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Who says you need lots of heavy machinery to have a full-body, muscle strengthening workout? The best medicine balls – sometimes known as “wall balls” or “slam balls” – are compact, easy-to-use tools that, when used regularly, can produce significant improvements in your muscle strength and core conditioning.
What’s the Difference Between a Medicine Ball and Slam Ball?
Oftentimes, people refer to medicine balls as slam balls. However, the two are not interchangeable, and it’s important to know the difference between the two pieces of equipment when finding the right weighted exercise ball for your needs. Medicine balls are typically made of leather or rubber and are a great substitute for dumbbells.
Since they are an odd object, they engage your stabilizer muscles in a different way than traditional free weights do. Slam balls, on the other hand, have tough, textured exteriors and thick walls that make these weighted balls suitable for throwing exercises. When you throw a slam ball, they will not bounce back or break. (The same can not be said for medicine balls.) Slam balls help you utilize your full body when you throw, which helps build strength. Wall balls are similar to slam balls in that they are used for throwing exercises, but they should only be thrown at a sturdy wall.
What Makes a Good Medicine Ball?
When choosing between a medicine, slam, or wall ball, keep your space allowance and workout needs in mind. Wall balls are an invigorating workout tool if you have space and a proper wall on which to use them. However, not every home gym is equipped in that way.
A slam ball is a convenient alternative to a wall ball if you want to practice throwing exercises and have an intense workout. Slam balls are also easily incorporated into your everyday workout routine as they accommodate a greater variety of exercises, therefore targeting more music groups.
For those who are less interested in throwing exercises and more interested in engaging their muscles in a new way to build strength and conditioning, a muscle ball is the best option. No formal gym space is needed to use a medicine ball, and they can be seamlessly incorporated into your existing everyday workout routine through various lifting, crunching and squatting exercises.
