A Glider is an adidas model soccer ball designed for practice or to kick around the backyard. The Glider model actually is a "regular" soccer ball, as opposed to high-end soccer balls intended for serious competitive play. The price is a major tip-off. Soccer balls such as the Glider model cost around $25, as opposed to high-end models that retail for up to around $150.
Cover
As the Dick's Sporting Goods guide to buying soccer balls explains, the cover of a regular soccer ball usually is made with a mixture of synthetics and plastics. Synthetic material gives you the best feel, and plastic material the most durability. The Glider has a nylon wound plastic carcass, placing it in the regular soccer ball category. A high-end ball, such as the adidas 2010 World Cup Official Match Soccer Ball, uses synthetic materials.
Panels
The number of panels, the different segments that make up the outside of a soccer ball, varies. A ball with fewer panels can be curved more when kicked. Higher-end soccer balls are hand-stitched, and lower-end balls usually are glued or machine stitched. The Glider is machine-stitched.
Bladders
The bladder of a soccer ball is the part inside that is filled with air. Most regular soccer balls, including the Glider, use butyl valves. Although they retain air better than a latex bladder, the latex bladders are softer and provide a better feel when you dribble, pass, shoot or head the ball
Considerations
High-end balls are manufactured to be perfectly round. A ball such as the adidas 2010 World Cup also uses a "Grip and Groove" technology, a textured treatment to the cover that enables it to fly on a true line. It also bends properly when kicked with spin. Lower-end balls are designed primarily for durability. There are balls in between the low-end and high-end that are used by high school teams, including the adidas adi Pure Training ball for practice sessions that sells for around $40 as of publication date and the adidas adi Pure NFHS Competition ball for matches that sells for around $54.
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