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The Best Slam Ball

OnlyTree Black
This article was written by Staying Alive Crew Published at 07:22 pm
Slam Balls

Slam balls are an exceptional way of incorporating weighted plyometric moves, such as a squat position to jumps and other explosive moves. 

Explosive moves help increase your muscle strength from your shoulders, your core, and right to your toes, giving you a total-body workout. 

The beauty of slam balls is they are a relatively inexpensive piece of equipment to add to your commercial or home gym. They come in several different weights, ranging from as small as 8 pounds to 30 pounds in weight.

Slam ball workouts enable so many versatile moves you can do with a slam ball from squat throw to sprint, scoop overhead throws, overhead slams, reverse lunge to chest pass, Russian twist, to slam ball sit-ups. 

We've rounded up the best slam balls available so that you know how to distinguish between a traditional medicine ball and other slam balls on the market.

It's time you got a total body strengthening session plus a plyometric workout to improve your coordination. What are you waiting for, exercise like you mean it, and slam that ball hard!

Table of Contents

8 Best Slam Balls in 2024

Slam Balls Buying Guide

Slam balls are a great fitness tool to help build core strength, and get total-body benefits, and are an ideal way to incorporate weighted plyometric exercises, inclusive of explosive movements into your workout regime. 

With a wide range of slam balls available, it can get super confusing to know which one is right for you. 

To add to this, you have medicine balls and wall balls, and knowing whether these are the same as slam balls can get pretty darn confusing.

We’ve simplified the key features you should screen for and clarified what type of ball is best for which type of exercise, leaving you footloose and fancy-free to enjoy your shopping. 

Hopefully, you find this review helpful. Happy slamming!

Slam Balls

A slam ball is a heavy-duty rubber shell ball, designed to be thrown or slamming exercises. The thick rubber shell ensures that a slam ball withstands repeated slams and softens the slamming impact. 

A slam ball will not bounce or roll when slammed. Slam balls are ideal to help build core strength and incorporate weighted plyometric exercises, inclusive of explosive movements into your workout regime.

Benefits of Slam Balls

Apart from being super cool, slam balls are excellent for releasing stress and pent-up energy and are a great way of getting a total-body workout from your arms to training your core to your lower body through explosive moves. 

Incorporating slam balls into your fitness regime provides improved coordination, enhanced core stability, and strength. It also torches calories working your cardiovascular system, and revving up your metabolism. 

Slam balls are extremely versatile equipment that you can use irrespective of your fitness level. You can use them for balance, endurance, strength, flexibility, and stretching exercises. 

A slam ball is a great way of taking your training to the next level and getting a complete-body workout.

Features of Best Slam Balls

Firmness and Bounce

Slam balls range from being squishy and softer to pliable to more on the firm side. Ideally, you want a slam ball that is somewhere in between. 

The more firm a slam ball is, the more bounce it will usually have. Typically a slam ball is not designed to bounce and you don’t really want it to roll. You want it to stay in place after you’ve slammed it. 

If you have a slam ball that is on the softer side, it will most likely change when you slam it and it may be more demanding to pick back up.

The ideal slam ball is filled with sand and has a core that shifts when you slam it, putting you through your paces when you throw it. 

If you're primarily going to use your slam ball for ab exercises, you don’t need any bounce at all, this is also referred to as dead bounce. If however, you plan to engage in catch drills with a partner, you may want a tiny bit of bounce.

Texture and Grip

Most slam balls have two different styles of grip textures.

Some slam balls have a lighter texture, almost like a basketball which makes it easier on your hands. However, some people can find this type of texture can get slippery when you have sweaty palms. 

The second type of texture is more like a tire tread, which provides a good grip. You’ll still get a good grip, sweaty palms or not, however, some people can find these are a little rougher on soft hands if you are planning on getting a lot of reps under your belt. 

If you are not a fan of textured slam balls look for one with a smooth surface.

Ultimately, the type of texture you prefer comes down to your personal preference.

Valve or no Valve

Some slam balls have an in-built valve enabling you to adjust the air pressure of the ball. 

The benefit of this is, it allows you to change the firmness and diameter of the ball. The downside of this is, it creates a weak point for your slam ball. 

If you end up slamming it repeatedly on the valve point, it will wear and tear and also over time lose air/firmness. 

Size and Weight

The diameter of the slam ball may be a consideration, depending on the type of exercise you want to use it for. 

If you want to do explosive exercises, a small-diameter ball will suffice. If you want to do more functional type training, you might prefer a larger diameter ball. 

The weight of your slam ball is important to consider. What weight is right for you depends on your fitness level and your fitness goals of whether you want to improve your speed, and mobility and provide versatile strength training. 

If you are a newbie to using slam balls, start using a lighter slam ball, and gradually as your fitness improves you can move to use a slightly heavier weight.

Typically, a weight of 10 pounds is enough to put through your paces for strength, power, or coordination. 

Shell Thickness

Most slam balls are rubber-coated making them ideal for high-impact exercises involving slamming the ball or doing explosive exercises.

Durability

The thick rubber-coated surface ensures the slam ball is made to endure repeated slams and withstand the high-impact force of throwing. 

Price

An average 10-15 pounds slam ball will cost around $30-$40. The upper-end slam balls come at an extra cost in the range of  $70 and above.

If you are on a modest budget, you’ll be able to pick up a good-quality slam ball at an affordable price such as the Rogue Echo Slam Balls or TRX Training Slam Balls. 

You may also want to screen whether the slam ball comes with a warranty, providing added comfort that the slam ball is tough and durable.

Slam Balls FAQ

What weight slam ball should I use?

The right weight slam ball for you depends on your fitness level and your goals. Typically for women, a 10 pounds slam ball is good. For men, a 20 pounds slam ball is ideal. 

If you are focusing on strength exercises you may want to use a slightly heavier weight, whilst if you are focusing on more hybrid training involving cardio and strength you may want to opt for a lighter slam ball. 

You want a slam ball that you can grip relatively easily so that you maintain proper form when conducting exercises at max length.

Is a slam ball the same as a medicine ball or a wall ball?

Slam balls, medicine balls, and wall balls are all slightly different from one another. Each type of ball is good for a specific type of fitness training. 

It helps to know the similarities and the differences and which ball is more appropriate to ensure safety and to achieve your fitness goals. 

Slam, wall, and medicine balls can all come in multiple sizes and weights from as low as 5 pounds to as high as 50 pounds. All 3 types of balls come in a lighter or heavier texture and are great for use when engaging in partner exercises. 

Slam Ball

A slam ball is designed for throwing/slamming exercises to the ground. They are made from a thick rubber shell and are filled with sand, which makes them perfect for slamming style impact and durable. The ball has little to no bounce, making them ideal to stay put and not roll. 

A slam ball is ideal for a full-body workout, improve your core strength and incorporate explosive moves like plyometrics into your fitness regime. 

Wall Ball

A wall ball is specifically designed to be thrown at a wall. They have a durable shell that allows them to retain their shape despite being thrown against a wall. They are larger than a slam and medicine ball. 

A wall ball is great for exercises where you are throwing the ball at a tough wall, exercises such as crunch throw, side throws, and overhead wall ball tosses.

Medicine Ball

There are lots of different designs that medicine balls come in. They are made of vinyl, plastic, rubber, or leather and have excellent bounce. Some medicine balls even have handles, providing a sturdier grip. They look similar to a basketball.

Medicine balls are not made to be thrown-slammed to the ground. A medicine ball is perfect for exercises where you are partnered up with a buddy and you throw the ball from a distance. 

A medicine ball is not built to be slammed repeatedly to the ground. If you do end up using a medicine ball for slams, you’ll end up tearing the ball as it is not constructed to absorb high-impact floor slams. 

Slam Balls Sources

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