You want the best ball, so you can bring your best game. Wilson usually delivers good quality basketballs. This Wilson NCAA Street Shot review will take a close look at the Wilson NCAA Street Shot and see if it lives up to the hype.
Wilson Sporting Goods
First, a little about Wilson Sporting Goods for those who don’t know a lot about them. They are an American company based in Chicago that manufactures sporting equipment. They make equipment for many sports (not just basketball).
The Wilson brand is associated with quality, dependability, and innovation. Not only is Wilson the official basketball of March Madness, but they are now also the NBA’s official basketball supplier.
The Wilson NCAA Street Shot
Now, let’s answer all your questions about the Wilson NCAA Street Shot, shall we?
What Is It Made Out Of?
The Wilson NCAA Street Shot is made out of composite leather. Composite leather consists of leather scrap and Polyurethane. It feels like leather but is less expensive to produce. However, this doesn’t mean it is cheap. Cheap balls are made of rubber.
Players may prefer composite leather basketballs because they don’t wear out as fast as leather basketballs and can be used on both indoor and outdoor courts.
You also don’t need to break it in because it already has a soft feeling to it. This achieves consistency from ball to ball - you won’t hear players complain that “it’s just not their day” because their ball is not broken in yet.
Some players may not prefer composite leather basketballs because technically they're a little less legit. Players in the NBA use real leather basketballs. So, if you want to play with the same basketball Curry has, you’ll need to pay a little more for it and take good care of it - if you want it to last.
Does It Have Good Grip?
The Wilson NCAA Street Shot has Wilson's signature “Total Grip Technology”, which provides superior grip allowing you to palm the ball easily. Additionally, its recessed channels allow for superior ball control so you can feel confident dribbling and shooting.
Does It Last Long?
As stated before, the Wilson NCAA Street Shot is made out of composite leather that is good for both indoor and outdoor play and is very durable. For extended durability, it has an internal pressure-lock bladder, which improves air retention.
Therefore, it should last for a long time. What does “long” mean? Well, depending on the terrain that you play on, a good basketball should give you approximately 500 to 5000 hours of play.
What Sizes Does It Come In?
The Wilson NCAA Street Shot comes in Official and Youth size. The Official is 29.5” and the Youth is 27.5”. The 29.5” is the standard ball size for men. If you're looking for a women’s ball, you need a 28.5" size ball.
What Is the Proper Inflation Level?
The proper inflation level for the Wilson NCAA Street Shot is 7-9 PSI. PSI stands for “pound per square inch”. It is the pressure resulting from a force of one pound-force applied to an area of one square inch.
If you have a ball that is not inflated properly, it won’t bounce well and will totally affect your game. Most basketballs have inflation instructions printed right on them and it is important to follow these instructions. Keep in mind, over-inflating your ball is harmful and damages it.
Will I Need A Pump?
The ball you will receive will be partially deflated in its packaging. Sometimes they will have enough air out of the box, but often they need a little more air. Regardless, over time, the ball will need to be pumped. Be sure you have an inflating needle.
Do A Lot Of People Like It?
Reviews are overwhelmingly positive with 70% giving the Wilson NCAA Street Shot basketball five stars. The consensus is that it’s a great value, sturdy basketball that feels like an indoor ball.
People seem to love it or hate it. There are some complaints about it falling apart, not being able to withstand outdoor courts, and losing air too quickly. It seems like there may be a quality control problem, which is surprising because it’s a Wilson ball.
Conclusion
Overall, this is a good middle-of-the-road basketball and is good value for what you’re paying. If you’re playing on both indoor and outdoor courts and plan on roughing up your ball a bit, then the Wilson NCAA Street Shot is a good choice.
If you want the best of the best, plan on taking proper care of your basketball, are going to play more inside, don’t mind breaking it in or spending a little bit more, then a genuine leather basketball - like the ones used in the NBA - would be a better choice.
Hopefully, this Wilson NCAA Street Shot review provided you with the insight you needed to make an informed shopping decision.
