Volleyballs

There are several beach volleyballs out on the market and we highly recommend doing some research before making an investment, as the quality of play is highly influenced by the type of ball you purchase.

To start the discussion: if the ball says "replica" walk away. The texture the replicas use is rather different and often changes when exposed to the various whether elements a ball has to deal with. Replicas also tend to be a bit harsher on the forearms leaving a ton of red marks and sometimes even bruises. In short, you want to stay away from replicas.

The official GAV ball is the Spalding King of the Beach. The ball is similar in design to the original leather design of beach volleyballs, but is somewhat lighter and does not soak in water the way the original leather balls used to do. Some claim that its design is more predictable when it comes to wind influence when compared to the Wilson. While the standard colors and black and white, there are several variations available (just watch out that it is not a replica). The other good news for you is that it can oftentimes be found cheaper than the Wilson.

The current official ball of the AVP is the Wilson (please note that all of the official balls say "OFFICIAL GAME BALL” on them. It is somewhat lighter than the Spalding and due to this and its smoothness has a different behavior in the wind when compared to the Spalding King of the Beach. Overall people do like this ball, as it is easy on the shoulder and has pretty good durability (it just tends to balloon (a.k.a. expand) if consistently left inflated in the car during hot weather). While you are welcome to warm up with this ball, it cannot be used during tournament play at GAV.

Last but not least: The Mikasa Beach Champ. This ball is rarely seen in the US and there are very few tournaments/events that use it. When traveling abroad, however, it becomes the standard ball in most outdoor volleyball events. It is more comparable to the Wilson than the Spalding in its texture and behavior. But I would not purchase, having a Spalding or Wilson while being abroad is always a good way to strike up a conversation with other volleyball players.