Bounce Basketballs
best quiet-bounce basketball
Ready to buy now? Shop the best:
- Best of the Best: TRUEHOOPER Silent Basketball
- Best Bang for the Buck: Nero Ninja Silent Basketball
- Best for Everyday Use: NALIKS Silent Basketball
- Premium Quality: WAWAWEWA The Official Silent Basketball
- Bargain Pick: Nenrte Silent Basketball
As with any other sport, basketball requires plenty of practice to become proficient. Sometimes that means training when other people need peace and quiet. To avoid disturbing those around you with incessant dribbling, you need a quiet-bounce basketball.
Silent basketballs are made of foam instead of leather, offering a nearly noiseless bounce. They’re not suitable for competitive play, but they’re terrific for players who want to work on developing dribbling and ball control skills without causing a ruckus.
We’ve researched quiet-bounce basketballs to find out which ones have the best design and materials for the price. Our top pick is the TRUEHOOPER Silent Basketball, which features real basketball grooves and a comfortable grip.
Which quiet-bounce basketball is best?
TRUEHOOPER Silent Basketball
Best of the Best
Material: Foam | Sizes: 3 (22”) and 7 (29.5”) | Weight: 8.8 oz
The TRUEHOOPER Silent Basketball is a basketball perfect for youth players who want to develop their dribbling and ball control. It’s made of high-quality polyurethane foam, which gives it a high bounce, and features authentic basketball grooves on the surface for an improved grip. It comes in two sizes, with the smallest size (size 3) weighing just 8.8 ounces, making it easy for younger players to dribble. Available in either orange or black, it comes in uncompressed packaging, so you can start shooting some hoops right out of the box.
Nero Ninja Silent Basketball
Best Bang for the Buck
Material: Foam | Size: 3, 22” | Weight: 9.1 oz.
The Nero Ninja Silent Basketball is a small foam ball that’s excellent for late-night training sessions or when parents need some quiet in the home. Its quiet-bounce technology significantly reduces bounce noise to no greater than 43 decibels (equivalent to the quiet hum of a refrigerator), and the exterior has a similar look and feel as a standard leather ball. The solid foam core gives it fantastic durability for long-lasting play and performance, and the grooves offer an authentic basketball experience.
NALIKS Silent Basketball
Best for Everyday Use
Material: Polyurethane | Size: 7, 29.5” | Weight: 12.7 oz
Those who want a quiet-bounce basketball for everyday use will not be disappointed with the Naliks Silent Basketball. It offers 90% of the bounce you would experience with a regular basketball. Plus, it has traditional-style grooves that let players get a nice feel for the ball as they dribble and shoot. It’s a size 7, which is suitable for adults and experienced youth players, and it comes uncompressed, so it’s immediately ready for play.
WAWAWEWA The Official Silent Basketball
Premium Quality
Material: Polyurethane | Size: 7, 29.5” | Weight: 11.2 oz.
Finding a better-quality quiet-bounce ball than the WAWAWEWA Official Silent Basketball is no easy task. It’s a premium-quality ball offering terrific bounce and real basketball grooves where the lines are located. It’s almost entirely soundless (it bounces at about 37 decibels), and its uncompressed packaging ensures no bumps or deformations. Plus, it’s a regulation-size ball with a brown color for a classic look.
Nenrte Silent Basketball
Bargain Pick
Material: Cotton | Size: 7, 29.5” | Weight: 11.6 oz.
Quiet-bounce basketballs aren’t as durable as regular balls, so if you don’t want to spend much on one, we recommend the Nenrte Silent Basketball. It’s a cheap regulation-size ball that’s lightweight yet durable. (Because it ships compressed, plan to wait about two days for it to fully return to an uncompressed state.) Available in orange or blue, it features grooves for improved control and advanced technology for reducing noise and improving elasticity, helping you get the most out of your training sessions.
How we analyzed
To find the best quiet-bounce basketballs for this guide, we only looked at those that offer a bounce that’s at least 80% of a regular ball. We also chose the most highly reviewed basketball based on customer reviews and analyzed factors such as material, weight, size and durability.
Key features to consider
Design and materials
Authentic feel and grip
Quiet-bounce basketballs offer a similar feel to a regular basketball thanks to traditional-style grooves found on most models. Grooves provide a player with superior grip and ball control, and although the bounce isn’t exactly the same, the feel is good enough to help players improve their dribbling.
Material
All quiet-bounce basketballs are made with foam. The core is made with a high-density foam, which ensures the ball can withstand hard impacts. The rest of the ball is often made of polyurethane, foam or sponge.
Our top picks: Design and materials
- TRUEHOOPER Silent Basketball and Nero Ninja Silent Basketball: These balls are both made with high-density foam and offer adequate bounce.
- NALIKS Silent Basketball and WAWAWEWA The Official Silent Basketball: These balls have a high-density foam core, but the rest is made with polyurethane, which gives them superior bounce over all-foam balls.
- Nenrte Silent Basketball: This cotton ball is less durable and has less bounce than our other top picks.
Size and weight
- Size 7: Regulation-size balls have a circumference of 29.5 inches and are best suited for adults and experienced youth players. They usually weigh 11 to 13 ounces.
- Size 6: At 28.5 inches, these are slightly smaller than regulation-size balls and are best suited for women’s competitions and youth players. They weigh anywhere from 10 to 12 ounces.
- Size 5: These 27.65-inch balls are best for training older children in the 9 to 11 age range. They weigh anywhere from 9 to 11 ounces.
- Size 3: At 22 inches, these are considered mini balls, suitable for helping young children develop basic dribbling fundamentals. These balls weigh 7 to 9 ounces.
Our top picks: Size and weight
- TRUEHOOPER Silent Basketball and Nero Ninja Silent Basketball: These balls both come in size 3 and are best for youth players as they weigh 8.8 ounces and 9.1 ounces respectively. However, the TRUEHOOPER Silent Basketball also comes in size 7 and weighs 11.2 ounces.
- NALIKS Silent Basketball: At 12.7 ounces, this is the heaviest size 7 ball of our top picks, best suited for adult recreational play.
- WAWAWEWA The Official Silent Basketball: This size 7 ball weighs 11.2 ounces and is suitable for experienced players.
- Nenrte Silent Basketballs: This ball weighs 11.6 ounces and is regulation-sized, making it suitable for older players.
FAQ
How much should I spend on a silent basketball?
A. Silent basketballs are generally cheap as you can find many in the $10 to $30 price range. However, some premium-quality basketballs can cost as much as $50.
Does vacuum compression packaging damage the ball?
A. Yes, vacuum compression packaging can cause bumps and deformations that render a ball unusable. Compression packaging also means there’s a period after opening where you’ll have to wait for the ball to regain its proper shape, which can be as long as two days.