Most basketball players probably pay very little attention to the little lines on their basketball but I promise they would miss them if they disappeared!
So what are these lines called? The lines on a basketball are called seams and they are certainly there for a good reason. The seams play a very important role in the design of the basketball and also help improve players grip of the ball. But there is a little more to know about these lines and that is what we are going to talk about in this article.
There are a total of four lines on most basketballs. They are spread out across and sporadically cover the circumference of the basketball. Hold the basketball with the brand name facing you and upright. You will notice three of the lines are horizontal with the brand name and the other line is vertical. At least on most balls.
The grooves are formed during the manufacturing process which is actually pretty interesting. Basketball makers mold eight panels over the top of a rubber carcass. The panels are then placed on top of the ball and spaced out just enough to leave a very thin line. This ends up being the groove or the line.
The panels are made of either leather or rubber and that material is very thin. Although it is thin it certainly overshadows the lines which is what makes it a groove. So essentially the lines are the area in between each of the eight panels of the basketball. But there are some differences to lines on a leather basketball that are different to a rubber ball.
The process of making the core of a basketball doesn’t vary much for rubber and leather basketballs. The inside is pretty much made the same way. We know the grooves are created by the space that is between the panels. This concept is true for both rubber and leather basketballs.
The difference is the additional steps steps in the manufacturing process. Keep reading below and you will find out why the grooves or lines on a leather basketball are much better than a rubber basketball.
The grooves on a rubber basketball are essentially just the space between the panels. Then they are painted typically with a black paint for an aesthetically pleasing look. The paint is not designed to to have any additional support to provide a better grip for the ball handler.
The balls will then go through a quality control process where the extra rubber material will be removed from the grooves. This is pretty much the end of the process. There is no additional material added to improve the player’s grip.
The grooves on a leather basketball are reinforced with a pebbled channel material that fits snug into the groove. This extra material is pebbled much like the exterior leather on the basketball. The material is like a rubber strip that almost looks like a shoe lace but it is sturdier. This material fits in between the panels and really helps with the overall grip a basketball players has of the ball.
The grooves on a leather basketball is a much higher quality in my opinion. It definitely beats out the rubber basketball especially in terms of grip and usability. The additional pebbled material in the groove enables basketball players to have better grip, which is very important in basketball.
The grooves on the rubber basketballs still serve its purpose. I bought rubber basketballs for my kids when they were first learning how to play. The primary reason was their cost and because they were playing outside. The lines on a rubber basketball are definitely different from a leather basketball but they can be the right option for you. Especially if you are using them outside.
There are several reasons basketballs have lines. The primary reason for the lines on a basketball is to make the sport easier for the player. Basketball players need to be able to control the basketball while moving around at quick and varying speeds while dribbling. The lines on the basketball help them move and change direction quickly.
The grooves also play an important role when shooting the ball. Players can use the lines as a reference point when shooting. Accurate shooting requires proper form and consistency. Almost every single seasoned basketball player sets up their shot by first aligning their feet and then work their way up to ensure their knees are slightly bent with their hands in front of their face creating a shooting platform. Shooters make sure their middle finger is touching one of the horizontal lines.
Using the lines in this manner allows players to have better control of the ball while shooting. The lines are used to initiated the shooting motion. Your fingers are literally initiating the spiraling process.
The lines are so important when shooting the basketball that players practice catching the ball in a position that allows them to be set up for an immediate shot. But how do they get the grooves lined up perfectly with really no time to spare?
Since players are programmed to catch and shoot immediately it only takes them a fraction of a second to shift the ball. Good shooters can do this quick without even thinking about it. Players work on catching and shooting so much that the art of shifting the ball to align the grooves is second nature. And because their hand placement is so important when shooting a basketball the grooves truly provide an advantage for players.
Basketballs have not always had lines. In the old days the sport was played with a ball with no lines that looked more like a soccer or volleyball. It didn’t even bounce. Players were not even allowed to dribble the ball.
I have also heard the lines on a basketball be referred to as seams and ribs.