Introduction
For the start of the 2006-2007 season, the NBA is
changing their official game balls. For many years
the league had been using leather basketballs, which
showed a great deal of variation from ball to ball.
The leather balls needed to be “conditioned” (i.e.
broken in), and this made significant changes to
their properties. Though the new leather balls are
very regular, after conditioning, and after use
during NBA games, the uniformity is lost. Because of
this, and to reduce dependence on natural leather
(hide from a single cow makes only about four
balls), a new ball was designed out of synthetic
material. The new ball is made from a durable
micro-fiber composite and will retain its properties
over an extended period of time.  These
balls do not require conditioning (as conditioning
doesn’t have much of an effect on them). The surface
of the synthetic ball also does not absorb much
moisture, keeping the weight of the ball consistent
throughout the game (the leather ball could increase
weight by 10% during a game by absorbing moisture).
In addition, the surface composite has a higher
coefficient of friction to make it easier to grip.
After a year of testing, the NBA was convinced that
it was a better product and made the new composite
ball the official game ball for the 2006-2007
season. Unfortunately, the NBA players were not so
enthusiastic about the change. Media reports showed
that an overwhelming majority of players prefer the
old leather ball to the new composite and have been
very vocal concerning their dislike for the new
ball. Mark Cuban (owner of the NBA’s Dallas
Mavericks) asked the UTA physics department to do
comparative testing of the new and old balls, in
order to provide independent scientific
measurements. This website provides details of the
tests done so far in this ongoing research.
UPDATE: NBA changes mind - the leather ball is back!
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