Hands down the BEST outdoor ball
- by Okyakusama,
2023/05/09
5.0/
5stars
I've been using a rubber "outdoor" Spalding for quite some time which led my fingertips to cuts and bleeding like volleyball players get. I was regularly taping my fingers and decided to try a synthetic leather ball instead, this here D3500, and I must say it is absolutely awesome!This ball feels completely different from a rubber ball. It's just the right amount of sticky and soft on my fingers. No more cuts or pain from excessively grippy rubber. One downside is it's quite slippery when it's covered in dirt, so I wouldn't recommend it for a dirt or sand court (backyard hoop?). However a quick wipe down with a damp towel will make it feel like brand new.This is probably subjective, but I feel like this ball also has a much more authentic bouncing sound compared to a rubber ball. Unfortunately I've only been using it for a week so I can't comment on its durability. For now i'll just give this 5 stars because there's nothing to complain about.UPDATE: June 15, 2022: It's been 6 months and I still use this ball outdoors on a fairly dirty court almost daily. I also haven't had a single cut on my fingers since I started using it. The ball has an added benefit that the synthetic leather slightly absorbs water, so it's perfectly usable even in the rain (again, unlike the uncontrollable rubber ball) - although I can't vouch for its long-term durability if you abuse it like that. Other people have told me it feels much heavier than a rubber ball, but that's a good thing - it really feels like an authentic basketball and not some crappy rubber toy. Still worth 5 stars.