We all know that when it comes to basketball, the skill isn’t in the ball. It’s in the baller. However, having a high-quality ball can help with your handling and allow you to play more like a pro.
Wilson is the leading company in basketball designs, and their Evolution ball is one of the most popular on the market. But how does it square up against the competition? Is it the right purchase? Check our Wilson Evolution Ball review below to see if it is the right product for you.
What Type of Ball Is the Wilson Evolution
The Wilson Evolution is an indoor ball. This ball is designed for indoor courts and doesn’t stand well against the elements. If you mostly ball at the gym, you are probably familiar with this type of ball.
Indoor basketballs are typically made from full-grain leather. They don’t need to be built from a solid material because wood paneling isn’t too punishing on the ball, and they won’t be getting wet from anything but hand sweat.
Outdoor balls are built from a thicker material, not just because of the weather but also the pounding of asphalt and concrete. Outdoor basketballs are usually made from rubber.
Wilson Evolution balls are made from Evo Microfiber, a stable and bouncy material that gives players a better grip.
Feel of the Ball
The feel a basketball has is probably one of its most significant elements. If a ball feels too hard to the touch, it will throw off your shot and your dribbling. As a player, you need a ball that is soft and easy to handle.
Feel comes first with the Wilson Evolution, and it all starts with its cushion core carcass underneath the Evo Microfiber exterior, which makes the ball easy to handle and gentle on the hands.
The composite laid-in channels make the ball’s texture consistent throughout, leading to better grip and tighter handles.
Wilson has a review index to measure grip, feel, and durability on a performance scale of 1 to 10. The Evolution marks as 9 overall in both the grip and the feel categories.
Ball Dimensions
Players can equate the available sizes of a ball to its diversity. A ball that only comes in one dimension can only be used by one type of athlete. The Wilson Evolution does not discriminate. It’s available in three sizes: Youth, Intermediate, and Official.
The youth-size has a measure of 27.5 inches and is intended for boys and girls younger than 8. The intermediate is the women’s official size of 28.5 inches and works well with all women and girls over nine years and boys between 9 and 11. The official ball clocks in at the standard 29.5 inches and weighs about 1.25 pounds.
Popularity
Sometimes the best evidence you can have for a ball’s quality is its popularity. No baller will use a bad ball, so if most athletes use this model, it can serve as a full validation.
The Wilson Evolution is the best-selling ball in the country. Gyms all over the U.S. use the Wilson Evolution for their indoor games. It’s even the high school basketball standard, approved for play by the National Federation of State High School Associations. It’s on more courts than any other basketball in the country.
Bounce
The way a ball bounces is essential. You need to anticipate the height of the bounce with the force you put. Too much variety in this sequence will mess up your handling. The Evo Microfiber exterior makes the Wilson Evolution incredibly bouncy but also uniform.
As we mentioned earlier, the ball has composite laid in channels which make the entire exterior uniform. This uniformity means that no matter where the ball lands, it will have the same bounce.
Durability
Durability is another huge factor for the perfect basketball. Balls wear down over time, and this can make them deflate easier, bounce unpredictably, and screw up your shot. Wilson certifies that Evolution will get the job done on the court for years after you buy it.
With indoor basketballs, durability isn’t as important. They don’t take the same punishment as outside balls. However, you want a ball that will last you a long time, and the Evolution will do just that.
Price
The average price for an indoor basketball at a sporting goods store is about $30. The Wilson is significantly more expensive than that, clocking in at almost double that price on Amazon. For the durability and superior materials, we believe that price is worth it.
Wrap Up: 9/10
We give the Wilson Evolution an almost perfect score because it has everything you need in an indoor basketball. It is durable, easy to handle, easy to grip, and has a nice uniform bounce. It’s also the most popular indoor ball in the country, which gives it a huge bonus.
We deducted one point because it is a bit expensive compared to the average. However, with how long the ball will last you and the quality of game you’ll get from it, we believe it is a sound investment. We hope this Wilson Evolution Ball review will help you make the right choice.
