Ordering the wrong sliotar is an easy mistake to make, and an expensive one when it happens across a whole club or a shop’s worth of stock. Hurling and camogie use more than one ball size, and the youngest players use a separate set of softer balls altogether. This guide sets out the main sliotar sizes, who uses each one and what to think about when you buy in bulk.
The Official Match Standard
Match sliotars are governed by a published specification in the sport’s Official Guide. The current standard, adopted in 2022, sets the following limits:
- Diameter: 69mm to 72mm, not including the rib
- Mass: 110g to 116g
- Rib height: 1.8mm to 2.6mm
- Rib width: 3.6mm to 5.4mm
- Cover thickness: 1.8mm to 2.7mm (chrome or synthetic leather), with any laminated coating no greater than 0.15mm
Sliotars used in official games must also be approved and carry the governing body’s mark of approval. If your customers play competitive matches, make sure you understand which balls are approved for their grade before you order.
Size 5: The Adult Hurling Ball
The size 5 is the full-size sliotar used in adult hurling. It is the heaviest and firmest ball in the range, and teenagers move up to it as they leave the juvenile grades. For clubs, size 5 balls are usually the largest single line in the equipment budget, because senior and minor teams get through them quickly in training.
Colour
The governing body has recommended that, from 1 January 2024, hurling games from Minor (U17) level upwards use a fluorescent yellow, high-visibility sliotar from an approved licensee. Yellow and white balls are otherwise the same in size and weight; the difference is visibility, which matters on dark winter evenings and under floodlights.
Size 4: Camogie and Juvenile Hurling
The size 4 is slightly smaller and lighter than the size 5. It is used in two main settings:
- Camogie at all grades, from juvenile through to senior.
- Juvenile hurling, typically for players up to around U14 or U15.
The exact age at which juvenile hurlers move from size 4 to size 5 can vary, because county committees may set reduced ball dimensions for younger grades within their area. If you are buying for a club, check the local rules for each age group rather than relying on a general rule of thumb.
For retailers, size 4 is often the busiest size of all, because it covers every camogie player and a large share of underage hurlers.
Go Games Balls for Younger Players
For the youngest age groups, a full leather sliotar is too hard and too heavy to learn with. Instead, children use a progression of softer balls, designed to build confidence in catching and striking:
| Ball | Typical age group |
|---|---|
| First Touch | Under 8 |
| Quick Touch | About 8 to 10 |
| Smart Touch | About 10 to 12 |
Each step is a little firmer and closer to the feel of a real sliotar. Coaches usually move players up when the current ball no longer challenges them.
Training Balls, Wall Balls and Speed Balls
Not every ball in the kit bag needs to be a match sliotar. Many clubs and players also buy:
- Training sliotars for drills, where durability and value matter more than match approval.
- Wall balls and speed balls for individual practice against a wall or in an alley, helping players sharpen their first touch and reaction time.
Stocking a mix of match, training and practice balls lets a retailer serve both the club equipment officer and the parent shopping for a birthday present.
How to Plan a Bulk Sliotar Order by Size
Map Your Players
Count your players in each age group and note which ball each one needs. A club with a large camogie section and strong underage numbers may need more size 4 balls than size 5.
Allow for Losses
Sliotars disappear over ditches, into hedges and into neighbouring gardens. Build a realistic loss rate into your numbers, based on your own experience from previous seasons.
Separate Match and Training Stock
Keep approved match balls separate from training balls in your ordering and your storage. It makes budgeting easier and ensures the right balls are used on match day.
Confirm Specifications in Writing
When ordering from a manufacturer, agree the size, weight range, colour, cover material and any branding in writing. Ask the supplier directly about approval status, minimum order quantities, prices and lead times for each line you want.
Branding and Private Label Sliotars
Retailers and brands often want sliotars carrying their own logo, while clubs may want branded balls for fundraising or presentation. Ask your manufacturer what branding options are available on the cover and on packaging, and supply your artwork in vector format with colour references.
Sourcing Sliotars From Vincus Sports
Vincus Sports manufactures sliotars in Sialkot, Pakistan, a city known worldwide for hand-stitched sports balls. Alongside sliotars, we make speed and wall balls, hurling gloves, hurley bags and club teamwear, and we supply clubs, wholesalers and brands across Ireland, the UK, the USA and Europe, including OEM and private label orders.
Browse our sliotars or explore the wider hurling range, including hurling gloves for your squad.
Quick Reference
- Adult hurling: size 5
- Camogie (all grades): size 4
- Juvenile hurling: size 4, typically up to around U14 or U15 (check local rules)
- Under 8: First Touch
- About 8 to 10: Quick Touch
- About 10 to 12: Smart Touch
- Individual practice: wall balls and speed balls
Request a Quote for Sliotars
Whether you need match balls for a senior team, size 4 balls for a camogie squad or a private label range for your shop, we can help. Send us your sizes and quantities and we will come back with options. We offer 24/7 support via WhatsApp, or you can contact Vincus Sports for a quote.
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