Thread: What size swiss ball should I buy?

Ok, I want to buy a swiss ball online but I'm not certain on which size I should get. I'm 5'6'' tall. It seems like the 2 standard sizes are 55cm (22 inches) or 65 cm (26 inches).

I also have a choice of a regular swiss ball or a burst resistant swiss ball for a little more money. Not sure if it's entirely necessary though.

In case it matters I'm mainly getting it to work my abs/core on. Any thoughts on which size I should get?

~Nicole

I'm 5'6" too. The box for the Reebok ball says that 65cm is right for my height. The Reebok 65cm is a medium, which Reebok recommends for people who are 5'6"-5'11".

I've read varying recommendations online, though. (Before I bought the ball, I expected, based on what I'd read online, to get a 55cm ball. I trusted Reebok and went with their 65cm one.)

I bought a ball mainly to stretch out across--to get a long stretch across my back (laying on the ball, face up). I did that on a bigger ball (>65cm) and it was the right size for the stretch that I wanted. I didn't intend to do core work on the ball that I bought--just that stretching. However, on the ball that I bought, I don't get quite as much of a stretch as I do on the bigger ball, but it'll do.

Since I don't stretch on it the way I wanted to, I've found myself doing more core exercises on the ball and the 65cm size is perfect--any bigger and I wouldn't be able to balance safely.

Storing the ball is a challenge. The ball and the noise the sand inside makes weirds out my cat.

Found this on google.

Ball Diameter to Person's Height 45cm = 4'6" to 5'0". 55cm = 5’1” to 5’7”. 65cm = 5’8” to 6’1”. 75cm = 6’2” to 6’7”

Originally Posted by tjslake

Found this on google.

Ball Diameter to Person's Height 45cm = 4'6" to 5'0". 55cm = 5’1” to 5’7”. 65cm = 5’8” to 6’1”. 75cm = 6’2” to 6’7”

Does the site say anything for what the ball is being used for? Cause I think the sizes might change if it's being used for crunches versus just stretching.

~Nicole

Originally Posted by calcium

Does the site say anything for what the ball is being used for? Cause I think the sizes might change if it's being used for crunches versus just stretching.

~Nicole

I agree--I think it depends on how you're going to use it.

I saw the same recommendations ^^^ before I bought the Reebok ball, but I wound up trusting what they had on the front of the box and went with the bigger size. I'm glad that I did--anything smaller and it wouldn't be as useful for me.

I think the best thing would be to try one out at a gym before you buy it. By the way, paying for the ball isn't the painful part--they're relatively cheap (and if you go with a non-name brand, they're around $9-10). The painful part (for me at least) was inflating it because the valve kept popping out and I kept losing pressure.

Isn't the usual test sitting on one and seeing if your upper legs are parallel to the floor?

Thanks Zeroth, I think I'll just go for the 65cm. It was just confusing cause my height is right on the line when they say you should be either 55cm or 65cm You've been repped

~Nicole

Originally Posted by calcium

Thanks Zeroth, I think I'll just go for the 65cm. It was just confusing cause my height is right on the line when they say you should be either 55cm or 65cm You've been repped

~Nicole

Ah, thanks. That was sweet of you.

I hope the 65cm works well for you! I resisted using the ball for so long and I'm glad that I started. I enjoy the stretch it gives and the variation in my routine is nice.

I'm careful when I'm on it--when I'm at the gym and am using this one cardio machine in particular, I have full view of the area where people use the stability balls and I've seen lots of people get tripped up and fall off (or onto) them. Sometimes people get a bit of a running start and they kind of body surf onto the ball--and it's cool when it works; when they've got a little too momentum: ouch.

I also think that people who use stability balls in public need to make sure that their shorts provide full coverage.

Originally Posted by zeroth

Ah, thanks. That was sweet of you.

I hope the 65cm works well for you! I resisted using the ball for so long and I'm glad that I started. I enjoy the stretch it gives and the variation in my routine is nice.

I'm careful when I'm on it--when I'm at the gym and am using this one cardio machine in particular, I have full view of the area where people use the stability balls and I've seen lots of people get tripped up and fall off (or onto) them. Sometimes people get a bit of a running start and they kind of body surf onto the ball--and it's cool when it works; when they've got a little too momentum: ouch.

I also think that people who use stability balls in public need to make sure that their shorts provide full coverage.

lol, nice...

~Nicole