NEW STATE OF THE ART STEEDEN BALL TO HIT NRL

[DIEHARD]

NEW STATE OF THE ART STEEDEN BALL TO HIT NRL

Even though it’s a vital part of the game, the humble Steeden is not something most fans give much thought to.

Most punters probably don’t realise match balls have to be sent to clubs in black bags as UV light can impact the rubber quality. Or that there are about 2500 match balls sent to clubs every year.

They probably never give a second thought to how the ball is made . . . or why replica footies retail for $30 while authentic match balls cost $120.

But plenty of research and consideration goes into designing and manufacturing your run-of-the-mill footy.

Like a car tyre, a footy’s performance is often determined by the quality of rubber used. While the tyre for a street car generally requires harder, more durable rubber, a softer yet stickier compound is used for Formula One cars and it lasts only about 100km.

Steeden’s brand manager, Cameron Black, says rugby league balls are built along similar lines.

“The softer or better quality the rubber going into the mix, the better the grip on the ball,” Black tells RLW.

“In the NRL it’s all about performance and that’s where we come in with the highest quality soft rubber . . . generally a match ball will be used in only three games (before it’s retired).

“(But) if you’re an amateur club you probably don’t want a ball that’s going to wear out after three games, you want a ball that’s going to last a season.”

The surface of the ball is merely one factor that determines its performance. The ball’s bladder is another.

“There are different types of bladders based on air retention and rebound qualities,” he explains.

“With our match balls we will go with a natural latex bladder made from tree sap . . . because it has the highest rebound qualities and higher elasticity so it can be kicked further.

“However, because it has highest rebound qualities it also has low air retention, so you’ll find our top-of-the-range balls need to be pumped up regularly.

“Our low-quality balls will often have a bladder that has a high air-retention rate, so the average Joe doesn’t have to pump it up as regularly.”

Another key component of the ball is its inner lining, which helps hold its shape.

“You don’t want the ball to be kicked around in a game and to lose some shape during the second half,” Black says.

“We use a combination of polyester and cotton linings and a few unique techniques in the weaving of our polyester fabrics, so they have the best shape retention possible.”

OK, so what about the shape?

Since the mid-1990s rugby league balls have become thinner than rugby union balls, because league is more of a ball-in-hand game than the 15-a-side code.

“What we find is, because rugby union balls are fatter, they travel further through the air,” Black says.

“We’ve deliberately moved away from that rugby union shape because we believe rugby league needs a very different ball.

“In rugby union they’re trying to kick for distance . . . league is more a handling game and a slightly narrower ball is easier to grab.

“It’s only a fraction of a difference but it makes an impact.”

Interestingly Steeden is now in the process of developing a new ball.

For the past two years, it has been working with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology to develop a new ball with greater grip by experimenting with varying pimple-pattern heights.

“It’s still a work in progress,” Black says.

“Generally, if a ball has a high pimple pattern, it will have good grip in dry conditions.

“But then in wet conditions the water will sit on the ball more in between the crevices, so there’s less hand grip with the rubber and it becomes far more slippery.

“However, if the pimple pattern is too low it may perform all right in wet conditions but it won’t be as good in dry conditions.

“You’ve got to find that right balance and our existing match ball has that right balance, but we think we can improve it. . . but it’s proving a challenging process.

“We’ve worked been working with Billy Slater on the new ball development.”

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/

[shamus]

NEW STATE OF THE ART STEEDEN BALL TO HIT NRL“Generally, if a ball has a high pimple pattern, it will have good grip in dry conditions.

“But then in wet conditions the water will sit on the ball more in between the crevices, so there’s less hand grip with the rubber and it becomes far more slippery.

“However, if the pimple pattern is too low it may perform all right in wet conditions but it won’t be as good in dry conditions.

“You’ve got to find that right balance and our existing match ball has that right balance, but we think we can improve it. . . but it’s proving a challenging process.

“We’ve worked been working with Billy Slater on the new ball development.”http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/

Have 2 types of ball then.....low pimples for wet weather footy...and high pimples for dry games... You are allowed different studs for your boots so why not two types of football.

[Toads]

Ease up, mate. Don't you know common sense is frowned upon these days..