We purchased a Spalding Super Flite Pro Basketball size 5 for member price of $59.99 in October 2023, for our 8 y/o sons basketball club training (indoors). The panels, seams, colour, printing and balance were all good. The composite leather finish of the ball has a firm and slightly grippy feel when dry. It is not as grippy as balls which have a softer leather feel. I believe this composite leather finish is harder and possibly thicker, so it is more durable for outdoor use. I would not recommend using composite leathers on any outdoor courts/surfaces such as bitumen or concrete. This ball is generally of very good quality; however, I would not recommend this ball as the rebound/bounce is not adequate. In bouncing the ball with casual dribbling pressure, the ball does not rebound to a good height. To get the ball to rebound to a normal height, you have to add more strength in the dribble than is normal. We returned this ball due to the lack of bounce. We also tried a Wilson Jet Pro $39.99, also a size 5 –it had a softer feel and generally good quality all round, but it had a very similar lack of bounce. I would describe the bounce as ‘dull’ for a basketball. We tried a few other balls and ended up with a Spalding React TF250 for $69.99 (black & orange panel with silver print) which has a good feel – not as hard as the Spalding super flite pro and not as soft as the Wilson Jet Pro. The rebound/bounce of the Spalding React TF250 is noticeably better and feels normal. We were recommended the Spalding TF1000 legacy size 5 for the best option, but at $149, it is rather pricey for a size 5 ball that we might only see 2 seasons of use for us – will vary depending on the age of your child.
Wait so you don't recommend this in the end? And suggest a different ball?