Who uses mini balls?! [Archive] - Soccer Fans Network Forums

Link

02-09-2005, 10:39 PM

Just wondering how many of you out there train with a mini ball (size 1).
I do it when ever I practice on my own time, and I think it improves how you play greatly. I wanna hear other peoples opinions on it just to see what the word on miniature balls is. :smoking:

freestylegirl21

02-09-2005, 10:45 PM

I have trained with a mini ball with my club team. They work so well and really improve your touch on the ball. After doing some ball work with them we had to play an actual 11 v 11 scrimmage with one and it was so difficult. We eventually got a lot better with it and it was a lot of fun. I think that it really helps. I actually bought one after that training session and use it at home in my basement and stuff. It is also so hard to juggle with so I am betting that if you can get pretty good at juggling with it you will turn into a much better player. (Or at least a better juggler :))

roggie15

02-09-2005, 10:59 PM

I have one but I don't really know what I could do to train with it... besides juggle. Any tips?

Madridsoccer7

02-09-2005, 11:37 PM

I practice with a size one all the time when im in my house. It works very well with controling since there is a smaller sweet spot. so far i havent broke any thing. . . . .Yet. :silly:

Link

02-10-2005, 12:21 AM

I don;t really knwo any specific training things to do with it either, but when I'm at home with my friends, we use it all the time instead of a big ball, the idea is that when you play with a minni, then switch to a larger, it feels liek the size 5 is HUGE! and that's true. I like to bring it where ever I go, because you can use them anywhere, and they are a lot easirer to carry around than a size 5. :p

SaberWolf

02-10-2005, 02:24 AM

I use them, to get a good first-touch and things like that.

Becks

02-10-2005, 03:05 AM

If you can hit a good spot on a size 1, then a size 5 becomes no problem.

SaberWolf

02-10-2005, 03:12 AM

Rema

02-10-2005, 05:28 AM

Whoa now, I wouldn't plan on learning how to KICK the ball using a small ball like that, b/c when you kick a real ball it will mess you up alittle.

But using it for dribbling and first touch always helps me out.

Don't see how it would really affect your shot, if anything I see it being more beneficial. I would think you'd need more technique to shoot a mini ball because you need to hit a very small area on the ball for your shot to work.

Anyways, as SaberWolf said earlier, using them for first touch is great :).

freestylegirl21

02-10-2005, 05:10 PM

I have one but I don't really know what I could do to train with it... besides juggle. Any tips?

Well, I use it to do Coerver moves. I'm not sure if you know what they are but it's a lot of stuff like toe taps, and pendulums, and just ball control stuff. Most of it is more advanced though, those are just the basics and I find it more fun than just your basic toe taps and stuff. There are also some websites that show you different types of Coerver moves and training tips if you would like some.

Rickster

02-10-2005, 06:23 PM

i dunt understand sweetspot wats tat?

Link

02-10-2005, 07:23 PM

Sweet spot is the area on the ball that will get it to move the most efficiant, liek right in the middle of the ball, if there was a target on every ball, the sweet spot would be the center.

soccerdoctor

02-11-2005, 12:19 AM

Also try a softball for dribbling and receiving and a tennis ball to improve eye foot coordination.

SaberWolf

02-11-2005, 03:38 AM

I know alotta people that have tried training with a miniball to begin shooting and when they switch to a size 5, they'll kick the ball over the goal, b/c the miniball has a lower center of horizontal line, than a regular.

*Baby_Becks*

02-13-2005, 06:24 AM

I don't use my mini for shooting, I use it for control improvement and any juggling I want to do in my home. Mini balls are great for dribbling as well. It's true what they say about your touch being lighter: once you use the mini for awhile and then return to using the size 5, your feet move with the ball, not against it, and your passes are much more graceful.

rio_georgio

02-16-2005, 02:11 AM

but if u use them a lot, wouldn't u become sorta unfamiliar with regular sized balls and lose ur touch? thats kinda the reason im a bit hesitant to get a miniball.

*Baby_Becks*

02-16-2005, 03:07 AM

As long as you balance the time you spend using both, you shouldn't have a problem. As I said before, I don't use mine for shooting and thats why... is because I don't want it to affect my performance. But I have never had any problems with losing the touch on the size 5 ball- if anything it improved my skills. I suppose it is a feeling that you must experience to understand, but I do think that a mini ball would be a good investment! ;)

ole21

02-16-2005, 11:58 AM

yes i agree but a brazilian ball would be a much better one. just check out brasilianfutebol.com and get one

Becks

02-16-2005, 06:35 PM

Aren't they nearly the same?

Rema

02-16-2005, 11:28 PM

Aren't they nearly the same?

The brasilian ball is a size 3 I believe, but it has the weight of a size 5 ball as to allow for a more realistic feel/touch on the ball.

Link

02-17-2005, 12:32 AM

The reason why a mini ball is lighter, is to make it so when you touch a big ball, you're going to be much more gentle with it, so you wont kick it away from you. If you have a ball that weighs the same, you wont get that benefit from it. Idk how the different sizes would matter, I just thought a miniball was made to get you to be more precise when you pick up a size 5.

Footballer05

02-19-2005, 02:09 AM

I have a Mini soccer ball. I play with it just about everyday whenever Im not practicin with my high school team. It helps ur touch on the ball and it improves footskillz...fun stuff...

Becks

02-19-2005, 02:17 AM

A mini ball I believe would be more of a benefit because a Brasilian ball makes it seem more like an accuracy improvement, rather than the "all around" aspect of a mini.

KevinWH16

02-21-2005, 04:36 AM

mini balls def help but what im suggesting is yousing someing the size of a golf ball it would really help out, actually it prob wont idk what does any one thing about a golf ball

Link

02-21-2005, 04:48 AM

mini balls def help but what im suggesting is yousing someing the size of a golf ball it would really help out, actually it prob wont idk what does any one thing about a golf ball

Golf ball is too small kev, I'd stick with the tennis ball, smallest I'll consider.

KevinWH16

02-21-2005, 03:25 PM

yeah i guess,it wouldnt hurt to try tho :depressed

soccerdoctor

02-21-2005, 08:05 PM

I've seen freestylers who can juggle marbles. Impossible is nothing!

Madridsoccer7

02-23-2005, 12:47 AM

ya, shoooting with a mini ball isn't the greatest idea, you could really mess up you knee too, If you swing too hard you're leg isn't prepared for it. i dont really know how to explain it though.

KevinWH16

02-23-2005, 01:46 AM

ya, shoooting with a mini ball isn't the greatest idea, you could really mess up you knee too, If you swing too hard you're leg isn't prepared for it. i dont really know how to explain it though.

Yeah, you can hyper extend your knee, I did it at the beginning of last fall, no fun at all.

smithxi

11-13-2008, 04:54 AM

I got a mini from bestsoccerbuys.com, and I bought it because it has a latex blatter, but it sometimes spins lopsided when I juggle. Does anyone know if the Nike T90 mini with the latex blatter (this one (http://www.soccer.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Ne=646&N=4294960224%20376%204294959028&Product_Id=310734)) spins lopsided when juggled?