Guide for Baseballs barnett
Baseballs come in different sizes, materials and hardness.



Most of baseballs are 9’’ (23 cm) in circumference.
The Junior Leagues of children under 10 can use slightly bigger balls.
Softballs usually are 12’’ (30 cm) in circumference, but some softballs for
women or Junior Leagues are 11’’ (28 cm) in circumference.
Materials
Baseballs are made of leather or synthetic leather. There are also safety balls for
younger players.



Leather is used in the Major Leagues and other upper-level leagues
Synthetic leather is used primarily for balls in the Little League age
group and younger
"Safety balls" are engineered to play like a real ball without the sting of a
hard ball. Known as "Reduced Injury Factor" or RIF balls, they roll and
bounce like their harder cousins, but don't hurt as much if the player gets
hit.
Baseballs come in different covers and stitching, each offering its own virtues
and drawbacks. But few can tell a ball by its cover, because it's the inside that
determines a ball's play. Whether cork or rubber, synthetic or leather, we're here
to help you get to the core of which baseball is right for you.
1) Ball Covers


Leather
Synthetic Leather
2) Stitching


Raised
Rolled
3) Understanding Cores



Cushioned Cork
Rubber
Combination
4) Reduced Injury Factor
Guide Baseball Ball ENG – 2014
1
5) What's Right for You?



Age Level and Type of Play
Size
Conditions
6) Barnett baseballs
1) Ball Covers


Long-lasting leather covers are the traditional choice because they offer
consistent performance, durability, and shape maintenance.
Synthetic leather covers resist dirt, maintain color, and are less expensive
than leather cover. A synthetically covered ball with a top-grade cork may
perform as well as a leather ball.
2) Stitching


Raised stitching grips air currents and makes the ball therefore easier to
control. This type of stitching is good for instruction, casual play, and
sharp-breaking pitches.
Rolled stitching is flatter and creates less air-resistance. This is the type of
stitching used in major league balls and is ideal for game and everyday
play.
3) Understanding Cores



A cushioned cork core consists of a cork ball wrapped in a thin layer of
premium rubber, wound in wool and cotton thread. Major League
Baseballs require windings of at least 85% wool.
Wool windings are critical to a ball's longevity because wool has memory;
it returns to shape after impact.
Economical cork-and-rubber or black rubber cores "play" like a cushioned
cork ball, but may not last in rigorous use with players putting good wood
(or aluminum) on the ball.
4) Reduced Injury Factor
One of the biggest innovations in baseballs in recent years concerns safety, and
R.I.F, or Reduced Injury Factor, balls are evidence of that. These balls replace
the "safety" balls of days past by playing as well as they reduce impact.



Made with polyurethane cores in official or reduced weights. Both types
won't hit or hurt as hard, thus helping new players overcome their fear of
the ball.
Different brands offer different grades of hardness, so you can select a ball
appropriate for the age and level of experience.
Unlike old "safety" balls, R.I.F. balls perform like regular baseballs,
bouncing and rolling true to expectation.
Guide Baseball Ball ENG – 2014
2
5) What's Right for You?
A few key points will help make sure the box of new balls you empty into the
canvas bag will be the best and most appropriate for your team:



Age level and type of play: Buy a better ball with a premium, cushioned
cork core for experienced players; consider trying more economical corkand-rubber cored balls for novice players.
Size:
 Most baseballs have a circumference of 9” (inches)
 Leagues for under-10 year old players may use a slightly larger ball
 Softballs typically have a circumference of 12” (inches), while
some women and youth leagues usually have 11” (inches) balls
Conditions: Drier weather and consistent game use merit leather-covered
balls; wetter conditions and more practice use may mean that synthetic
covers are perfectly adequate and economical.
6) Barnett baseballs
Here is a little chart with a list of our baseballs, which was made to help you find
out which barnett baseball is best for you!
Level
Professional
Name
PL-1
Size
9”
High-level
competition
OL-1
9”
Low-level
competition
Training
LL-1
9”
TS-1
9”
Genuine
Baseball
leather
Polyurethane Baseball
Training
BS-1
9”
Polyurethane Baseball
Professional
OSL-1
12”
High-level
competition
OSL-2
12”
Genuine
leather
Genuine
leather
Low-level
competition
Training
OSS-1
12”
Polyurethane Softball
OSS-2
12”
Polyurethane Softball
Guide Baseball Ball ENG – 2014
Core
Full grain
leather
Natural
leather
Sport
Baseball
Baseball
Softball
Softball
3