Are you looking for some high quality exercise balls? We've put together this guide for you that may help you make the right choice.
Exercise balls (aka Swiss balls, yoga balls, Pilates balls, therapy balls, birthing balls, birth balls, etc.) are highly compressible, heavy-duty inflatable balls used during exercise. They range in diameter from 18 to 30 inches (approximately 45 to 75 cm) and may be made of stretchy vinyl or plastic. Medicine balls are great for targeting your upper body, lower body, and core. At the same time, the Exercise Ball offers fun and effective cardio and strength workout options.
How to Choose the Right Exercise Ball
There are many options for exercise balls on the market, but choosing the best exercise ball can be a challenge for a variety of reasons. But the following guide will help you answer most of your questions. Here, you'll learn about the key features of an exercise ball to keep in check when buying one, as well as a few other tips to help you avoid buying a poor-quality product.
1. Choose the correct exercise ball according to the material
While exercise balls are most often made of soft PVC, there are also exercise balls that use other materials such as TPE, NBR, and rubber. And PVC exercise balls are either made from recycled materials or made in an environmentally friendly way.
The eco-balls come in matte colors, are more resilient and wear-resistant. Recycled exercise balls, on the other hand, look a bit shoddy, smell bad, and have a shinier look.
The exercise ball for abs is made of highly elastic and tough explosion-proof PVC, which is safe to use. The thicker the PVC used, the less likely the ball will explode during use. High-quality PVC keeps your ball in great shape, even after you leave it on for a while or use it during high-intensity workouts. It is a key ingredient in the plastic of yoga balls, making them expandable and providing the bounce needed for gym use.
PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is also available in unmodified form, which is the state after polymerization. However, this is still not suitable for yoga balls, so additives are used to make PVC with some favorable modifications to its properties. These additives can be anything from heat stabilizers to flame retardants or impact modifiers.
While rubber exercise balls are very rare, some may contain latex. If you are sensitive to materials, you should always check with the manufacturer to make sure you are getting a latex-free medicine ball.
2. How should I choose the size of the exercise ball?
Exercise balls come in many different sizes. These are designed to be used by people of different heights so that they can maintain proper form during exercise.
The diameter of a yoga ball is used to indicate its size. Inflate your exercise ball completely, then run a tape measure around the middle of it to measure the diameter. The best size depends on your height and the activities you plan to do with the ball.
Sit on an exercise ball. If your knees seem to be pointing up and your thighs are at a lower level, you need a bigger ball. Or, if your feet don't easily touch the ground, you'll need a smaller medicine ball.
We always recommend choosing a larger exercise ball if:
You have long legs
You are overweight
You have back problems
All you need is a stability ball to stretch
If you have shorter legs, or a lower BMI, a smaller yoga ball is better for you.
Wondering how to determine the right size for you when shopping online? All you need are some tape measures and a little effort.
You can squat with your back against a wall, keeping your thighs parallel to the floor and bending your knees at right angles. Mark the wall at the height of your hips, and measure the distance between the floor and that mark. This is the fully inflated diameter for your ball!
Before you get too stressed about the size of medicine balls, though, you should know that they are adjustable. If your hips and knees are leaning at odd angles, you can always add or release some air to make it fit you better.
3. Does weight matter when buying a yoga ball?
Yes, you also need to control the weight of the yoga ball. As a general rule, for an equally large exercise ball, always go for the heavier one. When purchasing an exercise ball for fitness, ask the manufacturer for its weight to find out its quality. Manufacturers who offer high-quality yoga balls will often mention the weight in the product specifications.
4. Choose an exercise ball with explosion-proof performance
It is not uncommon to find that all exercise balls are labeled Burst Resistant or Burst Proof. This means you don't have to worry about them bursting, and you can expect them to deflate slowly (and safely) in the event of a puncture.
Better materials and fine-tuned manufacturing procedures are what make an ideal explosion-proof yoga ball. For example, some exercise balls - such as the Trideer Exercise Ball - have a honeycomb structure that forms many explosion-proof air bubbles on the surface of the ball. These air bubbles prevent any cracks or punctures from expanding further, thereby avoiding an explosion. Others have keel-like explosion protection added on the inside to keep them tough even under high pressure.
The thickness of the PVC is an important factor in determining the quality of your sports ball. The thinner the material of the ball, the poorer the quality of the ball usually is and the higher the risk of bursting during use. So, always choose thicker PVC balls for safety and maximum durability.
It is best to test the anti-knock performance of the fitness ball before buying. This is essential to ensure your safety during use. A ball that deflates slowly is always the right choice, not one that explodes under you to prevent accidental punctures!
One thing to keep in mind is that balls marked "explosion proof" can also burst under certain conditions. That's why you should check for any signs of wear before starting each workout. Clear the ground to make room for your ball workout, put away items that could hurt you if you fall, and use your medicine ball indoors only.
5. What characteristics determine the anti-slip performance of an exercise ball?
The anti-slip feature of the stability ball is essential to prevent slip and fall accidents during use. Balls with a non-slip design provide better control and are generally safer to use.
The texture of an exercise ball can indicate its non-slip properties. What you want is something that moves smoothly but still offers enough grip to stay in place while you work out. The ultra-smooth surface can cause the ball to slide around dangerously during use. However, overly sticky textures can get dirty quickly with lint, hair and dirt while avoiding slippage.
6. What is the weight limit of the exercise ball?
Different yoga balls are designed to support different weights. The body ball has different limits for resting weight and moving weight. The maximum weight a stability ball can support when weight is not moving over it is its static weight limit. The maximum exercise weight that the medicine ball can support without bursting, such as the maximum weight that an individual can exercise with a medicine ball, is the weight limit.
Most balls have a weight limit of approximately 250 lbs or 113 kg. However, heavier balls may have a static weight limit of up to 2,200 pounds and a weight limit of about 500 pounds.
Conclusion
Choosing an exercise ball can be difficult, with so many versions on the market, but knowing what to do and what to avoid can make the choice easier.
