Smart Ball Speed Football Review

Reviewed by Laura

If you have a football-crazy child as I do, the Smart Ball Speed Football is the latest football to the market with a fun, exciting extra feature. The football measures the speed that you kick the ball. This is such a simple idea, but I wonder why it has taken so long to be developed.  I have been asked many times, “mummy, how fast do you think I’m kicking the ball” “mummy, who is kicking the faster”. This ball is the answer.  When the ball arrived, my children aged 4 & 7 years olds were so excited to get the ball out in the garden and start kicking it. 

You soon become addicted to kicking the ball to try and achieve a further distance each time you boot it. This made for great family time and fun with friends. The adults enjoyed playing with it as much as the children.  The ball is very attractive looking and eye-catching in blue and green. The ball is made of thick plastic material, completely different to a regular football. I don’t think the ball would last very long if used for a football game instead of an actual football. 

To use the ball, you place it on the tee with the arrow on the ball facing forwards; you then press the sensor, which gives you a count down and then shoot. The ball then tells you your speed in kilometres per hour. The maximum speed it can record is 100kph. Ever after our hundreds of kicks, we haven’t managed to achieve the 100kph. We are determined to accomplish this and keep trying. 

The set-up of the ball was simple, and the children could set it up for their kicks.  To make sure the ball records your speed accurately, it needs to be inflated to 66cm. The ball is easy to pump up if needs a boost of inflation. The ball isn’t suitable for kicking on hard surfaces as it would puncture very quickly. We did find that ball to be a little temperamental in that it wouldn’t always record the speed. The children did find this annoying and then disheartening. Especially my four-year-old that hasn’t yet got the strength to kick the ball particularly hard. 

I loved that the ball came in minimal packaging cardboard that was recyclable.  The packaging was clear and bright with detailed what the product was. Housed within the cardboard packaging is the tee and accessories for setting the ball up.  The recommended age is 6+, which I feel is accurate. The ball needs to be kicked pretty hard for it to record the speed. 

Definitely wear a trainer when kicking the ball and avoid kicking where the sensor is as it is hard and likely to cause injury.  Overall, I rate the Smart Ball Speed Football 4/5. The idea is excellent, but unfortunately, speed is not always recorded, and the children’s annoyance it caused, I deducted a point. We have enjoyed using the ball, and my seven-year-old does play with it very regularly. There is always a speed to beat!  Overall, it would make an excellent gift for a competent kicker. 

Rating: 4/5

RRP: £25 currently on sale at £20 (editor’s note – at the time of putting the review online)

This product can be purchased from Argos here.