The Rock- Basketball - Official Mens

I have been in search of the best basketball money can buy. So far, I have purchased and used the Molten GL7, The Rock, Baden Element, and of course The Wilson Evolution. Of these 4, The Rock is the winner.I must stress the importance of getting a good pump with a PSI gauge on it. Basketballs are meant to be played with 7-9 psi and they can feel very different even within that range. The exact rule is that if dropped 6 feet (measured at the bottom of the ball), it should rebound between 49-54"(measured at the TOP of the ball). It helps to check the ball regularly for proper inflation, especially during the cold winter or hot sumer.I play indoor pickup 2-3 times per week and I train players young and old 1-2 times per week. Everywhere you go in the states to play pickup, the ball of choice is the Wilson Evolution. This has nothing to do with the Evo being a good ball, but rather that it is the best ball sold at local store (i.e. Dicks, Models, Walmart, etc.) and that most players just don't seem to care that much about the quality of their ball. The problem with the Evo, is that it feels really good when shooting around, but the instance it get wets from sweat it becomes very slippery. Also the Evo wears out fairly quickly and wears in fairly slowly, so the sweet spot doesn't last longer than a few months of regular play.The Molten GL7 was a big disappointment to me. It is the leather FIBA ball. It does feel really nice to play with, but the point is moot because I have never been able to convince people to play with it. It feels hard and slick, even though it absorbs moisture and keeps grip during games better than any other ball. It is also slightly smaller than most balls and looks strange. A couple of the seams were sloppy on mine as well. I would not recommend the Molten GL7The Baden Element is basically a slightly better Evo. It has a slightly cushion feel with shallow channels that make it feel very round, but hinders its grip. The concealed needle hole is very slick and the ball is perfectly symmetrical. If you look at most balls, where the seams come together they are actually reversed from side to side. On the Baden Element, the seams are not only symmetrical, but also wider giving the ball a more uniform feel no matter how it arrives in your hands. I would choose the Baden Element over any ball besides The Rock.The Rock has a cushion, almost spongy feel with deep channels. This gives it a very secure feel in your hands. That I think is what really separates The Rock from other balls, that when you hold it, there is no feeling of it slipping loose. When you catch it, you can go up with your shot without having to readjust because the ball slides in your hands. It doesn't get overly slick or retain moisture. Certainly it stays dryer than an Evo, similar to the Baden Element. The Rock is great overall and I would not hesitate to buy more of them when the times comes.

Great quality, size and weight, will definitely buy more

Great quality.

I’m a leather basketball guy. So I’d rather play with the official NBA ball. But casuals don’t know what a real basketball is supposed to feel like and they prefer spongy (and slippery) balls like the Evolution. This ball is a great compromise. The texture is good for a composite leather ball, it’s easy to palm. The moisture control, handling, feel and bounce are all great. But as I stated, there is always at least one guy during the pick up game that will cry if they don’t get to play with the Evolution. It’s the only ball they're even remotely decent with. So no matter what ball you bring on the court, they’ll whine. This ball is far better than the Evolution and is on the level with the Evo-NXT which is Wilson’s flagship basketball. If you’re a hooper, this ball is necessary for the collection.

This is a great high quality indoor basketball. I have purchased quite a few upper tier indoor basketballs within the last few years. I have bought a Molten, Baden Elite and now this one. I have like all of them but so far this one seems to edge the others out by a little. Price point is good and quality is great. If I had to choose just one this would be the one so far. I haven't had very long yet so I'll update if needed. The grip is fantastic and the feel is amazing. The Baden is very close in feel but this edges it out just barely. It's a little softer which I prefer. I don't mind the Wilson evolution but I just don't think it's as good as everyone else thinks and I don't like having the same ball as everyone else. If you're wanting a great indoor ball that doesn't look like every other ball on the court you can't go wrong with this ball or the Baden Elite.

The ball in the image is not the same model of The Rock that I received. The one in the image has different designs but more importantly appears a lot softer almost like real leather that's been broken in (idk if that's placebo or if I just have to break this thing in more) but whatever I still love the ball. It looses air a little quicker than most but pumps are a thing and backpacks help you move them around with ease.Anyway, before playing a casual 1v1 at my local gym I convinced a guy to use this ball instead of a Wilson Evolution. He then proceeded to wet a three from distance, saying he "liked how it felt in his hands when shooting" (figure he meant as apposed to the Evo). He then continued to drain every shot following. I wasn't much of a shooter at the time so for anyone wondering my neighborhood gym's Steph Curry gave it 10/10 for shooting.In my opinion, overall this is the #1 ball for indoor use. Brownie points because it's broken-in/sweet spot period lasts longer than an Evo's. However the Evo is not a bad basketball, and if purchased from Dick's Sporting Goods you can get an NSPP (warranty) for around $10. After a year of use the ball can be returned and replaced with a brand new one (you would have to repurchase the NSPP if you'd like to repeat the process). Another great contender is the Baden Elite (also can be purchased with an NSPP from DSG). Upon writing this review I haven't had the chance to test the ball myself so I won't be able to provide my opinion but I am very interested in testing it out since I've been told it plays just as well if not better than the Evo and The Rock. If you're interested a good thing to note is that the pattern of the stiches on either side of the Baden Elite are mirrored unlike the traditional design that basketballs use, which may or may not be favorable for some.Hope this was helpful.

Probably the best indoor basketball on the market