- Evolution Basketballs

As a youth basketball coach for my boys' teams, I’ve tried many basketballs over the years, and the Wilson Evolution is hands down the gold standard for indoor play. This ball is the benchmark against which all other indoor basketballs are measured, and for good reason. It is National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) approved and is the go-to ball for youth leagues up through high school competition. Performance and Feel The Wilson Evolution offers an unmatched combination of grip, bounce, and feel. Properly inflated, this ball delivers a consistent bounce that makes it perfect for dribbling, shooting, and overall play. The microfiber composite cover provides excellent grip and control, ensuring players can handle the ball with confidence. Whether it's during practice or game time, this ball feels like the real deal—professional quality at its finest. Durability and Use I use these balls for both practice sessions and home games when we provide the ball, and they’ve proven to be incredibly durable. They hold up well under constant use, maintaining their grip and bounce for seasons of play. One key tip: only use this ball indoors. The composite material is designed for hardwood courts, and outdoor use can wear it down quickly. Invest in a separate, cheaper ball for outdoor practice and play to keep your Wilson Evolution in top condition. Brand Trust and Value Wilson is a trusted, longstanding brand in basketball, and the Evolution lives up to that reputation. While they do offer other models, none match the premium quality of this ball. Over the years, I’ve tried other brands, but they simply don’t measure up in terms of feel and performance. The Evolution may cost a bit more, but it’s worth every penny for the consistency and professional-grade quality it provides. Practical Advice If you’re considering purchasing this ball, I strongly recommend personalizing it with a Sharpie. Write your name on it to avoid mix-ups, as these balls are very popular and you’ll likely encounter others in league play. Also, make sure to check the inflation regularly to maintain optimal performance—this ball is perfect when it’s at the right pressure. Final Thoughts The Wilson Evolution is an investment in quality and performance. Whether you’re a coach, a parent, or player yourself, this ball will elevate the basketball experience. Spend the extra money—it’s worth it. Then, get to work on your shooting, dribbling, and playing hard! This ball is an absolute must-have for anyone serious about indoor basketball.

This is a review to address why this basketball gets so many mixed opinions. Quick Review: This INDOOR basketball is a go to when you can purchase the ball at the price point between $50-$75. This is the most common used basketball that is played with at open gyms, school games, leagues, etc... Great ball to play with as it checks all the boxes for things needed in a basketball. In-depth Review: The reason for many MIXED reviews are due to the fact that many balls SLIGHTLY differ in feel. After doing some research, it in fact is TRUE. Evolutions will come differently, depending on the patent stamps that are located on the ball itself. I tested this theory out by purchasing 2 of the SAME RED colored evolutions as well as comparing one I have had for a year. As seen in the picture, the patent stamps are DIFFERNT. Between the 2 NEW red Evolutions, one has a circle stamp and another a vertical stamp. Personally, I have noticed both styles on many Evolutions I've played with. My theory to that is perhaps its the year/season the ball was made in the factory? However, I don't think the stamp format is important in differentiating the balls. In fact, what is important are the THREE letters located within the stamp. In the circle stamp, the three letters are located in the center to the right of the valve. In the vertical stamp, it is the last text at the bottom. For example with the pictures I provided, red ball with circle stamp = NDV, yellow ball with circle stamp = NCS, and red ball with vertical stamp = XCS. I believe this is what is crucial to how an Evolution FEELS. Comparing the picture with the 2 red balls side by side, you can see that the grooves are much DEEPER in one of the balls compared to the other. The ball with XCS tag, was deeper in the grooves and had a slight DIFFERENCE in feel compared to the ball with the NDV tag. I also compared with my older ball (yellow), and that had the same result. For those who don't know (casual hoopers), deeper grooves have affect on handling a ball, the release of a jump shot, and most importantly, the rotation (spin) the ball has when traveling in the air to the rim. I believe this reason SPECIFICALLY is why there are so many mixed reviews with these Evolution basketballs. To add to this, the balls will also age DIFFERENTLY depending on what tag you get. MY CONCLUSION: The 3 letter tag on the Evolution patent stamp will determine which type of ball you truly have. Within these 3 letters, the important one to note is the FIRST letter. The balls with "N" have a nicer finish and are ultimately the more favored type of evolution. These Evo's specifically feel PERFECT out the box with smoother grooves and are ultimately GAME READY. The balls with the "X" have the same grip however, they have a DEEPER groove and feel like it needs to be broken in BEFORE it is GAME READY. When it comes to the basketball aging, the "X" ball softens and balances over time. To add to that, the ball also seems to last LONGER in terms of keeping that "great feel". Compared to the "N" ball, this one seems to have a shorter lifetime when it comes to quality. However, the quality comes PREMIUM out the box. Personally myself, I would favor the "N" ball in a 80/20 ratio. This is because my basketballs usually have a lifetime of 6-months to a year due to the fact I play very often in community leagues, open gyms, and casual shoot arounds. To add to this, I am also more fortunate financially to purchase these balls at such a price point and time frame. For example, I have been buying EVOs for the last 2.5 years since I finished University. In this timeframe, I have bought about 3-5 balls a year. This is also factoring in my balls occasionally getting stolen. Buying at this rate means that you are paying an estimate of $300 on basketballs a year. Concluding that getting the EVO with the "N" tag works in MY current situation. To contrast that situation^^^. I remember when I was in HS playing on the team and also having an EVO to practice with outside of regular team practice. In this situation, I preferred having my ball last LONGER. I could compensate the lack of premium feel out the box because I knew that the ball will stay in GREAT condition LONGER. Also, I was not financially ready back then. This is also preferred by many since not everyone likes to purchase a ball so often. In conclusion, I have found that there ARE apparent differences in Wilson Evolution Basketballs. They are slight differences, but can be noticed to select "hoopers" that may or may not be pleased. However, these balls are all still top quality no matter which version you receive. Both will be used in games, pickup, shootaround. It is a GREAT ball no matter which you get. P.S. I get questions from many of my friends on how I always find the "N" or specific ball desired. When I go to a retail store, the ball will be in a box with the Patent tag hidden and the EVO text shown. I simply just rotate the ball as best I can in order to locate the desired version whether it be "N" or "X". When I buy on Amazon like I did these 2, I simply will buy in bulk like 2-3 and keep the one/s that has my desired tag. I will then follow by either returning the one/s NOT wanted or ask for an exchange from the seller with the ball with my desired tag. Hope this helps you hoopers! #holdthefollowthrough :)

I bought these basketballs for young people, and I'm very happy with the purchase. The balls are excellent quality, have a great grip, and feel durable. They bounce consistently and are perfect for practice, games, or everyday play. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for high-quality basketballs.

Absolutely the best Indoor Ball on the market! When I first touched this ball, it was at a pickup game and after 5 minutes I knew I had to have it. It was the best ball, with the best feel I had ever played with. Not only have I played an incredible amount of basketball with LOTS of different balls. I am also an incredibly skilled researcher. I literally went through 1,000's of reviews for every ball made under $100. So when I say this is the best reviewed ball that is being made, it's means people who have purchased every top name ball on the market (Solutions, TF-1000's etc.) are also saying it's the best and the one that will get picked to be used the most when playing. What's the point of having and practicing with a great ball if it's never used in any games! I also have owned this ball for about 6 months now and Feel like I can give it my wholehearted endorsement. FEEL: When I say it has the best "feel" of any ball I have ever used, hundreds of people agree with me. This ball has the perfect grip and softness and rolls perfectly off your fingers. It's has a little bit of give or sponginess in the leather which gives it the perfect amount of give on the rim, and also helps to give you that perfect grip throughout an intense game without getting slippery. Unlike many other balls where you feel like it slipped or didn't roll off your hand correctly, I know every time I miss with this ball it's because I made a mistake not due to any fault of the ball. ENDURANCE: This ball holds up INCREDIBLY well "INDOORS" on a swept court. This ball is indoor only my friends and if there are little rocks on the court it will get nicked. After 6 months of use I was playing the other night and after the game one of the guys picked up the game ball and was talking about my "NEW" ball. It looks and feels just as good as the first day I played with it....honestly it feels even better. Don't ask me how, but it feels better and better the more you play with it like a broken in pair of shoes. PRICE: ($55 when I purchaed it) If you are on Amazon, you are looking for a good price and convenience. The price is ABSOLUTELY worth it on this ball. Even if you buy cheap balls, this ball is worth it on Endurance alone. The quality is 10 steps up from a budget ball and by the time your budget ball would lose it's grip and wear down, you will still have this ball with great grip 10 steps above the replacement ball you would normally buy. This ball is AWESOME - Endorsed by hundreds of hardcore ballers. This is overall the best ball I have ever owned and more importantly the best ball I have ever TOUCHED or played with in any game. BUY WITH CONFIDENCE and know I already did all the research for you and I've had hands on experience with it!

Basketball is great!! Good feel, dribbles well, Love the color options. Hold proper air pressure good. Good price. Men's ball size 29.5 and 28.5 also available. Recommend this product!!

Boys love it

Best indoor ball you can get, worth the money

Good stuff, But it's easy to get dusty when playing outdoors.

Had size 6. Now buying size 7 as my son is older. Size 6 is still has great grip 1 year later

I had to wash it at first, because there was no grip.

Best ball in the business. Blue colour is a bit more expensive but totally worth it, it stands out and feels great. These are easily my favourite indoor basketballs to play with. Highly recommend if you can justify the price.

Loads of grip

Calidad