Get This Signed by Mia Hamm and Put in a Display Case, Otherwise, Save $160
Written: Sep 17 '99 (Updated Sep 17 '99)
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Pros: Incredibly consistent and true, the best soccer ball made.
Cons: $160 for a soccer ball?
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| superfly's Full Review: Adidas Womens World Cup Official USA 99 |
There are two reasons to buy this ball. 1) You know Mia Hamm and are going to get it autographed by her and the other members of the World Cup Champion Team USA and then put it on display in a case, or 2) You need the absolute best ball in the world for an elite competition, like say, the 2003 Women's World Cup.
If neither of these sentences apply to you, save your money! Make no mistake about it, this is the best ball money can buy. I have played with this ball as well as the official Men's World Cup ball and previous World Cup match balls (the Etrusco, Questra, Azteca, etc), and they are amazing. Before I tell you my real opinion, (nobody should spend $160 on a soccer ball), let me tell you what makes this ball so great.
First, a quality match ball should be perfectly balanced. If you throw it up in the air and spin it, it should have no "wobble". It should go around in a perfect spin around its axis. This way, when kicked, it will only take on movement that is intentionally put on it by the player. The panels that make up the ball must be so perfectly constructed that they hold their shape even under severe pounding in game conditions. This is the case with the WWC ball.
Next, a match ball should have a durable gloss finish to its outer surface. When dry, this should feel almost sticky against the soft leather of a soccer shoe. When wet, the ball should skid along the surface of the grass with little or no spin, almost like a puck on an air hockey table. The gloss should also keep the ball from absorbing water during play. This is a key differentiating factor between good mid-range balls and a top quality match ball. The gloss on a slightly lower grade ball will be nice for a while, but will wear off and scratch, making the ball look dirty and allowing it to take on water. The gloss on better balls will last for at least 25 or 30 matches, probably more. The gloss on the Adidas WWC ball cannot be beat.
The last factor is size and weight. Despite the fact that the official circumference and weight of a match ball are explicitly written into the Laws of the Game, the actual size and weight vary considerably across brands. The Adidas World Cup Ball is the perfect size and weight, and this is probably one of the reasons is has become the global standard for match balls. On a properly struck shot, this ball explodes off your foot. When you try to put some swerve on a crossing pass, it does exactly what you ask it to.
Despite all this praise, there is really no need to spend $160 on a soccer ball. For high-level training, you will be fine with some of the other Adidas balls or some of Nike's offerings in the $50-$60 range. And even for elite match play, there are balls in the $70-$90 range that will play essentially the same as the World Cup Ball (see the Mitre MLS Official Game Ball, the real $90 one, not the $30 replica).
For those who must have the very best of everything, this is the one. But for my soccer dollar, I would buy a slightly more reasonable ball and spend the extra money on shoes!
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
superfly
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Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 12 members
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