Have you ever seen a soccer ball that looks a tad wonky? Egg-shaped soccer balls are caused by misuse and are generally avoidable. What exactly causes these deformities, and how can you fix them?
Egg-shaped and deformed soccer balls are generally caused by misuse. Kicking the ball against a wall too hard, overinflation, or sitting or standing on them are the primary cause of soccer ball deformities. To fix an egg-shaped soccer ball, deflate it as much as possible, then slowly reinflate it while massaging out any protrusions.
In this article, I’ll talk more about what causes these soccer ball abnormalities. I’ll teach you five steps on how to fix an egg-shaped soccer ball.
Related: How to Fix a Waterlogged Soccer Ball in 4 Steps
Table of Contents
What causes a soccer ball to become egg-shaped?
Soccer balls can deform over time and take on an egg shape if they’re not cared for properly. They can also develop bumps on the surface of the ball. What causes this? Some say it’s an air leak, but it’s more commonly a different reason.
The primary cause of an egg-shaped ball is a deformed bladder. Rubber, latex, and butyl soccer ball bladders are designed for heavy use. However, mistreatment of the ball can cause it to become egg-shaped; kicking it against a wall, overinflation, or sitting or standing on top of it can result in a deformed bladder and an egg shape.
These days, soccer balls are built to last. Generally, a ball will last at least one year of constant use before it needs replacing.
Mistreatment of a ball, like leaving out in the rain, could see it lasting less than a season. Be sure to take proper care of your soccer ball to make it last as long as possible.
Although high-quality soccer balls are more expensive, they tend to perform better than cheaper alternatives. However, all soccer balls are susceptible to becoming misshapen if misused.
One surefire way to ruin your soccer ball is by kicking it against a wall too hard or too much. The pressure from the impact on the hard surface is enough to alter the shape of the ball. Don’t kick your ball too hard against a wall.
If you’re going to practice soccer with a wall, I recommend using an old ball or buying one to use specifically for wall ball.
Sitting on your soccer ball is another reason it’s misshapen. Sitting on your ball can deform it and cause it to become egg-shaped. A deformed soccer ball won’t work as intended; it will move through the air unpredictably and make it difficult the strike the ball correctly.
Can you fix a deformed soccer ball?
It’s frustrating when you buy a new ball, and it quickly becomes deformed, or when an old, previously reliable ball becomes misshapen. Can you fix a deformed or egg-shaped ball?
You can fix a deformed soccer or egg-shaped soccer ball. To fix it, deflate it and slowly reinflate it while massaging any bumps on the ball. Repeat this until the ball is no longer deformed.
If it wasn’t distorted too long, there’s a better chance of fixing your deformed soccer ball. A ball that has been deformed for a prolonged time may be irreparable.
The best thing you can do to fix your soccer ball is not to let it lose its shape in the first place. Take proper care of your soccer ball, and don’t jeopardize its form by kicking it against a wall, overinflating it, or sitting or standing on it.
How to prevent your ball from becoming egg-shaped
Keeping your ball in tip-top shape doesn’t have to be complicated. You can take a few simple and easy steps to keep your soccer ball in prime condition.
Prevent your ball from becoming deformed by using it as intended. Avoid kicking it too hard against walls, don’t sit or stand on it, and don’t overinflate it. These three things will deform the soccer ball’s inner material and make it egg-shaped.
Egg-shaped soccer balls don’t function like regular soccer balls. They knuckle through the air and come off your foot weirdly when you strike the ball.
Take proper care of your ball to prevent it from becoming egg-shaped. I know it’s hard, but don’t sit or stand on it during training – that’s an easy way to ruin your ball.
How to fix an egg-shaped soccer ball
There’s a chance you can fix your deformed ball. The less time it has spent deformed, the greater the chance of fixing it without any issues.
To fix a deformed, egg-shaped soccer ball, deflate it as much as possible. Then, slowly reinflate it, ensuring no deformities in the outer layer. Massage out any protrusions you see as you inflate it. Don’t overinflate the ball; the standard soccer ball PSI is 8.5-15.6 and weighs 14-16 ounces.
1. Deflate the ball as much as possible
Grab your pump and deflate the soccer ball!
Detach the needle from your air pump. Moisten the needle (saliva works well for this) and insert it into the ball’s silicone valve. Once inserted, patiently wait for as much air to leave the ball as possible.
2. Slowly reinflate the soccer ball
Once you’ve uninflated the ball as much as possible, you can slowly reinflate it.
Reattach the pump needle to your air pump. Moisten the needle and insert it into the deflated ball’s valve. Slowly pump air into the ball, but do not overinflate it.
3. As you inflate the ball, massage out bumps and protrusions
Gently massage the lumps or egg-shaped part of the ball as you reinflate it. This helps the internal bladder get back to its standard shape.
This could take some time and doesn’t always fix the ball on the first try. You may need to repeat this step more than once.
4. Inflate the ball to the correct PSI
Inflate the ball to the proper PSI or until it feels right. Be sure not to overinflate the ball as you pump it. The standard PSI for a soccer ball is 8.5-15.6, weighing between 14 and 16 ounces.
Use your best judgment if you don’t have a pressure gauge to check the ball’s PSI.
Squeeze the ball with both of your hands. You’ll notice that you can only squeeze the ball slightly at the correct PSI.
If the ball is rock-solid and you can’t squeeze it, you must release some air.
5. Repeat the previous steps until the ball is no longer deformed
If your ball is still egg-shaped after the last four steps, repeat them as often as needed until it is no longer deformed. This isn’t guaranteed to fix your soccer ball, but it’s your best option instead of buying a new ball.
You might have to buy a new one if you can’t fix your egg-shaped ball.
I recommend looking into Select soccer balls, particularly the Select Numero 10 soccer ball. In my opinion, they’re the best soccer balls for their price point.
In my college experience, each team used Wilson NCAA Soccer Balls, and they worked incredibly well. The only drawback to these was that the glue panels sometimes separated, causing issues. Otherwise, these balls are a perfect choice.