Why Are Soccer Balls So Expensive?

Have you ever popped in to your local soccer gear store and wondered why soccer ball prices are so inflated?

Well, they are expensive for good reason.

Soccer balls command a high retail price point due to the combination of higher quality raw materials used as part of their design, and the more advanced construction techniques that give these balls enhanced durability plus a greater feel for the end user.

Table Of Contents
  1. Reasons for soccer balls being expensive
  2. What is the most expensive soccer ball?
  3. Are expensive soccer balls worth it?
  4. Final thoughts

 

Reasons for soccer balls being expensive

Now the answer that you’ve just read in the paragraph above might sound a little unclear.

So, I’m going to take the time fully to expound upon what I mean.

Let’s get started.

 

1. Better outer material construction

why are soccer balls so expensive - better outer material construction

It’s quite difficult to pinpoint discernible differences in the quality of two identical soccer balls just by simply looking at them side by side.

But if you take a closer look at the fine print, you’ll start to see why one is more economically-priced than the other.

This is because the top tier soccer balls are made from a higher specification of material that goes by the name of polyurethane.

Conversely, the bargain bin soccer balls are either fully comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or partly diluted by a mix of PVC and polyurethane.

Despite the fact that PVC is a cheaper and more durable material to use for soccer ball manufacturing, its counterpart polyurethane provides a softer touch for outfield players when they receive, pass and shoot, along with strengthening natural grip for goalkeepers with regard catching.

 

2. Multiple inner lining layers

As a starting point, have a brief think about two glass windows.

Imagine that one of them is coated with an extra sheet of safety film that extends its overall thickness, whilst the other just has a single layer of glass.

I don’t think I need to tell you which window is more likely to break from an external force.

Related: check out the post I wrote on whether soccer ball strikes can break windows for further insight on this.

This example applies similarly to cheap and expensive soccer balls too!

Essentially, the inner lining of soccer balls exist to help them retain their spherical shape when kicked.

Because the lower-priced balls typically contain only one or two inner layers of single cotton or polyester material, they are more difficult for players to control and manipulate.

On the other hand, the expensive soccer ball options generally comprise of a large number of inner cotton and polyester hybrid layers that make shape retention much easier and provide better sensitivity to player shooting actions like curving and slicing.

 

3. Latex bladder

Ball bladders are another component of soccer balls that help with overall product longevity through things like:

The high end balls use latex bladders as they are softer and provide greater bounce than the butyl bladders found in cheaper ones.

 

4. Advanced stitching

why are soccer balls so expensive - advanced stitching

Finally, your average soccer ball is stitched together using a water resistant polyester material.

But for those spending the big bucks, they may acquire a thermally bonded ball that features no stitching.

As these more expensively assembled balls have their pentagonal and hexagonal panels thermally glued and bonded using heat, they soak up much less moisture and maintain original weight much easier when used on a wet surface.

 

What is the most expensive soccer ball?

So far, I’ve talked about why soccer balls are so expensive by highlighting where their value comes from.

But I’m going to go on a slight tangent here and answer the following question.

Just how expensive is the most expensive soccer ball in existence?

Well in 2012, a South African jeweller called Yair Shimansky designed a fully diamond-coated ball that is worth an estimated 2.59 million dollars!

That’s exceedingly more than the cost of manufacturing a microchip-embedded soccer ball, even though these chips are expensive to design!

Coming in at total carat weight of 3,500, it contained 6,620 white and 2,640 black diamonds.

 

Are expensive soccer balls worth it?

Throughout this article I’ve shown you that expensive soccer balls offer a couple of distinct advantages over budget friendly alternatives.

At the end of the day, you want to feel good when you play the sport.

And one great way to do exactly that is by purchasing a higher-priced soccer ball that bounces better; is softer to hold and moves more aerodynamically in the air when struck.

So, go ahead and buy yourself a deflated soccer ball; pump it up and then enjoy the game!

Related articles: check out the soccer balls that the pros use and how much a soccer ball costs

 

Final thoughts

In conclusion, soccer balls are expensive to buy but they give end-users a number of benefits in exchange for the high price.

But there’s a market for every type of consumer here.

People shouldn’t feel pressured into buying a ball that’s more expensive, because these days even the more affordable options are of good quality too.

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