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How To Fix An Egg Shaped Soccer Ball? 3 Brilliant Methods

How To Fix An Egg Shaped Soccer Ball? 3 Brilliant Methods

Soccer balls are meant to be kicked around a lot. This has been factored into the design process by the manufacturers, and a good quality ball should last you a long time.

However, constant use would have your soccer ball experience some changes. And one of these changes might be the loss of its spherical shape. We’re sure you might have experienced this at least once.

Did it ruin your plans for a fun soccer match with your family? Or did it steal your chance to show off your skills to a classmate? Do you even know why it happened, or has it remained a mystery to you?

To help you deal with this situation, we have researched some reasons why your ball might be deformed. We have also found some methods for you to fix your soccer ball if it morphs into an egg shape.

Why Does My Ball Have An Egg Shape?

Old soccer ball deflated
An air leak is a significant reason your soccer ball could be having an egg shape. It could be leakages from holes between the panels or as a result of a puncture.

An egg-shaped soccer ball could also result from the inner bladder not pressing equally on the outer casing on all sides of the ball. This is due to improper inflation and should correct itself after a few kicks around.

Generally, a soccer ball that has lost its form would affect the player’s field performance. For example, it wouldn’t bounce off at the right angles, on the field or off the foot.

This can be pretty frustrating and would dampen the mood on the pitch. We are sure you wouldn’t want that so we’ve shared some solutions.

How To Fix An Egg Shaped Soccer Ball?

If there’s a leak in your ball, pumping it seems like the most logical thing to do. But first, you need to determine the source of the leak.

The source could be as obvious as a broken valve to hidden punctures or a gap between the ball’s panels. To discover the exact position of the leak, you’d need:

  • A bowl or sink big enough to fit the ball
  • Ball pump needle
  • Air pump
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How to discover a leak?

  1. The first thing to do is pump your ball back to its original size.
  2. Next, you fill a bowl or sink with water and dip the ball into it.
  3. To pinpoint the leak, roll the ball around underwater, looking out for air bubbles.
  4. Finally, make sure you take note of where the leaks are before taking the ball out to dry.

Once you’ve known the source of the leak, you can go ahead and fix the ball accordingly.

1. Broken valve

A man inflates for soccer ball.

A broken valve is usually a result of wear and tear, especially with balls that are used often. Fortunately, replacing a broken valve is very easy to do. To do this, you’d need:

  • A valve removal tool
  • Valves
  • Ball pump needle
  • Air pump
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How to replace a valve?

  1. First, you should push the hook end of the tool through the opening of the valve. A pop sound should be heard as you push it into the bladder.
  2. Next, you lean the hook at a 45-degree angle and start to pull. You might have to use some force here as the valve may not come out quickly.
  3. Once out, check to make sure you’ve removed the whole valve.
  4. At this point, take a replacement valve and set it over the valve hole.
  5. With the air pump, push the needle through the valve and force it into the ball.
  6. You should pump the ball as you push the valve in, making sure you keep the ball well inflated.
  7. Once the valve is all the way in, ensure it is fitted nicely in its notch. You can wiggle the needle around to be double sure.
  8. Finally, you can repeat the leak test to be sure your new valve is functional.

To gain a more comprehensive understanding, I encourage you to explore the article ‘How To Fix Soccer Ball Valve Leak?‘ for further insights.

DOES YOUR MATCHBALLS VALVE LEAK?!? How to Replace a Valve on a Soccer Ball - JustKnuckleIt

Note: 

When inserting a needle into the ball, apply some lubricant around it to avoid damaging the air valve.

Also, when you get a new ball, it is advisable to put a few drops of silicone oil in the valve. This will ensure better air retention and easier needle insertion.

2. Leak between the panels

Soccer ball is leaking between the panels

Air leak between panels without an obvious puncture hole is usually a result of a hole in the bladder. This can be fixed by revealing the bladder with a sealant which will be applied through the valve.

To fix this, you need:

  • A sealant (a bike tire sealant is the best option as it works well and is easy to use).
  • Syringe
  • Ball pump needle
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How to repair panel leaks?

  1. You’ll need to insert the ball pump needle into the hub of the injection and push it into the valve.
  2. Then you remove the needle plunger and pour about an ounce of sealant into the barrel.
  3. Now you’ll push the sealant into the ball with the plunger, make sure you do it gently.
  4. To ensure that the sealant spreads all over the bladder, you should shake or roll the ball multiple times.
  5. The sealant will start drying so you should inflate the ball so that the bladder retains the proper shape as the sealant dries.
  6. Run a check by taking a leak test. Repeat the process as many times as possible if the first try didn’t fix the leak.

Note:

The bladder in a soccer ball comes in two materials: butyl or latex. Butyl bladders retain air for an extended period and usually don’t need inflation for weeks at a time.

On the other hand, latex bladders do not retain air for long periods and might need to be re-inflated once a week. This would help serve as a guide when you go shopping for a soccer ball.

3. Puncture on the soccer ball

Soccer ball deflated

A hole that pierces a soccer ball’s bladder and outer casing cannot be fixed using a sealant. Instead, the outer casing has to be fixed.

To do this, you will need:

  • Polyurethane glue
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • A thin metal needle
  • Kitchen paper
  • Ball pump needle
  • Air pump
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How to fix a puncture on a soccer ball?

  1. To begin this process, you need to deflate the ball a little bit so the surface can be softer and be pushed in easily.
  2. Using kitchen paper, rub the puncture area with isopropyl alcohol so the glue would adhere nicely when applied.
  3. The next step is to apply some glue to the hole. You can use the end of the needle but make sure your needle is not positioned vertically to avoid puncturing the ball further.
  4. To get the glue to properly cover the puncture, apply pressure to both sides of the hole so that air would flow out through the glue. As the pressure reduces, the glue flows back into the hole. Repeat this 2-3 times, applying more glue as you go.
  5. Clean off excess glue and inflate the ball, leaving the glue to dry for 10-20 minutes.
  6. Afterward, you should layer more glue around the hole to ensure it stays strong long-term. Allow it to dry for 30 mins.
  7. Apply yet another layer of glue and this time, leave to dry for 24 hours. Make sure you keep the ball inflated all through this process so that the seal takes the shape of the ball.
  8. Make sure the glue is thoroughly dried and take a leak test. If there’s air leakage, try again by adding more layers of glue, or you could use a different glue.
How To Fix Any Broken Ball!

How To Avoid Having An Egg Shaped Ball?

Your soccer ball is susceptible to wear and tear, and that’s okay. But for it to last longer, it is imperative that you properly care for it.

Here are tips to help prolong the lifespan of your soccer ball:

  1. Inflate your ball using the recommended pressure. Don’t under or over-inflate it.
  2. Deflate the ball if you wouldn’t use it for a while so the bladder and shell can rest.
  3. Don’t sit or stand on the ball as this could cause damage to its structure, giving it a permanent egg shape.
  4. Kicking a ball forcefully against the wall over and over again warps its shape. Instead, consider playing with a teammate or using a soccer rebounder.
  5. Avoid playing your soccer ball on rough surfaces like concrete or gravel. It hastens the outer casing’s wear and tears.
  6. Buy a ball that is suited to the type of game that you’ll be playing. For example, there are various types of soccer, and the balls for the game are not entirely the same.

The air pressure for each of these soccer balls differs so does the texture of each ball. Therefore, if you must buy a soccer ball to play indoors, you should not buy a confederation ball.

It is expensive and suited to tournaments where it can be easily replaced in case of a leak or tear. Besides, you might want to go for a training ball designed for durability.

Conclusion

Worn soccer ball on the field

In this article, we have examined the various reasons why a soccer ball can morph into an egg shape. We have also proffered various solutions to this problem, and we believe you will find one that suits your needs.

However, if any of these do not work, you might want to replace your soccer ball. We are sure you know that nothing beats a new soccer ball.

Make sure you select your soccer ball based on the kind of soccer game you intend to play. Also, buy a ball you can afford to replace in case you can’t repair it.