Infos, items and history of Basketball Equipment

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in America as well as the rest of the world and it has been my whole life for about 20 years. I was in fact a professional basketball player and my passion for this sport will never die. At the present, I enjoy very much to go sometime to a playground and play a basketball match with some friends of mine.

Even if few things are required to play the game more than your personal skill, you absolutely need a basketball, a basket, and, above all, proper basketball shoes. This is the reason why basketball requires a very little equipment to play. Nevertheless, that little equipment must be proper. In TV movies you can see basketball matches played by people wearing jeans, watches and working boots but do not trust it, those are only movies not reality. To play basketball you need the right equipment, starting from the basketball that is the fundamental part of the equipment required.

The first specific basketballs were brown, but in the late 1950s it was decided that the ball must be orange, to be more visible to the players and to the spectators. There are different types of basketballs, which are used in different situations. A leather basketball is used indoors, as it is ideal for professional play. Professional matches are in fact played indoor, where you run on a wooden floor and the temperature is higher that outdoor. The leather basketball gives to the player more confidence as it provides a better sensibility to the touch, and this is very appreciated by best players.
A rubber or plastic basketball is suggested for both indoor and outdoor play but does not provide the quality that a leather basketball does, as it is projected to be used on hard floors. Therefore, the quality of the outer material is not as important as the capacity to last without being damaged too much. Most known basketballs producers are Spalding, Wilson, and Molten.

Then, we have the basketball hoop, which in the first times was an actual peach basket, closed at the bottom. In 1893, metal hoops or rings with net bags have substituted the elderly wooden peach baskets. The basketball hoop is still placed at 10 foot height (3,05 metres), as it was when James Naismith created this sport in 1890. Today basketball hoops have changed little from the days when Mr. Naismith invented this game. The market offers today a large number of basketball hoops. There are hoops only attached to a backboard (these hoops may be hung wherever you want), there are hoops with the entire stand attached for portable or in-ground use, and there are small and lower basketball hoops for the youngest players.

At the end, we have basketball shoes.
Always remember that basketball is a game requiring an enormous quantity of different movements. This means that your feet would jump, turn, pivot, run and do dozens of other actions as well. If you are not comfortable, you will not play at the level you should. Fundamental qualities of basketball shoes are shock absorption, stability, comfort and, if possible, durability (professional players do not absolutely mind this factor).

Ankle injuries are common in basketball, so you must support your ankles as much as possible, to avoid very painful injuries. I suggest to use bandages; otherwise, a pair of high-top sneakers may be helpful. They get above the ankle, allowing less space for twists and even breaks. If you are a tiny and rapid player, you may need a shoe with moderate support and flexibility, as a low-cut basketball shoe. Power players would choose a shoe that gives maximum cushioning and stability. Holding the foot during play is what the upper part of the shoe does; this part may be high top, mid top or low top. Most basketball shoes producers use actually a combination of light materials and leather, to make the basketball shoes as much light as possible, providing at the same time the necessary support for the foot.

Last but not least, the outer sole that is another important part of the basketball shoes and must be flat and ample enough to provide a firm base. Before choosing your basketball shoes, consider that the market offers now indoor shoes (more performing but quick to be damaged) and outdoor shoes (equipped with more durable soles). In conclusion, do not forget to value carefully the size of your basketball shoes in the light of the fact that your foot become larger when stressed.