Which is better a weighted ball (small) or medicine ball?

[pumptmuscle]

I've recently decided to give weighted ball workouts a try. I'm not too familiar with them but my main reason for trying them out is more for juggling and hand-to-hand work that I can't do with a regular kettlebell because of the handle. I may eventually do a traditional ball workout (e.g. holding it most of the time) but for now, throwing it around looks like fun and a good challenge at the same time.

Which do you feel is better, to use a small weighted ball or a regular medicine ball. I may be getting the terminology a little wrong but by small weighted ball, I mean a weighted ball that you can use in one hand while the medicine ball is bigger and best with 2 hands. I figure, the small one, if it's the same weight as the large, would be better since it can be tossed (and especially caught) more easily but could also be used with 2 hands, too. I've seen several brands on Ebay but right now there's one by Valeo that's 8 pounds and under $20 shipped. I was also fortunate to be able to get a set of 4 tapes on Ebay by Ralf Hennig called the "Complete Performance Ball Program" for less than $7 shipped. Three of the 4 tapes were still sealed and at that price, they're well worth trying out. I saw very little info on them through a google search but when I did see reviews, they were very favorable. I figure if I don't like them, I could always pass them onto someone at VF.

Any recommendations for brands and websites that sell them cheaply? Is it better to get them at the store?

[mspina]

Bob,

Sounds like you are more interested in the small (somewhat squishy) balls - I have 2 (can't remember the poundage of them anymore), and I actually use them quite a bit - more than my medicine ball, that's for sure. I likely got mine at Sports Authority or some such, and I know I've seen them at Target (although the weight selection might be limited).

[lfcjasp]

WalMart carries some of those squishy little balls. I got a green, 3# each pair there and love them. Use them in GWW and Tracie Long's workouts. They're also great if you want to hold them on your thighs (ala Firm Vol. 1 and GWW) during floor work because they're soft, yet substantial.

My 4# med ball which is bigger and rock hard is okay when it's called for in some workouts, but I really don't use it that much.

[pumptmuscle]

Thanks for the replies. I agree that the smaller one is good for me. I just got one on the way home from work at Sports Authority. I threw it around a little when I got home and could feel it after just a few minutes. I definetely think this will add to the fun factor as an occasional workout.

Btw, traditional weighted ball workouts have you holding them most of the time, right? Are there any that include any tossing moves?

[mtnmom]

The smaller, squishy weighted balls are what I personally prefer. I have them in 4, 6, and 8 pounds. The only thing I've found that they can't be used for well are when you do plank moves with the ball under your hands. I did Patrick's Play Ball this morning and used my hard med ball because he includes pushups and mountain climbers in the workout.

[bfit]

I like the squishy ones better too. I have a green squishy ball that came in a Firm kit, and I also have the red (and smelly) ball that came with a more recent Firm kit. I find the squishy one easier to hold on to, and you don't have to worry about it rolling away if you set it down. I use the green squishy Firm ball in Mindy Mylrea's Med Ball workout, and it works fine.

[Lucky Star]

I have both the small vinyl sand-filled squishies and the large hard rubber balls. And my absolute favorite that I use 95+% of the time is a hybrid: bigger than the squishies, smaller than the rubbers, they are gel-filled and covered in an easy-to-grip texture: http://www.amazon.com/Exertools-Exba...6466780&sr=1-1

Not cheap, but I them. They have a lovely 'bounciness' to them that makes them fun to toss and hold.

[RedPanda]

Originally Posted by mtnmom

The smaller, squishy weighted balls are what I personally prefer. I have them in 4, 6, and 8 pounds. The only thing I've found that they can't be used for well are when you do plank moves with the ball under your hands. I did Patrick's Play Ball this morning and used my hard med ball because he includes pushups and mountain climbers in the workout.

Me too! They are small and soft enough to hold in one hand. The ones I like are Gymnic medicine balls. They're not cheap, but they are very good quality.

If I had discovered the smaller, slightly squishy balls earlier, I wouldn't have bought my 2kg hard medicine ball. I use the larger 4kg one for planks and pushups, as in Play Ball and Mindy's workouts.

[schoolgirl-01]

i'm another vote for small squishy.