Freestylers are notoriously protective of their ball—try to borrow it or deflate it, and you’ll soon see a happy freestyler go into angry mama bear mode. Why so picky? In freestyle, getting the right spin on the ball requires such a precise micro-milli-fraction-of-a-hair touch that using your own ball can be the difference between losing and winning a battle. But with the many choices out there, which ball is best? We asked the pros themselves what they prefer, check it out!
REBAZ Mohammed: First Kurdish freestyler to perform three revolution trick.
My favorite is the Adidas Tango 2012 purely because I’ve used it for almost a year and it’s a great ball for all around freestyle.
MAXIMILIAN Meyer: Top German freestyler.
I recently picked up an Adidas Finale 6 and that is by far my favorite ball ever. The grip it has is unmatched by any other match ball and for some reason the bounce is a bit different so my combos don’t take as much power from me as previously, meaning I can do longer ones.
LUCA Chiarvesio: 2016 Italian freestyle champion.
If I had to pick one I would go with the Adidas Tango 12. I just love this ball because it has basically only two colours white and black … it is a really simple ball with great grip so I’d definitely recommend it to freestyler.
LIV Cooke: 17, UK’s first pro female freestyler.
My favourite ball is the Europass Gloria 2008 official match ball. It’s perfect for my style as I predominately train air moves.
ENRICO Maffioletti: Two-time Italian runner-up.
My favorite is for sure the Adidas Teamgeist 2006 World Cup ball! The material gives a perfect grip and unique feeling and the white and black colors don’t stress your eyes during a long training. And of course with that ball Italy won the World Cup haha!
ADALBERTO “Borgetti” Lopez: Top U.S. freestyler.
My favorite ball for freestyle is an Urbanball. It’s my favorite because the extreme grip on it makes it much more difficult to do most tricks and practically forces you to create your own.
JOSH Sanders: 16, Top 16 UK freestyler.
My favourite ball is the Adidas Finalé 07 Athens final match ball. I love it because it’s a good weight for doing no touch combos as it is not too light so I can control the ball. And it is extremely grippy so clutches and basics lowers are easy to control.
PAWEŁ Skóra: Polish, European, and World freestyle champion.
I like all Adidas Champions League match balls. My favourite one is Champions League Berlin 2015. I am using this ball now. When I use it, I feel like the ball listens to me and goes where I want it to go. The ball has some dots on patches and they are helpful when I do block moves for example.
BEN Nuttal: 16, UK freestyler.
Adidas Champions League match balls, in particular the Brazuca Rio Finale. It’s grippy and great for all around style, and looks absolutely stunning, haha.
EMIL Jylhänlahti: Top Swedish freestyler and world record holder.
I have always used Adidas official match balls. I really like the newest one, the ball they used in Euro 2016 France.
MO Ali: Canadian professional footballer and freestyler and one half of IT10.
I just like the Adidas Euro 2016 ball because I can freestyle and take shots too as I am a football player first and freestyler second.
DJ Diveny: U.S. pro freestyler.
My favorite ball to freestyle is with any new top league match ball, slightly deflated. Right now I use the 2016 Adidas Nativo MLS ball. I played competitively my whole life so I’m the most comfortable with regular match balls. However, futsal balls are better for ground moves, Mitre street balls for blocks, etc.
PHILIPPE Gnannt: 2nd ranked German pro freestyler.
