Although stability balls aren't the most expensive pieces of exercise equipment, it's worthwhile to spend some time checking out their ratings and rankings if you're planning to invest in one. A stability ball improves posture and can provide a greater challenge to core and stabilizing muscles in almost every exercise.
Review Sites
The first place you can find reliable stability ball ratings is online, at large digital marketplaces and websites that sell exercise equipment. Most such outlets allow users to post reviews of the fitness balls they buy, name their pros and cons and award them a starred ranking on a set scale of points. Hearing about other users' experiences with a specific stability ball can help you decide whether that ball might be right for you, but it's also not the same as getting the professional opinion of a personal trainer or other expert.
Retailers and Trainers
Retail store staff and personal trainers at the gym don't rate stability balls and exercise equipment in the same way that patrons do, but they may be the most valuable source of information you can consult in your quest to find the best ball. Both professionals will be familiar with the manufacturers as well as the merits and downsides of each model, and after hearing about the specific core exercises you tend to include in your routine, they may be able to offer a personalized recommendation that could be more accurate than anything you'd find online.
Stats
In considering ratings of exercise equipment, it's also important to make sure you're getting the equipment that's right for your size and fitness level. ACE suggests getting a 55 cm stability ball if you are between 5 feet 1 inch and 5 feet 7 inches and a 65 cm ball if you're between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet 2 inches. Another easy way to judge whether a ball is the right size is to make sure your knees are bent at a right angle and your feet can stay flat on the floor when you sit on the ball, as Edward R. Laskowski, M.D., of MayoClinic.com suggests.
Considerations
Along with the size of your ball, you'll want to consider its material, feel, durability and quality level. Ratings might reflect whether the ball is easy to maintain and inflate and whether it lasts a long time or seems flimsy. Some balls are made of synthetic material that has a distinctive smell or feels sticky, so if you're sensitive to those factors, seek out a different model.
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