Amanda Knapp
Spalding's Never Flat basketball is a popular choice for many basketball enthusiasts, and its manufacturer guarantees that it will stay inflated for a year. However, some customers have reported that their balls have gone flat within the first week. While the ball is under warranty, you might get a free replacement. If not, you can inflate it yourself using a pump or a can of compressed air. To do this, carefully remove the plug with a pair of pliers and inflate the ball to your desired pressure, ensuring it does not exceed the recommended 9 PSI.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inflation method | Pump, compressed air can |
| Inflation pressure | 8 psi, 9 psi |
| Inflation testing | Buoyancy test, bounce test |
| Plug | Should be pulled out with pliers |
| Inflation time | Within the first week, after a year |
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What You'll Learn
Locating the plug
The plug can sometimes be difficult to spot, especially if it is the same colour as the ball. It is usually found along the seam of the ball, where the different panels of the ball come together. So, a close inspection along the seams is a good way to locate the plug.
If you are still having trouble finding it, try feeling along the seams with your fingers. The plug will feel like a small, round bump. Once you have located the bump, you can be sure that this is the plug.
After locating the plug, the next step is to carefully remove it. It is important not to yank the rubber cap out all the way, as it is not meant to come completely off. Using a pair of pliers, gently pull the plug out. Be careful not to damage the plug or the air valve, as this could cause air to leak out of the ball.
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Removing the plug
To inflate a Spalding Neverflat basketball, the first step is to remove the plug. This can be done carefully with a pair of pliers. It is important not to yank the rubber cap out all the way as it is not meant to come off. Once the plug is removed, the ball can be inflated.
If you are using a bicycle pump, pull the plastic tab to reinflate the ball before removing the needle. If your pump has a gauge, inflate the ball to about 8 psi. If there is no gauge, you can test the buoyancy by pressing the ball gently. The ball should compress about 5.5 mm or 1/5 of an inch. If the ball is underinflated, it could sink more than this and potentially explode when thrown.
You can also test the pressure by standing on the court and holding the basketball above your head. Drop the ball and it should bounce back to your hip or elbow (with your arm lowered). Adjust the pressure by pumping more or letting out air until the ball responds correctly to your tests.
Once you are happy with the pressure, you can put the plug back into the ball.
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Inflating the ball
To inflate a Spalding Neverflat basketball, first locate the plug and carefully pull it out with a pair of pliers. Be careful not to yank the rubber cap out completely as it is not meant to come off. Once the plug is out, inflate the ball to your desired pressure. If you are using a bicycle pump, pull out the plastic tab before removing the needle.
Neverflat basketballs should be inflated to about 8 psi. If your pump has a gauge, inflate the ball until it reaches this level. If not, you can test the buoyancy by gently pressing the ball. Ideally, the ball should compress about 5.5 mm or 1/5 of an inch. If the ball sinks too much, it could explode when thrown.
Another way to test the pressure is to stand on the court and hold the basketball above your head. Drop the ball, and it should bounce back to your hip or elbow (with your arm lowered). Adjust the pressure by pumping more or letting out air until the ball reaches the desired bounce.
Once you are happy with the pressure, put the plug back into the ball.
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Testing buoyancy
To test the buoyancy of a Neverflat basketball, you can perform a few simple tests. Firstly, press the ball gently. If it feels about right, press harder and observe how much it sinks. Ideally, the ball should compress about 5.5mm or 1/5 of an inch. If the ball compresses less than 1.5mm or 1/16 of an inch, it may be overinflated and at risk of exploding when thrown.
Another test involves standing on the court and holding the basketball above your head. Drop the ball and observe how high it bounces back. It should bounce back to around your hip or elbow level when you lower your arm. A bounce that is too high or too low indicates improper inflation.
You can adjust the inflation by pumping more air into the ball or releasing some air until it responds correctly to these tests. These tests help ensure that your Neverflat basketball is properly inflated and safe for use.
Through these tests, you can ensure that your Neverflat basketball is appropriately inflated and safe for use. It is important to remember that an overinflated ball can be dangerous, and an underinflated ball will not perform optimally.
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Adjusting air pressure
Adjusting the air pressure of a Neverflat basketball is a straightforward process. First, locate the plug and carefully pull it out with a pair of pliers. Be cautious not to yank the rubber cap out completely as it is not meant to come off. Once the plug is removed, you can start inflating the ball.
The ideal pressure for a Neverflat basketball is around 8 to 9 PSI. If your pump has a pressure gauge, continue pumping until it reaches this level. If you don't have a pump, you can use a can of compressed air, although this may be more difficult and expensive.
To fine-tune the air pressure, you can try different PSI levels, such as 7.5, 8, or 8.5, while bouncing the ball to see how it performs. This will help you determine your preferred level of bounce and feel. Remember, a proper basketball should compress about 1/5 inches (5.5 mm). If the ball compresses less than 1/16 inch (1.5 mm), it may be overinflated and at risk of exploding when thrown.
After you've adjusted the air pressure to your liking, remember to insert the plug back into the ball. Now, you can test the buoyancy of the ball. Gently press on it, and if it feels right, try pressing harder to see how much it sinks. Additionally, try the drop test: stand on the court, hold the ball above your head, and drop it. The ball should bounce back to around your hip or elbow level when you lower your arm. A too-high or too-low bounce indicates incorrect inflation.
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