adidas Brazuca World Cup Ball Testing
adidas Brazuca World Cup Ball Testing
We visited adidas HQ in Germany to test the 2014 World Cup ball.
For the launch of the adidas Brazuca we visited adidas HQ in Herzogenaurach, Germany, to meet the team behind the design and production, to see first hand the intense and vigorous testing process and to kit up and try out the new World Cup ball for ourselves.
The Brazuca is adidas' most tested ball ever created, the result of a two and a half year programme of development and refining. Using 600 players (including non-adidas contracted players) across 30 professional and national teams in 10 countries adidas have ensured that the Brazuca has been tested to the max and is ready for kick off in Brazil.
The production timeline for the Brazuca was a long and very specific one that included the first prototype undergoing lab tests and wind tunnels, feasability tests and then a test evaluation where any adjustments could be made. Field tests were followed by a further review and then final adjustments and lab tests before players were asked for their feedback. The Brazuca was then finalised and will be handed to the federations ready for the opening game.
adidas set themselves much higher benchmarks than the FIFA approved standards when it came to testing the Brazuca, for example, FIFA set a maximum water absorption of 10% on their footballs whereas the Brazuca has only 0.2% water retention resulting in a consistent weight.
FIFA also state that the rebound test must be made up of at least 2000 cycles but adidas go a step further with 3500 cycles with 0% pressure loss. As far as weight is concerned the Brazuca tips the scales at 437g, sitting towards the heavier end of FIFA's requirements of 420g-445g. 
The feedback adidas have received from players has been very positive with the majority of players agreeing that the Brazuca allowed for good close control and was consistently responsive to their touches while also offering a good transition of power and stable flight when striking it.
To ensure the Brazuca could perform in all conditions adidas tested the ball in Brazil during June and July to replicate the conditions during the tournament. In Europe temperatures ranged from -15° to 35° and the ball performed consistently on dry, slightly damp and very wet pitches, and in windy conditions, gusts and heavy rain.
The new identical six-panel design improves symmetry, uniformity and efficiency as well as simplifying manufacturing and improving quality. As for the visuals, the pattern is inspired by the meandering pathways of the grat Amazon river in Brazil.
As for our kick about at adidas HQ, we used the same disguised version of the Brazuca that adidas have used in international friendly matches and the FIFA U20 World Cup. The Brazuca is everything you want from a ball, perfect weight, not too light, true in flight and absolutley flys when you connect with it.
The new adidas Brazuca match ball is available from selected online retailers including Pro-Direct Soccer.
