Medicine Balls vs Handled Medicine Balls vs Wall Balls
Three ball designs at the same 5 kg weight show how grip, casing and intended use can change what belongs in a home gym.
By IRONINDEX · How we research
Introduction
A medicine ball can be gripped around its body or held by moulded handles. A wall ball uses a soft casing and is designed for throws at a wall or target. Two balls with the same weight can feel quite different to hold if the diameter or grip changes.
The pictured examples all weigh 5 kg, so the comparison centres on shape, grip and intended use. Diameter is included where the maker gives a figure for the selected weight.
What to consider
- 01
How the ball is held
A plain ball is held around its body. Built-in handles give the hands fixed grip positions for controlled lifts and carries.
- 02
Diameter and reach
A wider ball puts the hands farther apart. The diameter for the chosen weight is more useful for judging that reach than a family photo.
- 03
What the ball is built for
Wall throws, repeated floor slams and controlled lifts place different demands on a ball. The maker’s stated use is the basis for choosing it.
- 04
Bounce and the training area
A return from a wall or floor matters when the exercise depends on catching the ball. Published rebound behaviour and suitable surfaces are worth checking for that movement.
Buying advice
Grip and casing at the same weight
The 5 kg examples illustrate the difference between holding the outside of the ball, using fixed handles and catching a soft-cased ball against the hands and forearms.
| Attribute | Grip and outer material | Published diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Plain medicine ball | Textured rubber coating | Unpublished |
| Handled medicine ball | Two integral handles and textured rubber coating | Unpublished |
| Wall ball | Soft PVC casing with double-stitched seams | 35 cm |
Maker details for the pictured 5 kg examples
Plain medicine ball
- Grip and outer material
- Textured rubber coating
- Published diameter
- Unpublished
Handled medicine ball
- Grip and outer material
- Two integral handles and textured rubber coating
- Published diameter
- Unpublished
Wall ball
- Grip and outer material
- Soft PVC casing with double-stitched seams
- Published diameter
- 35 cm
Wall throws and floor slams
A wall ball suits a session built around throws at a suitable wall or target. For repeated floor slams, the relevant evidence is the maker’s explicit permission for that use and the surface it specifies. The pictured balls have no published rebound figure.
Catalogue examples
Use these specification profiles to apply the checks above. They are not hands-on reviews, rankings or a confirmed compatible package.
Plain ball
Gym Gear Medicine Ball, 5 kg
A textured rubber surface gives a grip around the body. Gym Gear sells the 5 kg size individually and leaves its diameter unpublished.
Specifications, source links and outstanding checks in the full profile.
Built-in handles
Gym Gear Medicine Ball With Handles, 5 kg
Two moulded grips give a fixed hand position for controlled lifts and carries. The 5 kg ball is sold individually.
Specifications, source links and outstanding checks in the full profile.
Exact 5 kg variant; other weights are sold separately. Soft casing for wall throws
Gym Gear Wall Ball, 5 kg
Gym Gear gives a 35 cm diameter and specifies a PVC casing with double-stitched seams. Rebound behaviour is unpublished.
Specifications, source links and outstanding checks in the full profile.
Conclusion
The movement determines which grip and casing matter most. A plain ball leaves the hands free to move around its surface, while a handled design gives a repeatable hand position for lifts and carries.
For a throwing exercise, the maker’s intended use and the available training surface come first. Diameter and any published rebound information help narrow the choice once those requirements are met.
Sources
Primary references used for factual claims in this guide. Product specifications apply to the named model and version.
- Medicine Ball
Gym Gear. Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Medicine Ball With Handles
Gym Gear. Accessed 5 Nov 2026.
- Wall Balls
Gym Gear. Accessed 6 Nov 2026.