How It's Made: Promotional Volleyballs

Promotional Volleyballs provide a great base on which to advertise your brand. They have a large surface area, and a branded volleyball flying through the air is a surefire way to make an impact. 

The modern volleyball was first designed by Spalding in 1900 and has continuously evolved to improve flight accuracy and durability. Promotional volleyballs are composed of three primary layers. Let's start with the inner rubber core.

First Layer: Inner Core

The first layer of your promotional volleyball is made of rubber. More specifically, it is composed of polyisobutylene, a material that allows the volleyball to stay light. This is particularly important in volleyball, as players are repeatedly hitting the ball with their arms and hands. A heavier ball could do some serious damage. The inner core is vital in ensuring the air stays inside the volleyball, enabling you to play for longer.

The Inner Core of your Promotional Volleyball is made of rubber

Second Layer: The Cloth

Attached to the inner core is a cloth-like material. This is a loosely woven and thin material which somewhat resembles gauze. Depending on the ball, this layer can be either attached to the inner core or not, or somewhere in between. Manufacturers apply glue to the outer side of this layer to enable the final layer to stick. This glue is created through a specific process in which elastic macromolecules are mixed with a dissolvable solute. This solute prevents the glue from becoming solid.

Third Layer: The Outer Cover & Panel Shell

The final layer of a volleyball is made of leather, or a synthetic substitute like microfiber composite, polyurethane (PU), or high-grade PVC. The materials used depend on the ball's intended environment, and different leagues around the world use volleyballs made of different outer materials.

Volleyballs made of genuine leather feel harder – this is preferable for hitters, who play at the net. Spare a thought for the defenders, though, who have to stop this ball in its tracks when it's travelling well over 100 km/h.

This third layer is separated into a number of panels. The amount of panels is dependent on the ball:

• 18 to 20 Panels: Historically, an 18–20 panel stitched layout has been commonplace for traditional indoor and beach play.
• 8 Panels: In 2008, a revolutionary new ball with only 8 laminated panels (such as Mikasa's dimpled surface design) was created to improve aerodynamics and player passing accuracy.

                 

Comparing Volleyball Types: Indoor, Beach, and Promotional

Understanding the differences in panel material and construction helps ensure you select the right product for your specific audience:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the volleyball made of?

A volleyball is made of three primary layers: an inner rubber core, a thin cloth intermediate layer, and an outer cover panel shell. The inner core uses lightweight polyisobutylene rubber to keep air inside, while the outer cover is constructed from genuine leather, synthetic polyurethane (PU), or high-grade PVC depending on whether the ball is built for indoor, beach, or promotional play.

2. What materials are used to make a professional volleyball?

Professional indoor volleyballs are made using premium microfiber composite synthetic leather or genuine leather for the outer cover, offering high grip, soft impact, and flight control. Beach volleyballs use water-resistant synthetic PU leather with heavy-duty stitching, and promotional giveaway volleyballs feature durable, scuff-resistant PVC designed for high-volume use.

3. What is the inner core of a volleyball made of?

The inner core of a volleyball is made of polyisobutylene rubber. This specific rubber material keeps the ball extremely lightweight while providing superior air retention. Maintaining a light core is crucial for player safety during high-speed hits and ensures the ball retains consistent pressure and shape over extended play.

4. What is the difference between leather, PU, and PVC volleyballs?

Genuine leather provides a traditional, firmer feel preferred by indoor net hitters, while synthetic PU (polyurethane) leather offers water resistance, high durability, and excellent ink adhesion for custom artwork. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a soft, highly durable, and cost-effective material best suited for high-volume promotional giveaways and casual outdoor play.

5. How are the layers of a volleyball constructed?

A volleyball is constructed step-by-step in three distinct layers:

1. Inner Core: A sealed polyisobutylene rubber bladder that holds the air.
2. Cloth Layer: A gauze-like woven fabric wrapped around the core with a specialized elastic solute adhesive.
3. Outer Shell: Stitched or laminated cover panels (ranging from 8 to 20 panels) glued directly to the cloth layer to form the outer playing surface.

Choosing the Best Materials for Custom Promotional Volleyballs

When customizing volleyballs for corporate activations, beach tournaments, or athletic giveaways, material selection dictates how your artwork performs over time:

• Synthetic PU Leather: Ideal for premium branded balls intended for competitive play. It offers a soft, professional feel and excellent ink adhesion for multi-color logos.
• High-Grade PVC: Perfect for high-volume promotional giveaways. PVC is durable, cost-effective, and resists scuffing across various indoor and outdoor surfaces.
• Chlorine & Water Resistance: For outdoor and summer activations, combining branded volleyballs with other items from our product catalog creates a cohesive event merchandise bundle for your brand. 

Whether you need high-durability synthetic balls for a summer marketing activation or match-ready gear for athletic leagues, exploring our Promotional Ball Sports collection ensures your brand gets maximum court visibility.