Customer Reviews

Spalding Rookie Gear Basketball (Brown)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought the ball in Summer '09 for my 3 year old because I was going to enroll him in the local buddy basketball league for 4-6 year old and I wanted to get a head start on his form. This is the perfect ball for that age group and should really be considered as the standard ball for leagues that service that age group. This ball weighs 25% less than standard youth basketballs which enables the youngest ballplayers to shoot in a manner than more closely resembles the style of shot that the will use later in their careers. If anyone has ever noticed how most young players shoot a basketball they have noticed that the put the ball next to their ear and fling moreso than shoot the basketball and it ends up going off to the side. This ball allows them to keep a more natural shot. In summary, I think that this a great new type basketball for the youth market and feel like you will see more and more leagues adopt it. I give it a 10 out of 10.

Like Wei Lu states in his review, the ball does feel cheap and the print on the ball is not legible, it is also less durable than a regular Spalding All Conference 27.5 inch youth ball. But it is a kids ball, it is inexpensive, and it is light weight. So overall I'll rate closer to 4 stars than 3.

Received the basketball, but it is different from the picture. The rookie Gear sign is not in color, and all the small letters on the basketball is not readable, (like on a normal one in store you can read the letters like indoor/outdoor or how much you should inflate to) The quality feels inferior. But anyway you can play it as a basketball, and it does feel lighter.

Bought this for my 6 year old daughter as she was starting a basketball program at her school.Perfect fit for smaller hands as it is not as big and or heavy as an official ball.My daughter just LOVES the "rainbow" colors of the ball.This is well made and except for this size feels and plays like a REAL basketball.Recommended.

This basketball received good reviews but I got the lemon. This ball is two weeks old and barely used and the leather/rubber is already beginning to peel off at the seams. Its a good size ball for a ten year old girl but it won't last for long. Its a waste of money. I was hoping for a better product from Spalding.

I bought this for my 9 year old who was playing in a league for the first time. She absolutely loves this ball! It has been perfect both indoor and out, and has held air very well. It also has a much softer feel to it, which seems strange for a basketball, but hey, it is geared towards a girl so maybe they know what they are doing.
Anyway, I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a ball for a young girl. It makes her want to play more!

I bought this ball for a young lady who is just learning how to play. She was very happy with it. She loves the colors. I was impressed with how "grippy" the ball felt. Cool ball and a smiling girl, great combination.

Good ball. Younger girls <12 who are shooting hoops, what better way to get them to play? Our standard balls go missing and suspect the boys in the neighborhood taking them. I doubt this ball will go missing.

We received the brown ball instead of the multicolored ball. But since I talked my kid down off the ledge on that point, he loves this ball.

This ball has fun colors. Our 10 and 12 year old daughters have given this ball to friends for birthdays. When we first got it, I thought it looked small, but I measured it and it is regulation women's size (28.5 in circumference). It is a good indoor/outdoor ball that appeals to the kids.