My Youth Soccer Guide

Puma Soccer Balls
Recommendations, Reviews and Tips

Which of the Puma Soccer Balls should you buy?

Find your answer through my recommendations, reviews and tips.
Although Puma soccer balls are not as popular or as successful on the soccer market as Adidas and Nike, I think they are very high quality soccer balls…perhaps as good as the others.

And the best part of it is...
…Puma Soccer Balls are usually less expensive.

They are less expensive than other soccer balls, which include similar features and technologies.

Recommendations

There are six models of Puma soccer balls that I'd like to introduce to you:

  1. Puma Cellerator Zero 5 - besides original, there are two other versions that you need to be aware of: Puma Cellerator MLS Match Ball (very often called Puma MLS Match Ball) used in MLS and Puma Cellerator Shudoh Match Ball used in Europe. All three versions are FIFA Approved and simply are identical (just different logos). Size 5 only.
  2. Puma King SL - as opposed to Puma Cellerator that has its cover made of Dimpled PU, Puma King's cover is manufactured from soft carbon PU. Size 5 only.
  3. Puma King NFHS - unlike Puma King SL (FIFA Approved), this ball is FIFA Inspected. Otherwise they're both the same. Size 5 only.
  4. Puma MLS Match Ball (Replica) - again FIFA's test is the only difference between this ball and official version. Replica is FIFA Inspected. It comes in sizes: 4 and 5.
  5. Puma Tourada - exact version of Puma MLS Match Ball Replica…without MLS logos. Size 4 and 5.
  6. Puma Attacante - regular PU used for cover panels as well as lack of FIFA Approved and FIFA Inspected tests make this ball the least expensive of Puma soccer balls. It is still good quality, every day practice soccer ball, especially for younger kids since it comes in all three sizes: 5, 4 and 3.

Reviews and Tips

The very interesting thing about these Puma soccer balls is that…

  1. They all have the same type of bladder:
    • Six-wing latex with:
      • Perimeter Balance Technology (PBT) - Compensates for the weight of the valve and guarantees 100% shooting accuracy with excellent trajectory.
      • Puma Air Lock (PAL) - Patented valve construction that guarantees protection against air leakage.

  2. They all, besides Puma Attacante, are FIFA Approved or FIFA Inspected
  3. They all have their cover panels made of PU (with the slight different degree of quality):
    • Puma Cellerator, Puma MLS Match (Replica) and Puma Tourada are manufactured of so-called Dimpled PU.
      The tiny dimples on the ball's surface, according to Puma, cause less drag and more lift than a regular surface, which provides further, higher and faster shooting speed. This technology matches the physics designed in golf balls.
    • Puma King SL and Puma King NFHS have their cover panels constructed from special carbon PU that is believed to provide an excellent touch of the ball.
    • Only Puma Attacante's cover is made of the "regular" PU (the lowest level of PU quality…I assume).

Basically the first five balls are almost identical.

  • Sure there is a difference of couple more backing layers (layers of material between the cover and the bladder) between them and some of them are FIFA Approved and some are FIFA Inspected.
  • Sure there is a difference (visually noticeable) between Dimpled PU cover and Carbon PU cover.

But…

Are all these differences significant enough to sense them while playing? Maybe a little…for more advanced players.

But in general all of these Puma soccer balls are very similar.

  • If you are looking for a Puma soccer ball in size 3, the choice is easy: Puma Attacante.
  • But if you need a size 4 or 5, then your choice depends on…how thick your wallet is and what kind of deal you'll find.

The prices for Puma soccer balls I've posted here are average list prices from several soccer equipment stores…just to give you an idea what to expect. But if you have patience and time on your hands, search for bargains and discounts.



Puma Cellerator Zero 5


Puma Cellerator Zero 5
Puma MLS Match Ball
Puma Shudoh Match Ball


Cover: 32 Dimpled PU panels - The tiny dimples on the ball's surface, according to Puma, cause less drag and more lift than a regular surface, which provides further, higher and faster shooting speed. This technology matches the physics designed in golf balls.

Bladder: Six-wing latex with:

  • Perimeter Balance Technology (PBT) - Compensates for the weight of the valve and guarantees 100% shooting accuracy with excellent trajectory.
  • Puma Air Lock (PAL) - Patented valve construction that guarantees protection against air leakage.
  • FIFA Approved.
    Size: 5 only.
    Average List Price: $90

    Back to Recommendations List


    Puma King SL


    Puma King SL

    Cover: 32 Carbon PU panels.

    Bladder: Six-wing latex with:

  • Perimeter Balance Technology (PBT) - Compensates for the weight of the valve and guarantees 100% shooting accuracy with excellent trajectory.
  • Puma Air Lock (PAL) - Patented valve construction that guarantees protection against air leakage.
  • FIFA Approved.
    Size: 5 only.
    Average List Price: $70

    Back to Recommendations List


    Puma King NFHS


    Puma King NFHS

    Cover: 32 Carbon PU panels.

    Bladder: Six-wing latex with:

  • Perimeter Balance Technology (PBT) - Compensates for the weight of the valve and guarantees 100% shooting accuracy with excellent trajectory.
  • Puma Air Lock (PAL) - Patented valve construction that guarantees protection against air leakage.
  • FIFA Inspected.
    Size: 5 only.
    Average List Price: $35

    Tip ! As you probably already noticed, unlike Puma King SL that is FIFA Approved, this Puma soccer ball is FIFA Inspected. Otherwise they're both the same. However, the price difference is pretty significant.

    Back to Recommendations List


    Puma MLS Match Ball (Replica) and
    Puma Tourada


    Puma MLS Match Ball (Replica)
    Puma Tourada


    Cover: 32 Dimpled PU panels - The tiny dimples on the ball's surface, according to Puma, cause less drag and more lift than a regular surface, which provides further, higher and faster shooting speed. This technology matches the physics designed in golf balls.

    Bladder: Six-wing latex with:

  • Perimeter Balance Technology (PBT) - Compensates for the weight of the valve and guarantees 100% shooting accuracy with excellent trajectory.
  • Puma Air Lock (PAL) - Patented valve construction that guarantees protection against air leakage.
  • FIFA Inspected.
    Size:4 and 5.
    Average List Price: $29

    Tip ! These two Puma soccer balls are exactly the same with only a different "look". The most ultimate choice for everyone…and it's easy on the wallet, too.

    Back to Recommendations List


    Puma Attacante


    Puma Attacante

    Cover: 32 PU panels.

    Bladder: Six-wing latex with:

  • Perimeter Balance Technology (PBT) - Compensates for the weight of the valve and guarantees 100% shooting accuracy with excellent trajectory.
  • Puma Air Lock (PAL) - Patented valve construction that guarantees protection against air leakage.
  • FIFA Inspected.
    Size:3, 4 and 5.
    Average List Price: $15

    Tip ! The least expensive soccer ball probably of all soccer balls with the same qualities. Great ball not only for the youngest kids but also for anybody who can't or doesn't want to spend more than $20 on a soccer ball.

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