What does 28.5 mean on a basketball?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 11, 2026
28.5" Basketballs
What is a size 28.5 basketball?
Size 6 basketballs measure 28.5” and have a standard weight of 20 oz. Logically, size 6 balls are slightly smaller than size 7 basketballs, making them ideal for players with smaller hand spans.
What does 29.5 mean on a basketball?
The official size of the basketball used by the NBA is 29.5 inches in circumference. That's the same size used throughout men's college and high school basketball leagues. The WNBA uses a slightly smaller ball, measuring 28.5 inches in circumference.
Is 28.5 a men's ball?
The 28.5” women's basketball, or size 6 basketball, is the official ball size for most women's professional basketball associations, including the WNBA, including women's college and high school basketball leagues. This ball has a 28.5” circumference, just one inch smaller than the one used in the NBA.
What size basketball do kindergarteners use?
Size 4 25.5” 14 oz Boys and girls ages 5-8 years old. Size 3 22” 10 oz Boys and girls ages 4-8 years old. Also known as "mini" basketball. Size 1 16” 8 oz Boys and girls ages 2-4 year olds.
40 related questions foundWhat size basketball do 14 year olds use?
Size 7 Basketball:
For boys, a size 7 basketball should be used once they hit 14-years-old and is the official size used at the high school, college, and professional level. The circumference of the basketball should be 29.5" and the weight 22 oz.
Is 28.5 a women's ball?
28.5" Basketballs
Women, girls ages 12+, and boys ages 12-14 use basketballs that measure 28.5" in circumference and weigh 20 ounces. 28.5" basketballs are also referred to as "intermediate" or "size 6" balls. Women's leagues including the WNBA, college and high school use 28.5" basketballs.
How tall is WNBA Hoop?
What is this? A WNBA hoop stands at ten feet tall from the top of the rim to the base of the floor. According to TFI Global News, the average height of a female basketball player is 5'11”. Comparing that to the NBA, which is seven inches taller on average, you can understand why dunking is less common in the WNBA.
What does NBA stand for?
We take it for granted, but in the minds of everyday people, especially those who don't pay much attention to sports, NBA pretty much means "basketball", but it really stands for Nation Basketball Association.
Is 29.5 a men's ball?
Size 7 (29.5" or 75cm) is the official size of all adult basketballs, suitable for male basketball players aged 12 years and over.
What size is a basketball hoop?
The top of the hoop is 10 feet (305 cm) above the ground. Regulation backboards are 6 feet (183 cm) wide by 3.5 feet (107 cm) tall. All basketball rims (hoops) are 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter.
Is a WNBA ball smaller?
With a circumference of 28.5 inches, the official WNBA ball's size is one inch smaller than the regulation size for the NBA, 29.5 inches.
What size is women's basketball?
What Is the Size of Women's Basketballs? In the United States, women's basketball is 29 inches and weighs 570 g. The majority of leagues such as NCAA, WNBA, and the likes use a range of 28.5 and 29 inches basketball for females. In professional female basketballers, the perfect size is 29 inches.
What size basketball do 13 year olds use?
For boys, a size 6 basketball should be used between the ages of 12 and 13. For girls, a size 6 basketball should be used once they hit 12-years-old and is the official size used at the high school, college, and professional level. The circumference of the basketball should be 28.5" and the weight 20 oz.
Is the NBA rim 12 feet?
The rims have always been 10-feet high since James Naismith posted 13 rules for a game he called “Basket Ball” in a Springfield, Mass., YMCA gym in 1891.
Is WNBA rim bigger?
WNBA rims are placed 10 feet above the court, the same as in the NBA, and Delle Donne contends that at closer range to the basket, female players can display more of their athleticism and attract more fans.
Is a size 7 basketball women's?
When the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was formed in 1996, they also adopted the Size 6 ball. Outside of the U.S, reservations about smaller balls for women remained until 2004, when the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) changed the rule on the basketball size for women, mandating a Size 6.
What size basketball does a 7th grader use?
Grades 7-8:
Boys - Size 29.5 (regulation size men's ball)
What size basketball do under 12s use?
The introduction of a Size 5 basketball is in the players' best interest as the smaller ball helps improve shooting skills at an earlier age. The Size 5 basketball will allow Under 12 players to develop correct techniques with an appropriately sized ball before transitioning to larger basketballs in older age groups.
How do you pick the right size basketball?
What Size Basketball Should I Buy?
- BASKETBALL BALL SIZE CHART.
- Players ages 9 to 11 should use a youth basketball (27.5"). ...
- Women/girls age 12 and up and boys ages 12 to 14 should play with a 28.5” basketball.
- Men age 15 and up should play with an Official Size (29.5”) basketball.
Why is WNBA ball striped?
The orange and oatmeal ball was a marketing move.
The WNBA ball's orange and oatmeal striped coloring was conceived so that, when placed on the shelves in stores, the WNBA ball would set itself apart from other basketballs.