Baseballs - Choosing A Baseball Brand
Usually made of high quality leather, the baseball has an inner core, an outer shell to cover it, and outer stitching. The inner core is small like a pill and it’s made of rubber, cork, or any material similar to those. The rubber shell is wound around the inner core, enclosing it tightly in 3 layers of yarn and then with a winding of cotton or polyester yarn. To keep the ball intact, a core is applied in the form of a finishing yarn and then it is dipped in latex cement, which provides a surface to make the cover stick to the core during sewing.
Kinds of baseballs
If high quality leather is not available, it is substituted by split leather, which is used to make low-cost baseballs. Commercially available baseballs have synthetic covers and they are recommended for use on the little league or beginners. Baseballs can be classified into 3 types:
1. Polyurethane – This type of baseball is lighter and does not hit as hard as the others. Also called, “Reduced Injury Factor” (RIF), they are intended to be light or their weight is reduced based on different grades for hardness that depends on a player’s age and expertise.
2. Cork – This is the core material for the Major League and is made of cushioned cork cores wrapped in a layers of rubber, cotton, and wool.
3. Rubber – This is the most economical choice and they are usually made of black rubber or cork-and-rubber cores. However, this is not recommended for frequent or rigorous use.
Buying baseballs
When you buy your baseball, check on the following features to ensure that it is safe to use, won’t break, and will last you through several games:
1. Safety
2. Seam
3. Cover
Shopping help / Consumer information
A complete Guide to BASEBALLS is available in Picky Guide, one of the fastest growing online magazines giving free consumer advice and product information.
Tags: ball, base, baseball, baseballs