IN RECENT years, medicine balls have become favourites for workouts, whether you’re looking to improve strength, coordination or power.
The best medicine balls are a handy piece of home gym kit, too – they take up hardly any space, can be used for a variety of workouts, and rapidly raise your heart rate to help burn fat and build muscle.
Studies have found that integrating a medicine ball into your workout regime can more effectively improve throwing than simple strength training. Medicine balls can also shake up a workout routine you’re starting to tire of.
Medicine balls come in a range of styles and weights, so you’ll easily find one to suit your workout needs.
The most common medicine balls you’re likely to see are rubber-coated; these can be used in rolling exercises or for an additional load in squats, lunges, balance exercises and more.
Some medicine balls are designed for throwing: known as slam balls, you usually exercise with these by holding one overhead, throwing it in front of you and catching it on the rebound, providing a cardio and full-body workout in the process.
You’ll also find medicine balls with handles – not suitable for throwing but great for lifting – and wall balls for Crossfit aficionados. These typically have a sewn exterior and work well for exercises where you’re using a ball to rebound.
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This classic medicine ball design in rubber is ideal for basic medicine ball workouts, and will help with coordination, balance and core strength.
This AmazonBasics design is well-priced and well-reviewed and comes in a range of weights up to 10kg.
Reviewers say it’s ‘fab quality’, ‘well made and durable’ and ‘will suit beginners as well as more experienced users’.
This sand-filled slam ball from BodyRip is designed to take a beating as you throw it down repeatedly to strengthen those shoulders, back, arms, legs and core.
The no-bounce design comes in a range of weights up to 15kg.
This versatile medicine ball with handles has a rubberised exterior and can be used much like a kettlebell.
People like to use these balls for core exercises like Russian twists and double crunches, as well as biceps curls, crunches, squats and lunges.
Not strictly a medicine ball, but this small weighted exercise ball is another useful workout tool which helps you develop core strength and control.
Often used to accompany Pilates exercises, this 900g ball can help add a new dimension to your home workouts.
It has a PVC outer and sand-filled interior.
‘Perfect size and material for a good grip. Not too slippery. Really good for value for such great quality’, writes one fan.
Calling all Crossfitters: this wall ball from Bytomic is durable and well-constructed, but still soft and comfortable for throwing.
Use it for wall exercises, which can help improve overall strength, coordination and endurance.
To get the benefits of the medicine ball on a budget, this Maya hide leather design from RDX ticks every box.
Available in four sizes – up to 12kg – each ball costs less than £15.
Fans love it – as one notes: ‘Was looking for a good quality medicine ball. Having bought loads of RDX products in the past (Punch bag, speed ball, etc), RDX is always my first choice. Great quality at a great price – no need to look elsewhere. Speedy delivery 10/10’.
We’ve designed Sun Selects to help you find the best products that won’t break the bank.
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Enjoyed our roundup of the best medicine balls? Then you might like our selection of exercise balls, too.
This article and any featured products have been independently chosen by The Sun journalists. All recommendations within the article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click a link and buy a product we may earn revenue: this helps to support The Sun, and in no way affects our recommendations.
