Not sure if your football is real leather? It's a common question, especially before sending a ball in for prep. Many composite footballs are designed to look like leather, and some don't make it obvious on the ball. Here are the quickest ways to tell.
1. Read the Ball
Start with the easiest check. Most footballs say what they're made of, printed on a panel near the logo or on the original packaging:
- "Genuine Leather," "Leather," or "Horween Leather" means real leather.
- "Composite," "Synthetic," "Composite Leather," or "Rubber" means it's not real leather.
- "Official" or "Official Size" only tells you the size. It doesn't mean leather.
Also check the model name. The Wilson GST, Wilson Omega, Wilson "The Duke," and Nike Vapor Elite are all genuine leather game balls. Many inexpensive balls carrying the same brand names are composite, so look at the specific model, not just the brand.
2. Feel the Pebbles
Run your fingertips across a panel. On leather, the pebbled grain feels slightly soft and natural, and the bumps vary a little in size and shape. On composite, the pebbles usually feel firmer and more uniform, like they were stamped in a perfect pattern, which they were.
3. Squeeze It
Grip the ball the way you'd throw it. A leather ball, especially one that's been broken in, gives slightly under your fingers. A composite ball tends to feel firmer and more rubbery, and it springs back instantly.
4. Notice the Surface Out of the Box
A brand-new leather ball usually feels waxy and slick, because it's coated in factory wax to protect the leather (here's why). A new composite ball often feels tacky or grippy right away, because the grip is built into the synthetic surface.
5. Smell It
It sounds odd, but it works. Real leather has a distinct, earthy leather smell. Composite and rubber balls smell like plastic or rubber.
6. Think About the Price
Price is a good clue. A brand-new genuine leather game ball typically costs a lot more than a composite ball of the same size. If a ball was very inexpensive, it's most likely composite.
What Not to Do
Skip the "water test" and anything else that soaks, burns, or cuts the ball. Those can damage leather, and the checks above are enough to tell.
Still Not Sure?
Send us a photo of the ball, including any printing near the logo, and we'll tell you. Text Sam at 630-835-6035 or email sam@samsfootballs.com. If it's leather, our send-in prep service can make it game-ready for $50. If it's composite, prep won't help it, so check out our prepped leather footballs instead.
Got a Leather Ball? Send It In.
We'll hand-prep your leather football and ship it back game-ready. $50 with a free prepaid label to ship it in.
See How Send-In Prep Works