Sports
Sports gear is regulated to the gram — FIFA, FIBA, and the IOC publish exact numbers. That makes this the best category for perfect guesses, if you've ever held the equipment.
The surprises come from comparisons: a basketball outweighs a soccer ball, a shot put outweighs both by an order of magnitude, and a racing bike weighs less than most house cats.
Lightest: Regulation table tennis ball (2.7 g) · Heaviest: Olympic barbell (bar only) (20 kg)
| Object | Weight | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation table tennis ball | 2.7 g | 0.1 oz |
| Regulation badminton shuttlecock | 5 g | 0.18 oz |
| Regulation golf ball | 46 g | 1.6 oz |
| Tennis ball | 58 g | 2 oz |
| Regulation baseball | 145 g | 5.1 oz |
| Regulation ice hockey puck | 170 g | 6 oz |
| Regulation volleyball | 270 g | 9.5 oz |
| Tennis racket | 310 g | 11 oz |
| Regulation American football | 410 g | 14 oz |
| Regulation soccer ball | 430 g | 15 oz |
| Regulation basketball | 600 g | 1.3 lb |
| Men's javelin | 800 g | 1.8 lb |
| Pair of 454 g (16 oz) sparring gloves | 907 g | 2 lb |
| Women's discus | 1 kg | 2.2 lb |
| Yoga mat | 1.1 kg | 2.4 lb |
| Regulation bowling pin | 1.6 kg | 3.5 lb |
| Men's discus | 2 kg | 4.4 lb |
| Snowboard | 2.9 kg | 6.4 lb |
| Skateboard | 3 kg | 6.6 lb |
| Vince Lombardi Trophy | 3.2 kg | 7 lb |
| Bristle dartboard | 5.3 kg | 12 lb |
| FIFA World Cup trophy | 6.2 kg | 14 lb |
| Bowling ball | 6.8 kg | 15 lb |
| Men's shot put | 7.3 kg | 16 lb |
| Curling stone | 19 kg | 42 lb |
| Olympic barbell (bar only) | 20 kg | 44 lb |
Stories & analysis
Sports: frequently asked questions
Is a basketball heavier than a soccer ball?
Yes — a regulation basketball weighs 620 grams versus 430 grams for a soccer ball, nearly 45 percent more. It's one of the most-missed comparisons in the game.
Why are sports equipment weights so exact?
Because the rules demand it: FIFA, FIBA, and the IOC regulate equipment to the gram. An ice hockey puck weighs about 170 grams, a men's shot put exactly 7.26 kg — great territory for perfect scores.
How heavy is a bowling ball?
House balls range roughly from 4.5 to 7.2 kg; our catalog average is 6.8 kg. That's nearly the weight of a men's shot put (7.26 kg) — which is far smaller and denser.
What are the lightest and heaviest sports objects in the game?
The lightest is Regulation table tennis ball at 2.7 g (0.1 oz), the heaviest is Olympic barbell (bar only) at 20 kg (44 lb).
Five random sports objects, as often as you like. Or try today's Daily Challenge across all categories.