There are two kinds of non-ice hockey. Field Hockey and Street hockey. Not surprisingly, the balls they use are different. In field hockey, there are officially designated balls, approved by the National Federation of State High Schools Association. If it's played in high school, most of the field hockey balls will be labeled NFHS approved.
Typically, at an elite field hockey level, the standard is the Kookaburra ball or Kooks as most field hockey players term it. Kookaburry balls were popular in cricket, beginning in the 40s, and gradually migrated into field hockey. Made in Australia, the balls are made with a core molded of cork and rubber, and the balls have dimples on the outside, much like a golf ball. The dimples help make the ball run straight and perform well on wet services. Street hockey balls, when played outside of official league competitions, are much softer. In fact, many kids opt to use tennis balls because they are both soft and are readily available.
Top Rated Field Balls for September 2024
![Champion Sports Field Hockey Balls, Regulation Size, 12-Pack, 2.75” Each - Sports Practice Hockey Ball Set for Fields, Grass, Turf - Durable, Bouncy, Lightweight, Bright Colored - Orange](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/31lu-tgarml-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 5 out of 5
Champion Sports Field Hockey Balls, Regulation Size, 12-Pack, 2.75” Each - Sports Practice Hockey Ball Set for Fields, Grass, Turf - Durable, Bouncy, Lightweight, Bright Colored - Orange
- BUILT FOR COMPETITION: The Champion Sports practice field hockey balls are official-size, making them the preferred choice of field hockey players in high school JV and Varsity leagues everywhere.
- PERFECT HOCKEY PLAYING CONDITIONS: Designed with a light, plastic shell and a hollowed-out center, the practice Champion Sports turf sports balls respond to hockey stick contact with ideal trajectory and projection that you want during practice drills.
- PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION: Boasting high-quality, durable construction, you can rely on these supplies to be long-lasting and maintain their integrity, hit after hit.
- HOURS OF PLAYTIME: Consisting of a dozen standard practice field hockey balls, each 12-pack allows for continual, uninterrupted play - even if balls get lost during a practice game or hit out of bounds during drills.
![CranBarry Field Hockey Practice Ball Twin Pack](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/3169atkni3l-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.9 out of 5
CranBarry Field Hockey Practice Ball Twin Pack
- Features. For use on all surfaces.
![Simbra Official Field Hockey Indoor/Outdoor Practice Balls | Official Field Hockey Balls - Super Smooth Stickhandling & Shooting Training Smart Speed Street Hockey Ball (Multi-Color)](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/31v1otjalvl-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
Simbra Official Field Hockey Indoor/Outdoor Practice Balls | Official Field Hockey Balls - Super Smooth Stickhandling & Shooting Training Smart Speed Street Hockey Ball (Multi-Color)
- 🏑 BUILT FOR COMPETITION: The Simbra sports practice field hockey balls are official-size, making them the preferred choice of field hockey players in high school jv and varsity leagues everywhere.
- 🏑 PERFECT HOCKEY PLAYING CONDITIONS: Designed with a light, cork and rubber core, the practice Simbra Sports turf sports balls respond to hockey stick contact with ideal trajectory and projection that you want during practice drills.
- 🏑 PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION: Boasting high-quality, durable construction, you can rely on these supplies to be long-lasting and maintain their integrity, hit after hit.
![Champion Sports Field Hockey Balls, Regulation Size, 12-Pack, 2.75” Each - NFHS-Approved Sports Hockey Ball Set for Fields, Grass, Turf - Durable, Bouncy, Lightweight, Bright Colored - Pink](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/41nyafvmecl-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
Champion Sports Field Hockey Balls, Regulation Size, 12-Pack, 2.75” Each - NFHS-Approved Sports Hockey Ball Set for Fields, Grass, Turf - Durable, Bouncy, Lightweight, Bright Colored - Pink
- BUILT FOR COMPETITION: The Champion Sports field hockey balls are official-size and certified by the NFHS, making them the preferred choice of field hockey players in high school JV and Varsity leagues everywhere.
- PERFECT HOCKEY PLAYING CONDITIONS: Designed with a light, plastic shell and a hollowed-out center, the Champion Sports turf sports balls respond to hockey stick contact with ideal trajectory and projection that you want in a highly-competitive game.
- PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION: Boasting high-quality, durable construction, you can rely on these supplies to be long-lasting and maintain their integrity, hit after hit.
The softness of the ball is key in street hockey for many reasons, including the fact is that most kids play without protective equipment. For those who wish to up their game a little, older kids frequently use bright street hockey balls made of plastic. If you like play hockey you need probably also face shields. You can find here https://stanleytips.com/blog/best-hockey-visors-and-face-shields top rated jockey visors.
In order to accommodate street hockey players, many manufacturers produce different softness level of balls depending upon the air temperature. There are street hockey balls designed for use when the temperature is 60 degrees or higher, street hockey balls for mid-level temperatures, and street hockey balls for when the temperature dips below 40 degrees. Street hockey balls tend to be cheaper, and rarely have dimples. Most street hockey balls are in bright, fluorescent colors such as orange.
What is a hockey ball
Well, the answer is, it depends on the sport. With field hockey, the balls tend to be precision made and have a soft inner core to them. The core inner core is what tends to make field hockey balls cost more, travel further, and perform better under all conditions, whether it be wet grass, sand, or mud and water. Since field hockey balls are played almost exclusively on the street, and often in small, makeshift "hockey street locations, with perhaps two parked cars and a fire hydrant for boundaries, the ball can be softer because there is not as much distance to cover.
Field hockey is played on a football-size court, and thus distance is a primary factor. Another appreciable difference between the two games is that field hockey players frequently wear shin guards, goggles, and mouth guards. Kida playing street hockey rarely have any protective equipment at all. Thus the ball being softer is a factor in preventing injuries, not to mention broken car windows, accidentally hitting bystanders including pets, or dented garage doors.
The most dangerous thing about playing street hockey is getting smashed in the knee or in the mouth with a hockey stick, not getting cracked in the head with the ball.
Top Rated Street Hockey Balls in 2024
![Franklin Sports Street Hockey Balls, Low Bounce, Warm Weather , Bag of 3 Balls](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/51zlzzz90nl-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 5 out of 5
Franklin Sports Street Hockey Balls, Low Bounce, Warm Weather , Bag of 3 Balls
- WHEN THE ICE MELTS: Keep playing with this official size (2 5/8") & weight street hockey ball
- PEAK PERFORMANCE: Competes best at temperatures above 32º F
- IMPROVED GAMEPLAY: designed for minimal bounce so you can spend less time chasing balls and more in the game
- BRIGHT, VIVID COLORS: These colorful street hockey balls help you keep your eye on the ball and improve accuracy with every hit
![Mylec Street Hockey Balls (Pack of 12), Multi Color](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/51k7w1gv-bl-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.9 out of 5
Mylec Street Hockey Balls (Pack of 12), Multi Color
- 12 Mylec No Bounce Multi Color Street Hockey Balls
- Reusable Mesh Bag with hooks
- Scientifically designed to perform consistently in a of weather temperatures
![A&R Sports Low Bounce Ball (6-Pack) Orange](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/51ddipgx8-l-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
A&R Sports Low Bounce Ball (6-Pack) Orange
- Low-Bounce Higher Density Roller Hockey Balls for Roller, Street, or Floor Hockey
- Perfect for warmer weather: 60 Degrees - 70 Degrees (F)
- 6 Pack Ball Set
- From A&R Sports, the leading brand in sports accessories for over 20 years
![A&R Sports Hockey Ball (Pack of 12)](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/51cwwialykl-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
A&R Sports Hockey Ball (Pack of 12)
- Street Hockey Ball 12-Pack
- Orange Warm-Weather Hockey Balls
- Convenient, Resealable Mesh Bag
- From A&R Sports, the leading brand in sports accessories for over 20 years
![Mylec Hot Weather Hockey Balls, (Pack of 6) RED](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/41uzkkne1ul-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.6 out of 5
Mylec Hot Weather Hockey Balls, (Pack of 6) RED
- The Original No Bounce Hockey Ball scientifically designed to perform consistently in a variety of weather temperatures
- Hot Weather for play in >75 Degrees F.
![Mylec Cold Weather No Bounce Hockey Balls, Blue (Pack of 6)](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/d7c1b18a-4f7a-44c9-8ac5-1b45600ea4ae/rating/41hfsdxhxcl-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.5 out of 5
Mylec Cold Weather No Bounce Hockey Balls, Blue (Pack of 6)
- The Original No Bounce Hockey Ball scientifically designed to perform consistently in a variety of weather temperatures
- Cold Weather for play in <30 Degrees F
What is a field hockey ball made of
As mentioned earlier, field hockey balls are precise pieces of equipment. Normally covered with dimples for easier traveling and disbursement of water, most field hockey balls have around an inch of plastic coating from the hollow center. But further on, there is an inner core, just like a golf ball, made out of cork and rubber. This inner core gives the attacking field hockey players the precise click and feel they want when striking the ball.
I would recommend you also this forum about hockey life.