Examples of balls we've prepped. Your own leather ball gets the exact same treatment.
Send-In Football Prep
$50
Includes a free prepaid label to send your ball in. Return shipping chosen at checkout.
Already have a leather football you love? Mail it to us and we'll give it the same full hand prep as every ball we sell, then ship it back game-ready.
- Free label to ship it in — we email you a prepaid, tracked label after you order.
- The full Sam's prep — mud, brush, condition, seal, and a hand grip test.
- Usually 2–3 weeks total — from order to doorstep, often less.
Return shipping: USPS Ground Advantage $10 (1–5 business days), Priority Mail $15 (2–3 business days), or Priority Mail Express $60 (overnight).
Secure checkout powered by Square · Send-in policy
How It Works
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1
Order online
Pay the $50 prep fee and pick your return shipping at checkout. Same options as our footballs: USPS Ground Advantage $10, Priority Mail $15, or Priority Mail Express $60.
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2
Get your free label
We email you a prepaid, tracked shipping label, usually within 1 business day, to the email you used at checkout. Sending your ball to us costs you nothing extra.
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3
Ship your ball
Pack your football in a box, stick on the label, and drop it off. Deflating it a little makes it easier to pack.
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4
We prep it by hand
The full Sam's Footballs prep: factory wax stripped, Lena Blackburne rubbing mud, horsehair brushing, Wilson conditioner, a Wilson wax bar seal, and a hand grip test.
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5
It ships back to you
Your ball comes home game-ready, with a tracking number. The whole process usually takes 2–3 weeks from order to doorstep, often less.
Questions
How much does it cost?
$50 for the prep, which includes the prepaid label to send your ball to us. Return shipping is chosen at checkout: $10 Ground Advantage, $15 Priority Mail, or $60 Priority Mail Express.
How long does it take?
Usually 2–3 weeks total, often less. That covers your ball's trip to us, the hand prep (which needs drying time between steps), and the trip back.
What footballs can you prep?
Leather footballs, like the Wilson GST, Omega, The Duke, Nike Vapor Elite, and other leather game balls. Prep improves grip and feel, but it can't repair damage, fix a lopsided or worn-out ball, or turn a composite or rubber ball into leather.
What if my ball can't be helped by prep?
We'll tell you, send it back, and refund the $50 prep fee.
Is my ball safe in the mail?
Your label and the return shipment both include tracking. Pack the ball in a sturdy box. See the send-in policy for the full details on shipping and liability.
I don't have a ball. Can you just send me one?
Yes. Our prepped footballs ship within 3 business days, already game-ready.
Something else? Text Sam at 630-835-6035 or email sam@samsfootballs.com.