The Sport Village

Football players come in all shapes and sizes, from stout fullbacks to lean wide receivers to burly linemen. Similarly, the object for which they fight for every inch comes in equally diverse measurements. Here’s a look at the sizes you might find at your local sporting goods store, to help you determine the right match for your intended use.Official Pro Size Just like you see on Sundays, these pro patterned are the largest non-novelty footballs on the market. Wilson is the only official NFL ball manufacturer, with prices ranging at the high end of the spectrum. Great for households who value the authenticity of professional football even on the consumer level, wanting to know what it’s truly like to be an Elway, Montana or Marino.Official Collegiate Size This slightly smaller ball is noticeably different in appearance, if only for the half stripe found outside the laces on both ends (standard pro balls feature a full circle). What the less keen observer might not notice is the slightly smaller specs, giving the mall a more controllable feel, particularly for those with smaller hands. This makes the collegiate size ball an optimal choice for more casual consumers, allowing for deeper more accurate passes and more catchable on the receiving end. High Schools also feature a ball of the same size, though it may be specifically labeled for high school.Youth Size Intended for pre-high school aged recreational leagues, the Youth Size ball is also perhaps the best ball to bring to tailgates or just to enjoy for a catch. Allowing for younger fans to participate as well, the Youth Size ball is just big enough to avoid awkwardness for adults, meanwhile turning even the average adult arm into a relative cannon with pinpoint accuracy in comparison with larger balls. (more…)

Unless you currently play semi-professionally, or are gearing up for a Senior Tour run sometime in the next few decades, the answer is most likely no. For the common golfer, golf balls are fairly disposable. This isn’t a recommendation to use just any junk that might be sitting the abandoned golf bag in the attic, but shelling out 30 to 40 for a sleeve of high performance golf balls simply isn’t practical for those with mid to high handicaps.A multilayer golf ball offers increased spin and control for the striker, but frankly, 9 out of 10 (estimated figures) people who take to the tee box do not have the necessary skill level to take advantage of these benefits. There’s no golf ball that will magically make your shot spin backwards towards the whole like you see in PGA approach shots, even if a particular top end ball boasts maximum spin potential. Yes, the ball will spin faster, but there is still a prerequisite level of stroke proficiency necessary to see any results manifest on the green. Precision control benefits are also mitigated as even the greatest golf ball in the world isn’t going to rectify a skull, shank or extreme slice. (more…)

If you’re going to play in the NHL, you will have hundreds of hockey sticks at your disposal, making wooden sticks, optimized for flexibility and versatility a very viable option but lacking in durability. Unfortunately for the more casual consumer out there who can’t afford to break a stick on a semi-nightly basis, buying a top end hockey stick as an amateur simply isn’t a feasible solution for anyone who wants to spend their free time playing hockey rather than watching from the side of the rink or pond. Here’s a useful look at the different types of stick shafts that prove to be more reliable sticks and which ones may be more appropriate for each skill level:

• Fiberglass Fiberglass sticks are the least expensive composite sticks, making a great starter stick for beginners. As most beginners will not immediately engage in cross-checking or other more advanced hockey maneuvers, the mediocre stick sturdiness shouldn’t come into play, assuming the stick is well taken care of. Fiberglass sticks contain a wooden core, reinforced by a fiberglass outer layer.
• Aluminum Aluminum makes another great starting material, and is much stronger than fiber glass, though slightly more expensive. An aluminum stick will feature a metal shaft with no traces of wood what so ever. The aluminum stick is also noticeably lighter than the fiberglass stick, lending itself well to younger players.
• Graphite Graphite sticks can come in both pure form or as part of a wooden composite. They are more expensive than Fiberglass and Aluminum, but generally offer a more efficient mix of lightweight feel and stick strength. (more…)

Obviously, the goalie stick is the most strikingly different apparatus on the ice, specifically designed to keep pucks out of the net, with its widened base over the stick’s bottom 24 inches. The exact width of the blade can vary by player, but it should be noted that though puck-stopping surface area increases with each additional inch, too wide of a stick may compromise maneuverability. Most goalie sticks have blades ranging from 3.5 inches to 15.5 inches wide, with a loft between 11 and 15 (close to a driver, for golfers out there). This means there is potentially a lot of extra wood which will increase the stick’s weight. (more…)

The standard hockey stick for adults is between 56 and 62 inches long. For juniors, the size decreases, ranging from 46 to 54 inches. Though sticks for defensemen and forwards may look the same from afar, careful deliberation regarding to a player’s position will ensure maximum functionality out of a stick purchase. Defensemen generally play a more physical brand of hockey. In turn, they will need a more physically capable stick. Whether checking an opposing player into the boards or laying down in front of opposing slap shots, the defenseman’s stick takes quite a beating over the course of 3 periods. As a result, defensemen will generally opt for a stick more flex, or in layman’s terms stiffness, not to mention a heavier stick. It is a regular occurrence for defensemen to skate backwards attempting to poke the puck away from oncoming skaters on the offensive attack. A longer stick can greatly help towards this end, giving a defenseman an additional reach to his hockey wingspan.On the other side of the puck, forwards will need highly maneuverable sticks in order to keep the puck well in their control while shielding the puck and weaving in between defenders. This is only possible with a shorter, lighter stick. Less flex is also to a scoring player’s advantage as this will help to add to a stick’s versatility, advantageous when handling the puck in traffic. (more…)

There’s a little known truth that all basketballs are created equal. Sure, men’s and women’s balls come in standard sizes (29.5 inch circumference weighing 22 ounces for fellows, 28.5 inches for ladies with a weight of 19 ounces) at the professional level, but for at-home ballers who want to take their game to the street or local court, a variety of textures and sizes may cater to each individual experience. Which one is right for you? Take a look and see:NBA Game Ball Spalding produces official NBA balls, however, most major manufacturers have a replica of the same size, weight and material, required by league rule to be leather-made. In 2006, the NBA decided to switch to a microfiber substance that was supposed to improve ball performance, but after a boatload of player complaints, including hand laceration, bounce inconsistency, and general distaste, the NBA switched back to the leather faced ball after only a few months.WNBA Game Ball Like the NBA Game Ball, these are of the utmost quality, only smaller. Great for women who want to harness their skills on an indoor court at a high level. Neither men’s nor women’s game balls will hold up on a street or concrete court.NCAA Ball Wilson produces basketballs for the NCAA tournament, with their “Solution” ball noted for advancements in moisture retainment and grip. This is also a high performance ball that lacks the durability to hold up outside of the gym.Indoor/Outdoor Often cheaper than the competitive balls above, an Indoor/Outdoor make is just right for someone who finds themselves on the hardwood and in the driveway and needs one ball for both worlds. Indoor/Outdoors are made of durable composite leather, which though less refined provides more toughness against the elements. (more…)