Water Polo Buying Guide

Water polo is a team game played by men, women and juniors. It is a game of skill and requires incredible fitness and a high level of ball control. It is played with a round ball, which when in contact with water, develops a furry type surface to help with the grip. If this wasn't present, imagine how slippy, the ball would be.

Water polo balls have always traditionally been yellow but, in the last few years exciting new designs and colours are being developed and used. The Mikasa wave ball is one example.

There are only a few major manufacturers of water polo balls:-

• Mikasa
• Molten
• Keifer

They all produce good quality balls although, our local water polo club, prefer the Mikasa balls. They claim the soft grip tends to last longer.

Water polo balls come in two sizes, size 4 and size 5. They are suitable for the following:-

• Size 5 – is used for the men's game. The ball rules state the balls circumference shall be between 680mm and 710mm, with a ball pressure 12 – 13 psi. The adult ball is used from aged 16 years.

• Size 4 – is used for women and youth waterpolo. The ball circumference shall be between 650mm and 670mm, with a ball pressure 12 – 13 psi. Boys and girls up to the age of 16 use a size 4 ball.

One other major requirement, for a waterpolo ball, it needs to be waterproof. You do not want to use a ball, that fills up with water. Balls are available as a training ball or match ball but, the training balls are around half the price of a match quality one.

The most popular ball, is the Mikasa wave W6000W. It has been approved as The Official Game ball for all Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA)events. They are the organisation in charge of all swimming pool competitions.

The Wave ball is tri coloured and has a long life, hard wearing buffed rubber cover and is priced around £32.