New “Quiet” Basketball Is Changing The Game

“Boy, if I catch you bouncing that ball in my house one more time…!” 

I didn’t necessarily have to wonder how my mom’s sentence would finish. Growing up, dribbling a basketball in the house was the ultimate form of disrespect–not just to my mother, but also to the rest of the neighbors in my apartment complex. 

Basketballs can be loud and annoying, and my mom was just one of the many frustrated parents struggling to stop their child from training to become the next LeBron James while on their living room rug. But as the cool weather of autumn rolls along and indoor gyms fill up, one company has found a solution.

An Official Quiet Basketball

On Monday, North Carolina-based training and equipment brand SKLZ announced the launch of the “SKLZ Bashhhketball Pro,” a “quiet” basketball used for training in any indoor space. Though there are other quiet basketballs on the market, SKLZ claims its ball is the only “official size and weight ‘silent basketball’,” making it specially built for serious players looking to develop their games. 

The Specs

The SKLZ Bashhhketball Pro has the “feel and bounce” of a regulation basketball at 29.5” size and 22oz weight. Made from polyurethane foam, the ball is designed to offer the same performance as a regulation ball, with a softer impact and significantly less noise on wood, tile, and carpet surfaces alike. 

Why Kids May Need Indoor Training

Unfortunately, American kids are spending less time playing outside than they used to. One report from CBS Chicago found that only 10% of kids are consistently playing outside, and adolescents have fewer “third spaces” to thrive in outside of home and school. Parents reportedly have more anxiety about their kids playing while unsupervised, and kids spend much more time in front of screens than they used to. 

Of course, it’s ideal for kids to be able to get outside and play the game they love. But as temperatures drop, the SKLZ bashhhketball can be used indoors in the comfort of your own home, making basketball development easier than ever. 

And this time, you won’t have to face the wrath of mom.

The SKLZ Bashhhketball Pro currently retails for $59.99 on Amazon, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Scheelz, and on the SKLZ website.