Basic Breakdown - Different Types of Baseballs

It was once said, a good ball makes a good game—bad balls make bad memories.

All coaches, programs, etc…have a ton of choices when it’s comes to selecting Baseballs for your team/program - truth is most people have a decent idea what they are looking for, but don’t really know what they are looking for:

“I want actual leather”

“ I want raised seams”

“I want Major League Baseballs”

Hopes this breakdown helps make your selection process easier.

Major League Baseballs (MLB)

• Hand-stitched with 108 red cotton stitches.

• The core (called a “pill”) is made of cork wrapped tightly with two layers of rubber.

• Around the core, about 3 layers of wool yarn (white, gray, and sometimes blue) are tightly wound—this helps the ball maintain its shape and rebound.

• The cover is top-grade full-grain cowhide leather, usually from the U.S. Midwest.

• Each ball weighs 5 to 5.25 ounces and measures 9 to 9.25 inches in circumference.

 High School / NFHS Baseballs

• Must meet similar size/weight specs as MLB, but covers can be Grade A or B cowhide leather, not always the top pro quality.

• Wool content in the windings can vary (often 50–85%). Lower wool % means the ball won’t hold shape as long.

• NFHS stamp ensures they’re approved for official play.

 Youth / Little League Baseballs

• Typically lighter (sometimes 4.5 ounces) and slightly smaller for younger age groups.

• Many use synthetic leather covers (vinyl or composite) for cost savings and durability.

• Wool winding percentage is often much lower (15–30% wool, rest polyester/cotton blend).

• Some entry-level balls skip wool entirely and just use rubber windings.

 Practice & Training Baseballs

• Synthetic covers are common since they hold up longer in batting cages.

• Core may be solid rubber instead of cork/wool—makes them cheaper but with less “true” feel.

• Some come as “reduced injury factor (RIF)” balls, which have a softer polyurethane core for safety in youth drills.

Specialty Baseballs

• Weighted baseballs: filled with denser material, can weigh from 6 oz to over 1 lb for arm training.

• Dimpled machine balls: solid polyurethane with no seams, built to last through hundreds of pitches in pitching machines.

• Synthetic split leather balls: cheaper construction, cover made of split-grain leather (lower durability, scuffs faster).