You have heard of airless tires but have you heard of airless balls, specifically an airless basketball? Sports equipment maker Wilson has created just that; a basketball that instead of air, has a bunch of holes much like the airless tires we mentioned.
Last year, Wilson created a prototype, featuring a 3D-printed honeycomb structure for bounce in place of air. This year, the company improved on the prototype and decided to sell some to anyone willing to drop the money.
The airless, 3D-printed basketball, dubbed Airless Gen1, showcases advancements in manufacturing and materials, including selective laser sintering and a special polymer.
It is a radical change from the traditional ball but the existence of holes opens the ball to a few concerns.
For example, because it has holes, it definitely will have different air resistance as it moves through the air. This means an entirely new handling which most basketball players are already accustomed to.
Moreover, the holes present the opportunity for collecting debris if the ball is being used outdoors.
Despite these shortfalls and the high price of US$2,500 a pop, all 200 units of the Wilson Airless Gen1 basketball were snapped up when it was put up on sale on February 16, 2024.
Images: Wilson Sporting Goods.
via NOTEBOOKCHECK.