Product Description

The SPALDING composite leather basketball offers a cover material and design tested to perform at the highest level. The new SPALDING Zi/O Excel basketball is an example of what the ultimate indoor/outdoor basketball should be¿a high performance ball with industry leading Zi/O composite cover, full ball pebbling, foam back construction and NBA brand.

Product Details

• Size: Official Size
• Brand: Spalding
• Model: 64-497
• Dimensions: 9.00" h x 9.50" w x 9.50" l, 1.75 pounds

Features

• Indoor/outdoor composite leather basketball
• Deep channel design for better dribble control
• Foam backing under the full-ball pebbling for precise ball handling
• Official NBA size and weight
• Official play size of 29.5 inches

Amazon.com Product Description
The Spalding 64-497 Zi/O Excel is a pure example of everything an indoor/outdoor basketball should be. The official ball of the NBA, it meets all stringent official size and weight specifications. The composite leather construction features the addition of a foam backing under the full ball pebbling to make handling even more precise. The deep channel design is 30 percent deeper for even better grip and dribble control. The ball has an official size of 29.5 inches.

Customer Reviews

best all around ball
this ball, like all other composite balls, will wear out faster if you're only going to use it outdoors(i've had two, and just bought a new one, of which I uploaded pics of). However, if you want a ball that feels great(the zio composite really does feel much different then a regular indoor/outdoor composite), and dribbles more "accurately"(theres no guesswork to where the ball will bounce when dribbling, you dont have to watch it while you dribble like other balls that will sometimes go a few mm to the left or right for no reason, which we all know sometimes causes turnovers), then this is the ball for you. If you play outdoors everyday, for long periods, you'll probably want to go with the cheaper $15-20 composites, as you will wear any composite out much faster outdoors. This ball is more suited for indoor play, with occasional outdoor blacktop usage.

In closing, this ball feels great in the hand(really does have deeper channels and better composite material), and is a more accurate handling ball then others.

Very dissappointed
Bought an Excel back in october to replace one of our original zi/o's that were stolen. I was really hoping that they'd improve on the zi/o when they replaced it with the Excel model but we've been dissappointed. Its been sitting in the corner of our room half inflated since it won't hold air anymore, and a couple of the panels are already peeling. Now don't get me wrong this is the condition of some of our basketballs after about half a year's worth of outdoor play that we usually do (3-5 days of long outdoor play a week), but we didn't play nearly as much the past quarter and its already worse than any current basketball we've been using. If you're using this for heavy outdoor use look for something else, and if you're doing indoor always go with TF1000.

A good indoor ball. Outdoor? Not so much.
I've been looking for a basketball for a little while now. I wanted one with a good grip and a nice feel to it. I'd come down to choosing the Zi/O Excel or the TF1000. I ended up going with the Zi/O because it was billed an indoor/outdoor ball, while the TF1000 was just for indoors.

I ordered the ball and got it quickly from Amazon. Right from the start, I loved the ball's feel. The number of pebbles on each panel really help with grip and the deeper chanes between panels really help you with handling and control. I used it on an indoor gym first and it was great. It felt natural and running with it was fun. I thought I'd had a winner on my hands.

The next week I brought it to the park and played outside in a street court. Again it felt great. Playing on the street court gave the ball a different feel, not altogether unpleasant. I was happy again, but a few minutes after getting home I discovered that the panels had started to come loose and were starting to peel. I was very disappointed with that.

I had read reviews about the eventual problems the ball had with outdoor play, but I never thought it'd start to unravel, so to speak, after an hour and a half of outdoor play. Needless to say, I exchanged the ball and got a replacement from Amazon within a few days. I still like the ball, but I'll be saving it for indoor use only now.

Maybe Spalding should not market the Zi/O Excels as indoor/outdoors. It's just unacceptable. I'll probably be looking for an outdoor ball now, too. Preferably something of a similar quality..if anyone has any suggestions, I'd be very appreciative.