Medicine balls are an essential addition to any home gym. They’re an effective, convenient, and versatile piece of equipment that come at a great price point. And since medicine balls can augment a number of exercises you’re already doing, the workout routines you can perform with them are virtually limitless.
However, not all medicine balls are created equal. There are a number of important factors to consider before purchasing a medicine ball, such as its grip, weight, material, and durability. For example, some medicine balls allow you to perform slam exercises without wearing out or puncturing the ball. Other medicine balls, however, are either too bouncy, or too fragile for these types of workouts, and are better used for traditional exercises like sit-ups.
So what medicine ball is right for you? We’ve put together this useful guide so that you can find the medicine ball that suits your particular needs and exercise goals. At the bottom of this article, we’ve also included some useful information about the ideal medicine ball weight for you.
Keep reading to find the medicine ball that’s right for you, and order it right to your doorstep.
What is the Best Medicine Ball to Buy?
Amazon Basics Medicine Ball
While it may seem a little strange to buy an Amazon brand medicine ball at first, the shear size of the company and demand for this product has allowed Amazon to provide a high quality medicine ball at an incredible value. For the price of one medicine ball of a different brand, you could afford to purchase two Amazon Basics medicine balls. That’s why this is the best overall medicine ball to buy.
AmazonBasics Workout Fitness Exercise Weighted Medicine Ball - 8 Pounds, Red and Black
- 8-pound weighted medicine ball for upper, lower, and full body exercises
- Constructed with sturdy, firm rubber with weight labeled on both sides of ball; lightly textured surface provides a superior grip
It isn’t all about the price, either. This medicine ball has an excellent grip, solid bounce, and long lasting durability. This is due to this ball’s solid rubber construction and textured finish, so this ball will never slip from your hands accidentally. The Amazon Basics medicine ball is a great choice for those looking to build muscular endurance, improve their balance and coordination, and sculpt their body to look cut and well defined.
This medicine ball comes in eight different weights, starting as low as 8 pounds and going all the way up to 20 pounds.
Features
- Available in 8 pounds, 10 pounds, 12 pounds, 14 pounds, 15 pounds, 16 pounds, 18 pounds, and 20 pounds.
- Solid rubber construction for optimal bounce.
- Optimal textured grip to prevent slippage.
- Great tool that will allow users to build strength and definition with easy and fun exercises.
- Can be used anywhere; doesn’t take up much space.
- Easily stored.
- Assortment of colours.
What customers are saying
Best Medicine Ball for Slams
TRX Training Slam Ball, Easy-Grip Tread.
TRX is well known for their challenging, suspension style training that is designed to push your limits and get you into shape quickly. It’s not surprising then that their brand of medicine balls are equally high quality, and designed for challenging and effective workouts.
TRX Training Slam Ball, Easy-Grip Tread, 15-lbs
- FUNCTIONAL TRAINING ACCESSORIES: Level up your home gym game with the TRX Training Slam Balls. Available in 6 to 50 LBs our slams have an easy grip texture and a durable rubber shell.
- BOUNCE RESISTANT: TRX Slam Balls are filled with sand to retain their shape, weight, and sturdiness. Our balls our bounce resistant and durable for the most demanding workouts.
One of the factors that makes TRX medicine balls so great is their highly effective textured grip, which prevents any slippage, especially in the middle of a workout once you’ve begun to sweat. These medicine balls are also crafted out of an ultra-durable rubber shell that makes them highly robust to withstand hard and frequent impacts. This is why they’re called “slam balls.” This feature makes the TRX ball perfect for exercises like wall ball and other routines that require you to bounce the medicine ball off of hard surfaces.
These balls are great for professional athletes and beginners alike. TRX medicine balls also come in eight different weight classes that range from 6 pounds to 50 pounds.
Features
- Available in 6 pounds, 8 pounds, 10 pounds, 15 pounds, 20 pounds, 25 pounds, 40 pounds, and 50 pounds.
- Easy-grip textured surface
- Robust outer rubber shell
- Full 12-month warranty with TRX
- Crafted by recognized experts in the fitness industry
What customers are saying
Best Medicine Ball for P90X2
Valeo Medicine Ball
This medicine ball is developed by the highly regarded exercise equipment company Valeo, which boasts high volumes of positive reviews on most of its products. This medicine ball is no different. The reason why this medicine ball is perfect for p90x2 is because it’s a “hard” ball. It’s built with extremely durable rubber so that it can be bounced off of hard surfaces easily, and will not break or wear out.
Valeo 4 lb Medicine Ball With Sturdy Rubber Construction And Textured Finish, Weight Ball Includes Exercise Wall Chart For Strength...
- STRENGTH, COORDINATION, BALANCE: Classic medicine ball workout helps develop core strength, improve coordination, and fine-tune balance ideal for strength training, plyometric training, balance training and building muscle
The Valeo medicine ball also has an easy-grip textured exterior that makes it easy to control and prevents slippage when performing exercises that require throwing or bouncing, or when performing isometric exercises that require you to hold the ball for long periods of time. Sweat as much as you want, this ball will not slip. If you’re familiar with p90x and p90x2, you will know that lots of sweat is inevitable.
Another interesting factor of the Valeo medicine ball, which is not promoted by the company but rather is something that customers have discovered, is that it’s water safe. This means that it can be used in water aerobics for wet/dry swimming conditioning routines (holding the ball above the water while staying afloat with just legs).
These balls come in five different weights spanning from 4 pounds to 12 pounds.
Features
- Available in 4 pounds, 6 pounds, 8 pounds, 10 pounds, and 12 pounds.
- Crafted with extremely durable rubber that will withstand hard slams on the ground.
- Easy-grip textured outer material that prevents slippage while performing exercises that lead to profuse sweating.
- Customers have noted that this ball is water safe.
- Fine tunes balance that makes this ball ideal for strength and balance training, and building muscle.
- Comes in a number of great colours.
What customers are saying
Best Medicine Ball for CrossFit
j/fit Dead Weight Slam Ball
The j/fit Dead Weight Slam Ball is designed for cross training. If you’re looking for a slam ball that can take an impact and that can be used for just about any medicine ball exercise you could dream of, this is the ball for you.
j/fit Dead Weight Slam Ball - 15 lb
- TAKE YOUR WODS TO THE NEXT LEVEL: Cross training is founded on innovation and variety – and our slam ball helps transform your WODS and quickly advance cross training levels, all while letting you reap all of its benefits with unprecedented ease.
One of the reasons this ball is great for CrossFit is because slam ball workouts are specifically designed to help you build up your cardiovascular system and improve circulation. This will help you to build endurance and speed while simultaneously gaining strength. Slam balls also help to add resistance to exercises that normally rely on body weight.
If you’re looking to build muscle mass, straighten up your posture, and improve your balance, this is a great ball for you.
The j/fit Dead Weight Slam Ball comes in nine different weights spanning from 10 pounds to 50 pounds.
Features
- Available in 10 pounds, 15 pounds, 20 pounds, 25 pounds, 30 pounds, 35 pounds, 40 pounds, 45 pounds, and 50 pounds.
- Tough exterior rubber finish.
- This is the result of 10 re-designed from j/fit to perfect their product.
- Solid black color scheme.
- Provides excellent precision and stability.
- Robust ball for CrossFit slamming routines.
- Can be slammed without any bounce.
What customers are saying
Medicine Ball with Best Customer Reviews
SPRI Xerball Medicine
Customers cannot stop raving about the SPRI Xerball medicine ball. This ball is extremely evenly weighted, and comes with a grooved and textured outer surface that makes it incredibly easy to hold, and prevents slippage even in the most sweaty conditions. The SPRI Xerball was crafted with expert grade quality so it will continue to retain its shape even after repeated, long-term, and vigorous use. This is partially due to the balls thick rubber walls, which make it robust and long-lasting.
SPRI Xerball Medicine Ball Thick Walled Durable Construction with Textured Surface, Rosewood, 8-Pound
- CLASSIC MED BALL: Body training tool that helps develop muscular strength, endurance, power, stability and joint integrity
- THICK WALLED: Thick walls increase durability and extend the life of the ball and the higher rubber content provides a better bounce - add air to increase the bounce and add variety to your workout
This ball does have some bounce to it, which will increase if you add air to it. If you slam this ball off the ground, it will bounce back up to about chest height.
The SPRI Xerball Medicine ball is an overall spectacularly designed piece of equipment that will retain its shape, grip, and utility for a long time to come. This medicine ball comes in eleven different weights, each with their own colour scheme, that begin at 2 pounds and goes all the way up to 30 pounds.
Features
- Available in 2 pounds, 4 pounds, 6 pounds, 8 pounds, 12 pounds, 15 pounds, 18 pounds, 20 pounds, 25 pounds, and 30 pounds.
- Each weight comes in its own unique colour for easy identification.
- Designed with a high quality rubber exterior that will maintain its shape through repeated use.
- Textured like the surface of a basketball for a secure, familiar, and effective grip.
What customers are saying
Best Medicine Ball Brand
Champion Sports medicine ball
This medicine ball is brought to you by one of the oldest and most trusted names in American exercise and sporting gear: Champion Sports. You may know this brand from their iconic basketballs. Champion Sports has used their expertise to create another outstanding ball, this time a medicine ball.
Champion Sports Leather Medicine Ball Set of Five
- Set of Five Medicine Balls
- Ideal for cross training, core fitness and more
- Heavy duty construction for all-out use.
- Color-coded for easy identification
This medicine ball is crafted out of synthetic leather, which makes it durable and capable of withstanding heavy use and long term wear and tear. Although the word “synthetic” may throw some people off, a lot of companies actually prefer synthetic leather because unlike genuine leather, it does not need to be conditioned and carefully preserved to retain its quality and strength. Synthetic leather, on the other hand, just needs to be wiped down when it gets too moist from sweat.
One of the stand out features of this ball is its ability to stand up to slam work. This ball can be slammed repeatedly against hard surfaces and it will not get punctured, rip, deflate, or otherwise wear-out. If you are doing a lot of slam work, however, be prepared that you may have to reshape the ball after a while.
Overall, this is a masterful medicine ball by Champion Sports that comes in a weight of 15.43 pounds.
Features
- One of the few medicine balls that can confidently be used for slam work.
- One of the oldest and most trusted brand names in the industry.
- Crafted out of synthetic leather for easy maintenance and long term durability.
- Retro design.
- 15.43 pounds.
- Made with a rubber core and synthetic leather shell.
- Has a diameter of 26 1/4 inches
What customers are saying
Best Medicine Ball for Women
Empower Medicine Ball for Women
The empower medicine ball is specifically designed with a woman’s body and workout needs in mind. If you’re looking to sculpt, tone, build up your core strength or work your cardiovascular system, this is an excellent ball for you.
Empower Medicine Ball for Women, Exercise Weight Ball for Strength Training, Cardio, Soft Fingertip-Grip Surface, 10lb
- DESIGNED FOR WOMEN: Our medicine balls for women are designed with a woman’s body and needs in mind. Sculpt, tone and increase cardio and improve core strength.
- BURN MORE CALORIES: Toss, swing and lift weighted medicine ball to blast calories. Combining cardio and weight training results in burning more calories.
This ball is made from an environmentally friendly high quality vinyl, and its outer surface is covered in fingertip-grip divots to make it easy to handle and hold onto. The Empower ball is available in three different weights, starting at 6 pounds and going up to 10 pounds, each with their own corresponding colour.
The Empower Medicine Ball also comes with a workout DVD and “boot camp” guide.
Features
- Available in 6 pounds, 8 pounds, and 10 pounds, each with their own corresponding color.
- Comes with a workout DVD so you can learn the best exercises to perform with your new medicine ball.
- Specifically designed with a woman’s body in mind.
- Great ball for toning and sculpting the body, as well as building core strength and doing cardio exercises.
- Made with environmentally friendly materials.
- Crafted out of high quality vinyl.
- Outer surface of this ball is covered in divots for easy grip.
What customers are saying
Other Great Medicine Ball Options
Cap Barbell Medicine Ball
CAP Barbell is a well-loved company that produces notoriously high quality gym equipment, and their medicine ball is no different. This medicine ball frequently gets 5/5 ratings among customers, and has been praised for its high quality, excellent grip, and sizing. The one thing that should be mentioned about these medicine balls is that they are not intended for slam use. Many sizes, however, do bounce.
Cap Rubber Medicine Ball, 12-Pound
- Versatile Training Tool – Ideal for strength training, core workouts, coordination, and endurance exercises, making it a must-have for functional training and cross-training routines.
- Durable & Secure Grip – Constructed from high-quality rubber with a tacky surface for a non-slip grip, ensuring safety during intense workouts, including balance exercises and rehabilitation therapy.
Still, these medicine balls work great for all other workouts, and have a nice textured exterior that prevents slippage even in sweaty conditions. Medicine balls from CAP Barbell also come at an excellent value.
Last but not least, this is one of the few medicine balls you’ll find that comes with a 30-day warranty, so if you have any troubles, you can send this ball back without any hassles.
This ball comes in six different weights that range from 2 pounds to 12 pounds.
Features
- Available in 2 pounds, 4 pounds, 6 pounds, 8 pounds, 10 pounds, and 12 pounds.
- 30 day warranty
- Textured exterior to prevent slippage while profusely sweating.
- Great value for the price.
- Some sizes of this ball bounce. This ball is not intended for slam use.
What customers are saying
Everlast Medicine Ball
This medicine ball comes at an astoundingly low price for its quality. Not only is Everlast a well known and trusted brand name, and not only does this medicine ball gets consistently great reviews from customers, but it’s also an Amazon choice pick. The reasons for this are the quality of the ball, the basketball-like outer grip, and durable long-lasting construction.
Everlast Tough Grip 10LB Medicine Ball Medicine Ball
- Textured grip for secure handling
- Rigid rubber for durability
- Color detailing indicates weight progression between styles
This ball is soft and squishy, making it impervious to bouncing. While some may like balls that bounce, many more prefer a ball like this that can be smashed against the ground without having to worry about taking a hit to the chin with the rebounding ball. So if you are looking for a ball to use for slam workouts, count on the Everlast.
If you’re planning on using your medicine ball for exercises that result in lots of sweating, the outer grip of this ball will prevent it from slipping from your hands.
This ball only comes in three different sizes: 6 pounds, 8 pounds, and 10 pounds
Features
- Available in 6 pounds, 8 pounds, and 10 pounds.
- Can be slammed against the ground without fear of breaking the ball.
- Great value—high quality at a low price point.
- This ball does not bounce.
- Easily gripped textured surface (similar to a basketball).
- Durable and long lasting construction.
What customers are saying
Day 1 Fitness Medicine ball
This medicine ball by Day 1 fitness is a well rounded piece of equipment that comes in many different weights, and is durable enough to withstand whatever exercises you throw at it. Built with a dual texture design, essentially giving users two options of grip textures, this ball is easy to hold on to even in the most sweaty conditions.
Day 1 Fitness Medicine Exercise Ball with Dual Texture for Superior Grip 20 Pounds - Fitness Balls for Plyometrics, Workouts...
- REPLACE HAND WEIGHTS WITH OUR MEDICINE BALL - A superior alternative to free weights, these multipurpose weighted medicine balls provide optimal heaviness for resistance to increase endurance, coordination, muscle strength
The Day 1 fitness medicine ball is also constructed from durable rubber that is made to absorb shock from slams and general impacts, so you can put this ball through a beating and be sure that it won’t puncture or warp.
This medicine ball is suitable for all level of athletes, from beginners to professionals and everyone in-between. This ball is also great for those looking to rehabilitate post-injury.
The Day 1 fitness medicine ball comes in nine different weights, starting at 4 pounds and going all the way up to 20 pounds.
Features
- Available in 4 pounds, 8 pounds, 10 pounds, 12 pounds, 14 pounds, 15 pounds, 16 pounds, 18 pounds, and 20 pounds.
- Dual textured grip.
- Crafted from durable rubber that’s meant to withstand a beating, making this ball great for slam work.
- Comes in a variety of colours corresponding to the different weights this ball comes in.
- Great ball for post-injury rehabilitation.
What customers are saying
Titan Soft Wall Ball Medicine
The Titan Soft medicine ball comes from an extremely reputable fitness company, and their ball is a reflection of their long-standing trust among industry experts. In fact, Titan’s medicine balls are among their most popular products. This ball is crafted with reinforced double-stitched seams that makes it great for slam work, although the company doesn’t recommend it. Still, this double-stitched seam protects this ball from tearing or popping, as any wear and tear would have to make its way through not only one, but two layers of reinforced stitched seams. You can therefore use this ball for wall ball.
Titan Soft Wall Ball Medicine 6 lb Core Workout Cardio Muscle Exercises Fitness
- 6 LB WALL BALL: Measuring at 14" this black and red color-coated wall ball maintains an even balanced weight distribution of 6 LB.
- SMOOTH GRIP: Crafted from durable, high-quality PU leather and PP cotton, the Titan Wall Balls are both soft and easy to grip. The large, ergonomic design ensures a comfortable hold, making it easy to throw, catch, and slam, even during intense, sweaty workouts.
The synthetic leather exterior of this ball gives it a pleasant texture, and adds to its durability. The Titan soft balls are a favourite among crossfit trainers.
This ball comes in five different weights ranging from 6 pounds to 30 pounds.
Features
- Available in 6 pounds, 10 pounds, 14 pounds, 20 pounds, and 30 pounds.
- Constructed to be used for wall ball, or for squats, twists, and sit ups.
- Built from high quality durable synthetic leather.
- Tight double-stitched design for long lasting durability.
What customers are saying
Best Medicine Ball Weight for Beginners
The best medicine ball weight for beginners will depend on a number of factors, such as your own weight, age, level of fitness and strength. Therefore, there’s no exact number that all beginners should use. Instead, you should aim to use a ball that is about half, or even 30% of the maximum weight you can lift. In other words, using the example of dumbbells, if you could do only one bicep curl with a 30 pound weight, you should aim to work with a weight of 15 pounds, or even 9 pounds.
The goal should be choosing a size that gives you enough resistance to work your muscles, without straining them or hurting yourself. Again, there is no science, and the weight you choose will also depend on the kind of goals you have. If you’re looking to build muscle, go with a heavier ball that you can perform less reps with before exhausting your muscles. If you’re looking to tone or sculpt your muscles, rather than making them bigger, go with a lighter weight that you can perform lots of reps with.
In the end, as a beginner, it’s always better to start with something too-light than accidentally choosing a ball that is too heavy. If the ball is too heavy, you will likely perform your exercises with poor form and technique, which will not give you the best results, and could result in an injury.
back to menu ↑Best Weight Medicine Ball for Sit Ups
If you’re performing sit ups or other abdominal exercises, you should choose a ball that is smaller and lighter than what you might normally use. The goal here is to maximize your speed and technique, rather than trying to muscle through a sit ups routine with a super heavy ball. It’ll also be more difficult to perform sit up variations with a ball that is too big and cumbersome.
There is no specific weight for performing sit ups, as this will depend on your skill and level of fitness. Rather, you should choose a weight that allows you to perform the desired number of repetitions, and that doesn’t interfere with your technique.
The purpose of using a medicine ball for sit ups is to take your normal sit ups routine, and add a little bit of resistance to it. Therefore, before you choose a weight, see how many repetitions you can perform without a medicine ball. Then, choose a medicine ball weight with which you can perform slightly less repetitions with before getting exhausted. If you can only perform a small fraction of your normal repetitions, you’re using a ball that is too heavy. If you can perform around 70% of your normal repetitions with a medicine ball, this is a good weight, and your goal with the medicine ball can be to eventually close that extra 30% gap.
back to menu ↑Best Medicine Balls for Baseball
The best medicine balls for baseball will be those that allow you to perform versatile exercises. Specifically, you’re going to want a ball that can be used for both traditional exercises like sit ups, but can also be slammed against the ground without fear of warping the ball.
A good option, then, is the Champion Sports medicine ball listed above.
Champion Sports Exercise Medicine Balls, 14-15 lbs, Leather with No-Slip Grip - Weighted Med Ball Set for Weight Training, Stability,...
- ELEVATE YOUR ROUTINE: Champion Sports provides workout gear that makes your fitness goals as enjoyable, convenient, and achievable as possible. Our leather medicine balls are no exception - blending unwavering performance with attractive aesthetics
In terms of weight, remember: you shouldn’t be looking for the biggest and most heavy ball you can find. Since one of your goals should be to improve speed, if your ball is so heavy and cumbersome that you can only move it slowly, you will not be doing much to improve your speed. Instead, you want a ball that you can move fast, but provides enough resistance that you cannot perform movements at your regular speed. The goal, then, will be to close the gap between the speed at which you can perform exercises with your medicine ball, and your normal speed. But be careful: while the goal is speed, this is a slow process. In other words, don’t throw out your back trying to perform medicine ball exercises at your normal speed right away. You should never feel like you’re straining your body, otherwise you risk injury. Hurting yourself or straining your body is one of the number one things that will hinder your speed.
back to menu ↑Best Weight Medicine Ball for Abs
As we spoke about in the “Best weight medicine ball for sit ups” section above, the best weight medicine ball for abs is not anything too heavy or large. Ab workouts are designed to tone and define, rather than add on a bunch of additional muscle mass. Therefore, you will want to choose a lighter, smaller medicine ball that offers resistance, but is not outrageously heavy. This will vary from person to person. Generally, you want to choose a medicine ball that allows you to complete roughly 70% of the sit up reps you would normally be able to perform without the medicine ball.
