A properly prepped football is a real investment, and the good news is it doesn't take much to keep it feeling game-ready. Most prepped balls that lose their feel early don't wear out. They get left in a hot car, dried out next to a heater, or scrubbed with the wrong cleaner. Here's how to make your prep last.
1. Store It Indoors, at Room Temperature
Leather doesn't like extremes. A car trunk in July, a cold garage in January, or a windowsill in direct sun will all dry the leather and fade the prep faster. Keep your ball inside, somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight. A ball bag or a shelf in the closet is perfect.
2. When It Gets Wet, Air Dry It. Never Use Heat.
Rain and wet grass happen. When the ball gets wet, towel off the moisture and let it air dry at room temperature. Never put it next to a heater, on a radiator, or in the dryer, and don't use a hair dryer. Fast heat pulls the oils out of the leather and leaves it stiff and slick, which undoes the conditioning that makes a prepped ball feel right.
The wax seal from our prep helps the ball shrug off moisture, so a damp practice won't ruin it as long as you let it dry slowly.
3. Brush Off Dirt. Skip the Household Cleaners.
After a muddy practice, let the ball dry and brush the loose dirt off with a soft horsehair brush. Don't reach for dish soap, wipes, or spray cleaners. They strip the leather's natural oils and the prep along with them. (More on that in No Shortcuts: What We'll Never Put on Your Football.)
4. Keep It Off Concrete and Asphalt
Grass and turf are easy on a football. Concrete and asphalt act like sandpaper and wear down the pebbled grain, which is where your grip comes from. If you want a ball for driveway catch, keep a cheap one around and save your prepped ball for the field.
5. Rotate Your Balls
If you throw every day, having two prepped balls and rotating them goes a long way. Each one gets time to rest and dry out between sessions, and both last longer. It's the same reason teams keep a rotation instead of throwing one ball until it's worn out. See How Many Footballs Does a Team Need? for how programs handle it.
When Is It Time for a New One?
Even a well-cared-for ball wears down with heavy use. If the grip has gone flat across most of the ball, the leather feels dry or stiff even after it's rested, or the pebbling is visibly worn smooth, it's time. Have questions about your ball? Reach out. We're happy to help.
Start With a Ball Worth Taking Care Of
Every Sam's football is mudded, brushed, conditioned with a leather-preserving conditioner, and sealed with a Wilson wax bar.
Shop Fully Prepped Footballs