Why are Mikasa Volleyballs So Expensive?
Mikasa provides absolutely stunning volleyballs, and everyone knows that. But the question that many people ask me is why is Mikasa volleyball so expensive?
Mikasa volleyballs are expensive due to the premium materials they use, their unique panel design, anti-wear surface, water-resistant capability, balanced weight distribution design, and seamless floating capabilities, among other things. Mikasa also charges for its brand value. Also, this is mostly a long-term investment.
Why is Mikasa Volleyball So Expensive?
Let’s get a detailed breakdown of what makes these volleyballs expensive.
Quality and Durability
One of the hallmarks of Mikasa volleyball is its unparalleled quality.
Crafted with premium materials, these balls are designed to withstand intense play, ensuring they retain their shape, feel, and performance over extended periods.
This durability translates to fewer replacements, offering long-term value that can justify the initial investment.
Here are some things that make Mikasa volleyball expensive but worth it at the same time.
Premium Materials
Mikasa volleyballs are crafted using high-quality materials, ensuring durability and optimal performance. This includes the use of soft composite leather for a better feel and grip.
- Composite Leather
- Genuine Leather
- Rubber
- Synthetic Covers
- Latex and Butyl Bladders
- Nylon
- Polyurethane
And all of these materials are outright premium in volleyball making. They make volleyball top-notch, which is the reason why Mikasa uses them.
Unique Panel Design
Unlike traditional volleyballs that have a more segmented appearance, many Mikasa volleyballs feature a unique 8-panel design.
This design offers a more consistent contact surface and improves visibility.
Aerodynamic Engineering
The structure and design of Mikasa volleyballs are aerodynamically optimized, ensuring stable flight paths and consistent performance.
Enhanced Grip
The surface texture and material of Mikasa volleyballs provide players with an enhanced grip, allowing for better control during serves, sets, and spikes.
Water-Resistant Variants
Mikasa’s beach volleyballs are designed to be water-resistant, making them ideal for beach and outdoor play.
Consistent Air Retention
Mikasa volleyballs are equipped with advanced valve designs and bladder construction, ensuring consistent air retention and reducing the frequency of inflation.
Anti-Wear Surface
Top-class Mikasa volleyballs come with an anti-wear surface, so they remain in good condition even after extended play.
Vibrant and Visible Colors
Mikasa volleyballs often feature bright and contrasting colors, making them easily visible during play, especially in fast-paced matches.
Balanced Weight Distribution
The internal construction of Mikasa volleyballs ensures a balanced weight distribution, leading to predictable performance and behavior during play.
Reputation for Longevity
Mikasa volleyballs are known for their long lifespan, with many players and institutions noting that they last longer than other brands before showing signs of wear.
Mikasa volleyballs are unique. They float in the air like a butterfly.
Unlike other volleyballs that are unpredictable in their behavior, Mikasa volleyball gives you peace of mind by behaving so predictably that it eventually enhances your gaming experience and helps you enjoy volleyball to its core.
Official Ball for Major Tournaments
Mikasa isn’t just a household name; it’s an international standard.
The brand’s volleyballs are the official balls for prestigious tournaments, including the Olympics and the FIVB World Championships.
Being chosen for such events requires meeting exceptional standards, further solidifying Mikasa’s position as a premium brand.
This association with elite play naturally adds to its perceived value and, by extension, its price.
Research and Development of Mikasa Makes Them Expensive
You see, the end product of Mikasa is exceptional, right?
But do you know that this product is only made after rigorous research and development that makes their volleyballs the best in the world?
Behind every Mikasa volleyball lies a tale of rigorous research.
The company continually invests in innovation, exploring new materials, designs, and technologies to enhance ball performance.
While these advancements benefit players, they also come at a cost, which is inevitably passed on to the consumer.
Import and Distribution Costs Increases Price
For people living in the United States, nearly all Mikasa volleyballs are imported.
They are made in the sports hubs of the world that are majorly located in Asia, particularly China and Pakistan.
So, you will see that the volleyballs you purchase are made more than 7,000 miles away from you.
At the end of the day, import duties, taxes, and distribution fees make these volleyballs even more expensive.
The Target Market of Mikasa is Premium Consumers
Mikasa designs its volleyballs with a specific audience in mind: serious players and professionals. This demographic seeks the best equipment, understanding that quality comes at a price.
No wonder why their volleyballs are used in international volleyball events that pick the best products available to make their tournaments a success.
And they just cannot compromise on quality for the sake of bringing cheap products to market. That is why they need to maintain a price at which they can offer good quality.
Due to this popularity, even the FIVB and Olympic administration spend money on Mikasa volleyball.
And Mikasa knows it well.
Obviously, they won’t sell the volleyballs to the Olympics for cheap. They see it as an opportunity and set their prices higher as they have developed a deep trust with these big sporting giants.
Mikasa gives them the value they need, and they give them top bucks.
Mikasa Also Charges for Brand Value
Mikasa is a top-notch brand in volleyball, and they also charge a price for the brand value.
If you know the market dynamics in any industry, you might be aware that brands charge high once they get popular. The same is the case with Mikasa as well.
They are brand volleyball players love, and they know it well. So, they take advantage of this emotional connection to increase their prices a bit.
Final Words
Mikasa’s pricing isn’t arbitrary. It’s a reflection of the brand’s dedication to quality, innovation, and performance.
While they might require a heftier initial investment, Mikasa volleyballs promise durability, advanced features, and a playing experience that’s hard to match. For those serious about their game, it’s a price worth paying.
Having said that, not all Mikasa volleyballs are equally good. At the end of the day, if you are spending good money, make sure you are getting the right Mikasa volleyball, as this is the only way to enjoy the game to the fullest.
Ahmed is the founder of Ball and Net Sports, a platform where he writes about volleyball.
As a professional volleyball player who has participated in various national and international level volleyball competitions, he loves to teach other volleyball enthusiasts about the game.
He is now a professional volleyball coach who organizes volleyball camps and social events for talent hunting for top volleyball teams.
As a volleyball talent-hunting specialist, he loves to teach people how they can make their game better in the fast-paced volleyball environment where it is extremely difficult to get quality content free of cost.