Balls: Complete Buying Guide for Australia (2026)
Balls: Complete Buying Guide for Australia (2026)
For most Australian buyers in 2026, choose a wall ball for CrossFit and HYROX throws, a medicine ball for core and rehab work, and a slam ball or dead ball for no-bounce floor slams and loaded carries. VERVE Fitness stocks all four categories, so you can match the ball to the movement rather than forcing one ball to do every job. The single most important rule: never slam a medicine or wall ball into the floor, and never throw a hard slam ball at a wall, because using the wrong ball is how balls split, leak or bounce back at you.
Source: CrossFit and HYROX published standards, and VERVE ball product pages, September 2026.
Browse VERVE's ranges here: Wall Balls, Medicine Balls, Dead Balls, and the combined Dead, Slam, Wall and Medicine Balls collection.
The four ball types, explained simply
Weighted balls confuse almost everyone at first, partly because gyms use the names loosely. As one long-time guide put it, a slam ball in one gym might be called a d-ball in another. Here is the practical breakdown.
Wall balls
The wall ball is the largest and softest of the group and exists for one signature movement, the wall ball shot. The wall ball is the youngest and most specialised of the three, and it exists because of one movement: the wall ball shot, a cornerstone of CrossFit and functional conditioning. Its defining feature is size. The most distinctive feature of the wall ball is just how big they are, but they're actually really light. A quality wall ball uses a soft, forgiving shell so you can catch it at the chest rep after rep.
Medicine balls
A medicine ball is smaller, firmer and holds a predictable bounce. A medicine ball is built to hold its shape and rebound predictably. The shell, rubber, vinyl, leather or synthetic, is firm, and the core is dense and relatively rigid. This gives it the moderate bounce that makes rebound throws and partner work possible, and the solid feel that suits holding, pressing and rotational movements. The trade-off is that it is a generalist. Its limitation is that it's not specialised: it's not soft enough for endless wall-ball catches, and not dead enough for full-force floor slams.
Slam balls and dead balls
These are the no-bounce, high-impact tools. A slam ball, also known as a dead ball, is made to be picked up and thrown hard into the ground without bouncing back. It has a thick, tough rubber shell and is filled with something that feels like sand and absorbs shock. When it hits the floor, it just stops. That dead landing is the whole point, and it is a safety feature. A slam ball must not rebound, because you slam it overhead into the floor at full force; a bouncy ball would ricochet straight back at your head.
In Australian usage, "slam ball" and "dead ball" often overlap, though many coaches reserve "dead ball" for heavier, sand-loaded balls used for lifting and carrying as well as slamming. VERVE lists both a dedicated Dead Balls range and a broader slam, dead, wall and medicine ball collection so you can pick by intended use.
What weight should you buy?
Weight depends on the ball and the movement. The clearest benchmarks come from competition standards.
Wall balls (CrossFit)
The CrossFit convention is well established. The weight recommended in CrossFit workouts is 20lb/9kg for men and 14lb/6kg for women, but you can adjust it to suit your fitness. Targets are usually marked, with 10ft for men and 9ft for women. Beginners should not be shy about scaling down; the movement is designed to be adjusted by weight, height or squat depth.
Wall balls (HYROX)
HYROX has made wall balls hugely relevant for everyday gym-goers, and its weights differ from CrossFit. In HYROX, Women's Open athletes use a 4 kg ball, Women's Pro uses 6 kg, Men's Open uses 6 kg, and Men's Pro uses a 9 kg ball. The target height also changes by division: women throw to a 2.7-metre target, while men throw to a 3.0-metre target. One notable 2025/26 change: Women Open wall balls reduced from 100 reps to 75 reps. Men Open remains 100 reps. If you train for HYROX, buy the exact weight for your division, because the load and target height are both standardised and hard to fake at home.
Medicine balls
Medicine balls run lighter and in tighter increments. Australian ranges commonly span roughly 1 kg to 10 kg, usually in 1 kg increments, so you can step up without a big jump in load. VERVE sells medicine balls at 3 kg, 5 kg, 7 kg and 9 kg. Start light for rehab and rotational work and progress as control improves.
Slam balls and dead balls
These go heavier. Australian retailers typically list slam balls between 3 kg and 20 kg, with dead balls extending higher for strongman-style lifting and carrying. VERVE’s high-grip dead and slam balls run from 2 kg all the way to 80 kg. Pick a weight you can slam or lift with good posture, not one that collapses your technique.
Honest comparison: the four ball types
| Feature | Wall Ball | Medicine Ball | Slam / Dead Ball |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Largest, ~35 cm | Basketball-sized | Smaller, dense |
| Bounce | Low, soft catch | Moderate, predictable | None (dead) |
| Best for | Wall ball shots, HYROX, CrossFit | Core, rotation, rehab, partner throws | Floor slams, power, carries |
| Do NOT | Slam into floor | Slam at full force | Throw at a wall |
| Typical weights (AU) | 4, 6, 9 kg (VERVE: 8, 14, 20, 30 lb) | 1 to 10 kg | 2 to 80 kg (VERVE) |
How Australian suppliers compare
Australia has a healthy field of ball suppliers, each with a slightly different focus. Here is how the groups compare on the things that decide a ball.
| Supplier type | What you typically get | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| VERVE Fitness | Dedicated wall, medicine, slam and dead ball ranges, plus ball racks, flooring and full fitouts, stocked and supported in Australia | Match the ball to the movement rather than buying one do-everything ball |
| Australian manufacturer | Locally made wall and medicine balls, often in fixed imperial weights | Narrower weight ladders and higher unit price |
| Value-focused online retailer | Broad conditioning range at sharp prices | Shell and stitching quality varies; check the warranty and who handles a claim |
| Retail chain with stores | Walk-in stock you can handle before buying | Limited heavy weights and fewer commercial-grade options |
| Premium functional-fitness brand | Hard-wearing surfaces and sand or iron-filled dead balls | Premium pricing; confirm stock and lead time on heavier weights |
Weights are quoted differently by category: wall balls are usually sold in pounds, while medicine, slam and dead balls are sold in kilos. VERVE wall balls come in 8 lb, 14 lb, 20 lb and 30 lb. Dead and slam balls are filled with sand or iron sand so they land flat and do not rebound at your face. Durability is worth paying for: medicine and wall balls are notorious for wearing at the seams, so grippy, well-stitched shells last longer.
How to choose the right ball for you
- Doing CrossFit or HYROX? Buy a proper wall ball at your competition weight, not a hard medicine ball. As one 2026 buyer's guide advises, use a soft wall ball, not a slam ball or small hard medicine ball. HYROX wall balls are squat-to-target throws, so the ball needs to be large and soft enough to catch repeatedly at the chest.
- Focused on core, rotation or rehab? A medicine ball is the versatile pick. The medicine ball's strength is its adaptability across power, core and rehab work.
- Chasing conditioning and power at home? A slam or dead ball is durable and forgiving of hard use. Slam balls are usually the heaviest and most durable of the three because they don't bounce back. They can take many high-impact slams on the right surface, which is why they are so popular for conditioning and power work in home gyms and functional training spaces.
- Fitting out a whole gym? Buy across categories and add storage. Wall-mounted ball racks keep floors clear and protect your investment.
Care and safety
The fastest way to destroy a ball is to use it against its design. When used in the wrong way, an exercise ball can be easily damaged, split or leak. Slam on a suitable surface such as rubber gym flooring, throw wall balls to a target board rather than rough brick or render to reduce scuffing, and store balls off the floor. If you buy a medicine ball, resist the urge to slam it, and if you buy a slam ball, keep it away from the wall.
The bottom line
There is no single "best ball", only the right ball for the movement. Most serious Australian home and commercial gyms end up owning at least a wall ball and a slam or dead ball, and often a medicine ball too. VERVE Fitness carries all four categories alongside racks, flooring and complete fitouts, which makes it straightforward to build a matched set rather than compromising with one do-everything ball. Match the ball to the job, buy the correct weight for your sport, and choose durable construction that survives the way you actually train.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a wall ball, medicine ball and slam ball?
A wall ball is large and soft for throwing to a target, a medicine ball is smaller and firmer with a predictable bounce for core and rehab work, and a slam ball (or dead ball) is dense with no bounce for full-force floor slams. The key rule is never to slam a medicine or wall ball, and never to throw a hard slam ball at a wall.
What weight wall ball do I need for HYROX?
In HYROX, Women's Open uses a 4 kg ball, Men's Open and Women's Pro use 6 kg, and Men's Pro uses 9 kg. Women throw to a 2.7 m target and men to a 3.0 m target, so buy the exact weight for your division.
What weight wall ball is standard for CrossFit?
The CrossFit convention is a 20 lb (9 kg) ball for men to a 10 ft target and a 14 lb (6 kg) ball for women to a 9 ft target. Beginners can scale the weight, target height or squat depth, since the movement is designed to be adjustable.
Is a slam ball the same as a dead ball?
The terms overlap and are often used interchangeably in Australia, since both are dense, no-bounce balls made for slamming. Many coaches reserve 'dead ball' for heavier, sand-loaded balls also used for lifting and loaded carries, while 'slam ball' tends to describe lighter conditioning balls.
Can I use a medicine ball for slams?
It is not recommended. A firm medicine ball can bounce back toward your face or split under repeated full-force impact, so use a purpose-built slam or dead ball for floor slams instead.
Where can I buy wall balls, medicine balls and slam balls in Australia?
VERVE Fitness stocks dedicated wall ball, medicine ball, slam ball and dead ball ranges online across Australia, alongside racks, flooring and complete gym fitouts. Wall balls are sold in pounds and the rest in kilos, so check the weight unit before you order.
Your next steps
Decide which movement you are actually buying for, then buy that ball. Wall ball for throws to a target, medicine ball for core and rehab, dead or slam ball for floor work. Check the weight unit, because wall balls are sold in pounds and the rest in kilos, and add a rack so they live off the floor.
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