About once a month, Ben Clarke, the world’s leading footgolfer, carefully pumps up his collection of coveted Adidas Jabulani footballs. Like most elite players, Clarke possesses an extensive array of balls, all of which require regular inflation to prevent degradation, even those sitting pristine in their original boxes, unsullied by a single boot. Footballs are prime currency in a niche sport that tasks players with kicking one around a course, and into 18 oversized holes, in as few strokes as possible.
It seems absurd, then, that pride of place among Clarke’s hoard is the infamous Jabulani, once described by Fabio Capello as “the worst ball that I have seen in my life”. The former England manager was far from alone in his scathing assessment. England goalkeeper David James called it “dreadful”, his Brazilian counterpart Júlio César said it was “like one of those you buy in the supermarket”, while Brazil forward Robinho suggested “the guy who designed this ball never played football”.
Few balls have been so widely derided as the one created for the 2010 World Cup, where its unpredictable flight saw it denounced as uncontrollable. Yet 16 years later, the demands of the world’s best footgolfers mean anyone in possession of a Jabulani is now sitting on a goldmine, with boxed models going for upwards of £500 and the value only increasing. We all trust it and rely on it.
It’s very strange.” The reason lies in the Jabulani’s precise engineering defect that so frustrated footballers on the biggest stage. Constructed from eight thermally bonded panels – a decrease from the 14 in its 2006 World Cup Adidas Teamgeist predecessor – the Jabulani reduced seams to a bare minimum, creating the smoothest, roundest ball ever made. When struck with minimal spin at the high speeds that top-level footballers tend to shoot or cross, it caused a chaotic knuckle-ball effect, generating sudden swerves or dips.
Conversely, for footgolfers, who hit a ball with the inside of their foot to generate consistent spin, the Jabulani’s reduced seams help it travel further than any other ball. Only Adidas’ offshoots from the same era – including the Teamgeist, Terrapass, Speedcell and original Torfabrik – come close. With none of these models in production for close to 15 years, elite footgolf’s demand has coupled with a scarcity in supply to send prices soaring.
You tend to get them off other footgolfers or collectors who sell them because they see the footgolf market. It can be an expensive mistake if you kick it into a tree and it bursts.” There is a consensus within the sport that the situation is unsustainable. Sean Rontree, a director of footgolf’s governing body in England, has three Jabulanis and three Speedcells in his own personal collection.
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