Since 1947, SELECT has been a leading brand when it comes to ball innovation and production.
We are always trying to improve our balls, which has lead to many revolutionary inventions.
On this page you can learn more about the science behind our balls.
The revolutionary 32 panels
Every single soccer ball and handball from SELECT is based on the revolution from 1962, where our founder, Eigil Nielsen, invented a ball made of 32 panels. The overriding desire was to create the most reliable ball with the most predictable, straight flight and a bounce neither too high nor too low.
It was impossible to make a perfectly round ball with just 18 panels, which was the standard construction of a ball in the past. With the 32 panels - 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons - SELECT succeeded in creating the roundest ball ever seen. Later, a group of American scientists won the Nobel Prize for discovering that the molecules of carbon with a special irradiation organize themselves as a complete round ball - something Eigil Nielsen had already discovered and realized in his soccer ball with 32 panels, why the reinvention was named “the football molecule”.
A ball with optimum roundness is essential to obtain reliable aerodynamic - a straight flight and a controlled bounce. Our finest soccer ball, BRILLANT SUPER TB, has just been thoroughly tested in a wind tunnel at the Institute of Health & Sports Science at the University in Tsukuba, Japan. The results show that BRILLANT SUPER TB has a better aerodynamic than other top balls in the market. The ball’s classic construction with 32 panels means that the ball meets resistance at a later point in its trajectory through the air, thus retaining a steady, high speed over a longer period of time. This provides a stable and more predictable flight – highly valued by all football players.
All of our soccer balls and handballs today are still based on Eigil Nielsen’s original invention of the 32 panel ball construction, as we never compromise on quality, playability or durability.
Understand how our balls are sewn together
Handsewn
The 32 panels are sewn together by hand using 630 double stitches and 60 corner stitches and are closed off – especially for SELECT – with a doubleknot. The ball lasts longer this way.
Machine Sewn
The machine stitched soccer balls are very similar to our hand-stitched ones. During production, the soccer ball panels are sewn together with a special sewing machine and a fine thread. Only soft, foamed materials can be used. The seam pattern is uneven, and the finishing stitching is always done by hand. While the end result does not reach the level of our hand-stitched soccer balls, a solid ball is produced nevertheless.
Dual Bonded
The panels are printed with 3 mm edge glue and stitched. In the heat mold, the glue is activated to hide the stitches. The seam sealing is done by hand, and the glue in the seams reduces the water uptake significantly.
Thermo Bonded
The thermo bonding method means that the 32 panels are thermally glued and bonded by heat. There are no stitches, so the TB balls take up less water and keeps the original weight better when playing on a wet surface.
Ultra Sonic Bonded
In 2021, SELECT created the world's first football manufactured with ultrasonic technology. Brillant Super UZ is manufactured according to a new and Danish-patented construction method, where ultrasonic sound waves weld the ball's 32 panels together. The panels of the ball are held together under pressure and ultrasonic sound waves activate the microfiber molecules in the material by creating friction, and in this way the panels are welded together. This ensures minimal water absorption, so that the weight of the ball is also stable in wet weather.
INSIDE the BRILLANT SUPER TB
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about our footballs
INSIDE the BRILLANT SUPER TB
Click on the + to learn more
about our footballs
PU Surface
The outer layer of the ball is made of synthetic leather in micro fiber polyurethane (PU) with a light surface structure that minimizes air resistance. The surface of this material consists of lots of PU fibers, which give the soccer ball a strong surface with consistent softness.
Bladder
Under the synthetic leather hides the loose natural latex Zero-Wing bladder with built-in balance point in the opposite end of the valve hole. The bladder is made of high performance natural latex. The concept has been developed to ensure that not only the ball but also the bladder is as round as possible. On the outside of the bladder is a lining made of a 4 mm thick and exclusive foam material. The lining helps to adjust the softness and improves the contact between the ball and the foot.
Double lock valve
The rubber material used in our valves is well known for being airtight and together with the Double Lock system, where the air must pass through two ”gates” to escape, the ball is even more airtight than the requirements demanded by FIFA.
Lining
The 32 panels on the Brillant Super TB are thermo bonded. “TB” in the product name stands for “Thermo Bonded”, which means bonded by heat - so there are no stitchings. This means that the ball takes up less water and keeps the original weight better when playing on a wet surface.
Foam
The underlying foam is made of a 4 mm thick and exclusive material that gives the ball a softer, lighter and more comfortable touch. Despite the fact that the ball feels lighter, the weight is the same as a traditional football.
inside the brillant super iBall
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inside the brillant super iBall
Click on the + to learn more about our iBalls
PU Surface
The outer layer of the ball is made of synthetic leather in micro fiber polyurethane (PU) with a light surface structure that minimizes air resistance. The surface of this material consists of lots of PU fibers, which give the soccer ball a strong surface with consistent softness.
Bladder with chip
KINEXON has made a sensor with ultra-small form and weight, and SELECT has integrated that sensor seamlessly into the bladder. Using radio technology, the sensor transmits its position and movement data around 50 times per second. The sensor provides position data with an exceptional fast rate, and the ball data can be synchronized within 1 millisecond with player tracking data. The possibility of linking (the already known) player tracking data, with this new ball tracking data, makes it possible to display a complete match in all its complexity.
Double lock valve
The rubber material used in our valves is well known for being airtight and together with the Double Lock system, where the air must pass through two ”gates” to escape, the ball is even more airtight than the requirements demanded by FIFA.
Lining
Brillant Super iBall is stitched by hand. The 32 panels are sewn together using 630 double stitches and 60 corner stitches and are closed off (especially for SELECT) with a double knot. The ball lasts longer this way.
Foam
The underlying foam is made of a 2 mm thick and exclusive material that gives the ball a softer, lighter and more comfortable touch.
Ultra Zonic bonded – Groundbreaking technology
The
Brillant Super UZ is the world’s first soccer ball made with ultrasonic
technology. We have created a ball with unsurpassed control and amazing aerodynamics
as the new contruction method ensures the perfect indentation between the panel
and an even more stable flight benefiting both players and goalkeepers.
The Danish 3F Superliga, Nordic Bet Liga, Gjensidige Kvindeliga and the Danish National Teams in soccer that are playing with the ball.
•A superb soccer ball made using a completely new construction method with ultrasonic sound waves bonding the 32 panels together
•The ball is composed of carefully selected quality materials with the characteristics of a classic SELECT ball
•The new 3D diamond structure of the surface material ensures an even
more stable trajectory, optimized friction between ball and boot and the
best grip for goalkeepers
•The new construction ensures minimal water uptake compared to a hand-stitched ball, helping the ball retains its original weight when playing on wet surfaces
•Beneath the outer material, the ball has a newly developed lining consisting of two different foam materials and a Zero-Wing latex bladder with a built-in balance point, located opposite the valve hole
•The outer material and the underlying foam ensure a light and soft touch
Balls made with recycled plastic bottles
All our Planet balls are partly made from recycled plastic bottles.
The synthetic leather used for all our balls in our SELECT Planet Family are made by recycled PET bottles, and all the Planet balls are produced with a special underlining, where 80% of the material comes from recycled plastic bottles.
Read More About Planet Balls
Inflating instructions
How to inflate your ball correctly
Straighten the ball out as best as possible.
Shake the ball so that the ladder is hanging loosely and vertically beneath the valve hole.
Allow 1 - 2 drops of SELECT valve oil to drip into the valve hole. Remember to oil the ball regularly so that the valve doesn’t dry out.
Pump the ball up with a SELECT pump. It is important that the bladder is in the vertical position as shown here. Always remember to use the needle.
Use a SELECT pressure gauge to check if the ball has the recommended pressure (see recommendation on the ball).
Clean the ball with a brush and tepid water. Dry the ball with a cloth. Place the ball in a ventilated room with a temperature of 59 - 68F.
