blue
First on our list of the best soccer training balls is the blue Select Numero 10 Soccer Ball. If there was a hall of fame for soccer training balls, you had best believe this particular one would be a part of it.
The Select Numero 10 Soccer Ball Blue has been around for years, and it’s still widely used across the globe.
You’re probably wondering, “What makes this ball so special?” Good question!
- Exceptional Quality: Firstly, the Select Numero 10 Soccer Ball Blue is built to last. This training ball is made with premium materials, and it certainly sets the gold standard for durability. The Select Numero 10 Soccer Ball Blue features a Zero-Wing latex bladder that ensures you’ll be able to enjoy that light touch and perfect bounce while training.
- Certified: You should know that the Select Numero 10 Soccer Ball Blue is HFHS and NCAA-approved. In fact, its quality is so good that it even exceeds the essential requirements for official play.
- Impressive Performance: Another distinguishing feature of this ball is the remarkable performance it offers. The Select Numero 10 Soccer Ball Blue has textured panels that ensure optimal grip, precise control, and stable flight. This makes it perfect for those high-speed or deadball training drills.
2. SKLZ Golden Touch Weighted Soccer Technique Training Ball
Most people use regular match balls for soccer training. Now, while these balls certainly allow for a good training session, it has to be said that they are lacking in some areas.
This is where the SKLZ Golden Touch Weighted Soccer Technique Training Ball comes in.
Unlike other generic soccer balls, the SKLZ Golden Touch is specifically designed for training. Other balls give you a distant semblance of a match ball; this one lets you actually “feel” it.
The SKLZ Golden Touch Weighted Soccer Technique Training Ball is a size 3 ball, but it’s not quite the regular size 3 ball you’re used to.
This one has a size 5 weight that allows it to perfectly mimic a match ball in bounce, roll, and reaction. So, what can the SKLZ Golden Touch Weighted Soccer Technique Training Ball be used for?
- Goalie Training: If you’re a goalkeeper or a goalkeeping coach, you should get the SKLZ Golden Touch for yourself. This ball’s smaller size and match-ball similarity will help you improve your saves by having you focus on a smaller target.
- Ball Control: If you want to improve your technique on the ball or your ball control, the SKLZ Golden Touch is also perfect for you. This ball will help you improve different soccer techniques, including shooting, dribbling, passing, and so on.
Want to develop a golden soccer technique? Use the SKLZ Golden Touch in training.
3. Adidas Unisex-Adult Tango Glider Soccer Ball
With a name like “glider,” you already know this is one soccer training ball to pay close attention to.
The Adidas Unisex-Adult Tango Glider Soccer Ball is a size 5 soccer ball, so it’s perfect for both adults and children over 12 years.
That said, like all the soccer training balls that have been previously mentioned, the Adidas Unisex-Adult Tango Glider Soccer Ball also has distinguishing features of its own. These include the following:
- FIFA Standard: The first thing to note here is that the Adidas Unisex-Adult Tango Glider Soccer Ball meets every FIFA standard for a match ball. So unlike other training balls that may only give you a semblance of a match ball, the Adidas Tango Glider actually is one!
- Durability: If you’ve ever participated in soccer training, you’ll be aware that soccer training balls often get kicked around a lot and with a lot of pressure. As such, for a ball to be suitable for soccer training, it has to be very durable.
This is precisely what the Adidas Unisex-Adult Tango Glider Soccer Ball offers you. This ball is machine-stitched, so you won’t have to worry about durability. It also has a butyl bladder that offers excellent air retention and added sturdiness.
As an added perk, this ball comes with a classic tango design that gives you that old-school soccer feel.
4. Adidas Men’s NFHS MLS Top Training Soccer Ball
Next up, it’s another Adidas training ball. This really shouldn’t be surprising. After all, Adidas does have an impressively diverse training ball catalog.
However, in the sea of Adidas ball options, the Adidas Men’s NFHS MLS Top Training Soccer Ball stands out due to its sheer quality.
Firstly, this is one soccer training ball you’ll fall in love with at a glance. Seriously, it has an amazing bespoke design that makes it wonderful to watch, whether stationary or in flight.
Interestingly, Adidas also made sure to make this ball washable, so you’ll get to enjoy the premium look for a long time.
Beyond aesthetics, however, the Adidas Men’s NFHS MLS Top Training Soccer Ball also delivers massively in terms of performance.
Just like the previous Adidas training ball discussed above, this one is also machine-stitched. Consequently, it offers high durability, making it perfectly suited for soccer training drills.
Moreover, the ball comes with a FIFA quality stamp, further solidifying its reputation for superior quality and fitness for play. This isn’t just another ball in Adidas’s extensive catalog; it’s a top-tier option that checks all the boxes for serious soccer enthusiasts.
5. One World Play Project Soccer Ball
Now we’re up to our final entry in this review of the best soccer training balls, and there’s no better choice here than the One World Play Project Soccer Ball.
Already, its striking blue color makes a case for it being one of the most aesthetically pleasing soccer balls ever.
However, you should know there is more to this remarkable soccer training ball than aesthetics.
- Next-level Durability: So far, in this review, we’ve come across some very durable soccer training balls. However, in terms of durability, the One World Play Project Soccer Ball is miles apart. This training ball has a pop foam build that makes it extra-durable. The next question here is, “Just how durable is the One World Play Project Soccer Ball?” Suppose you were to kick a regular ball into a barbed wire fence; you would expect the ball to deflate, no?
Well, this one won’t. It’s even sturdy enough to remain in perfect condition after being run over by a car!
- For Every Surface: Some training soccer balls are only good for on-field use, while others are better for off-field training. The One World Play Project Soccer Ball offers all-surface play, meaning whether you’re playing on grass or rocky roads, you’ll have no problem.
Interestingly, unlike what you’d expect, the durability of the One World Play Project Soccer Ball doesn’t make it too heavy. In fact, it’s light enough for even kids to play and train with. So, if you often have trouble with your soccer training balls deflating or popping, here’s a perfect replacement.
What to Look for Before Buying a Good Training Soccer Ball
Now that we’ve explored the best soccer training balls currently available on the market, let’s consider important things to look out for in a training soccer ball.
Quality training soccer balls can be quite expensive, especially premium ones. However, there are lots of training soccer ball options available on the market. So even if you can’t afford the really pricey ones, there are several other quality options to choose from.
That said, remember that soccer training balls differ in quality, so how do you know if the one you’re about to buy is actually good?
Not to worry, that’s what this section is for. So read on to discover some important things to look for before buying a good training soccer ball.
Material
Training soccer balls are built with different materials, and the material of the ball you’re about to choose can affect your training experience while using the ball. Generally, two main materials are used to build a soccer ball’s cover: polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
We recommend that you only choose training soccer balls with a polyurethane cover. This is because balls with this cover have a much softer feel, are more durable, and are more responsive than their polyvinyl chloride counterparts.
Stitching
Here, you have three options. They include:
- hand-stitched;
- machine-stitched; and
- Thermal-Bonded.
Overall, the hand-stitched soccer training balls have better durability and a more consistent shape than the machine-stitched ones. However, machine-stitched soccer balls are generally less expensive.
Thermal-bonded balls have a unique advantage in that you’ll be able to use them in weather conditions that will be unfavorable for the other types.
So, what particular feature you prioritize will depend on your needs, requirements, or preferences.
Bladder
Again, here, you’ll have to do the selection for yourself. There are two main types of bladders used in constructing soccer balls. These include latex and butyl. As you’ll undoubtedly gather from the balls review above, training soccer balls with butyl bladders offers better air retention and durability.
However, you should know that latex balls are actually softer and bounce better than their butyl counterparts. So really, the choice you’ll have to make here is how often you are willing to re-inflate your training ball. The latex balls will give you a better feel, but they lose air faster than butyl-bladder soccer training balls.
Ball Certifications
If you remember, when we were discussing the best soccer training ball options currently available, some are FIFA-certified, while another is NFHS-approved. However, what does this really mean?
- NFHS: NFHS stands for National Federation of High School Associations. When a ball is NFHS-certified, it means it’s good enough to be used for American high school soccer competitions.
- IMS (International Matchball Standard): IMS certification used to be the gold standard for soccer balls, but they’ve been superseded by FIFA-certified balls. Nevertheless, balls with IMS ratings are pretty good in quality.
- FIFA: There are three types of FIFA-certified balls. These include FIFA Basic, FIFA Quality, and FIFA Quality Pro. Generally, these balls are better than NFHS-certified ones, so they are definitely good enough for you. However, they are likely to be more expensive.
We recommend that you make sure to get a ball that is at least NFHS-certified when making a purchase.
Size
One other thing to consider before you buy a soccer training ball is the size. Size 5 balls are the standard for adults and children above 12. A size 4 ball is for children between ages 8 and 12, and a size 3 ball is for children 8 and under.
Final thoughts
So there you have it, a guide to the best soccer training balls currently on the market. For the most part, the soccer training ball you decide to go for will depend on your training needs and goals.
However, there is no doubt that these balls really are the best of the best, and they’ll give you that premium feel.
Now, you have no more excuses for not perfecting your sombrero turn or one-touch pass. Lace your boots and let the training begin.
