Elite Footgolfers Have Saught Discontinued Adidas Jabulani
The 2010 World Cup ball now commands over £500 due to its unique flight performance in competitive footgolf.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Soccer
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Elite footgolfers are increasingly seeking out the discontinued Adidas Jabulani, a ball originally created for the 2010 World Cup. Its design allows the ball to travel longer distances than modern models, leading to prices exceeding £500 for boxed units.
Why it matters
The Jabulani design is highly valued for its specific bounce and distance capabilities, which provide a competitive edge in professional play. As supply of the discontinued ball dwindles, athletes are waiting for a planned successor to bridge the performance gap.
The Adidas Jabulani features eight thermally bonded panels, significantly fewer than the 14 panels on its predecessor. Boxed models now retail for upwards of £500, a sharp premium compared to the £100 price of contemporary footgolf-specific balls.
The players
Ben Clarke
Ben Clarke is a leading footgolfer based in Hertfordshire who competes at the highest levels of the sport.
Adidas
Adidas is a global sportswear corporation that originally manufactured the Jabulani ball for the 2010 World Cup.
The details
The ball uses a unique construction that reduces seams to create a smooth surface, enabling it to fly further and generate consistent spin when struck. Players utilize this trajectory to gain an advantage across the 18 holes of a standard footgolf course.
Timeline
The Adidas Jabulani was released in 2010.
A Jabulani ball was purchased for £250 in 2023.
The Footgolf World Cup took place in Mexico during the summer of 2026.
A report on ball scarcity was published in September 2026.
A new competitive footgolf ball is planned for release in 2027.
The Big Picture
The 2010 Adidas Jabulani football serves as the primary reference point for aerodynamic performance in the sport. The current scramble for these retired balls follows a pattern set by legacy equipment collectors who prioritize specific physical characteristics over modern manufacturing.
Professional footgolfers seeking a competitive edge are currently paying high premiums for legacy inventory that is no longer in production. The eventual exhaustion of remaining Jabulani stock will force a shift toward newer, non-Jabulani equipment for all 1,200 world-class competitors.
The takeaway
The high demand for discontinued equipment illustrates how specific design innovations can maintain relevance decades after their original production run. Athletes looking to optimize their performance should monitor the 2027 market for the promised release of a modern, specialized alternative.
What happens next
A new ball specifically engineered to outperform the Jabulani is scheduled for release in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the professional landscape of the sport on the Soccer page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Guardian.
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