Volleyballs

1. Depending on where you play, be it in a gym or on a beach, make sure that you have the Molten volleyball that's appropriate for your location.

2. An indoor volleyball is made from 18 separate pieces of leather or synthetic leather that are laminated or glued onto an inflated bladder.

3. A high-quality Tachikara volleyball will have a durable bladder and strong, dependable stitching.

4. An outdoor volleyball, because it generally sees more wear and tear due to rougher playing surfaces, is hand-sewn over the bladder. In addition, they're usually slightly heavier to account for wind factors.

5. Before game play, check to see that your professional volleyball is of official tournament size and weight.

6. If you're uncomfortable with the forearm stings caused by a harder volleyball, you can purchase a pink volleyball made with a softer material to lessen the sting.

7. For indoor use, white volleyballs made with premium leather are considered the best for feel, durability and air retention.

8. For outdoor games, a variety of leather grades will give you the closest approximation to an indoor volleyball ball, yet this volleyball is at a lower cost with higher durability.

9. Did you know? Mikasa volleyballs have been the official indoor volleyball of the Olympics since the 1964 Tokyo games.