GoFit 55cm Professional Stability Ball

I''ve only had this ball for a little over a week, but I really like it. I''ve been doing exercise videos, one of which recommended a fitness ball. I never really liked using a fitness ball at the gym, but I decided to go ahead and get one anyway. Well, this is much better than what I used at the gym! Sturdy, good quality, and the right size (I learned that the ones I''d been using at the gym were too large). I''ve noticed there are questions about what size on a lot of reviews of different balls. Some people say that the "cutoff" between a 55 cm ball and a 65 cm ball is 5''3" instead of 5''6". I''m 5''3" and the 55cm ball is perfect for me. The balls I''d used at the gym look more like the "burst resistant" balls instead of the professional ones. The professional stability ball is definitely nicer. It was easy to pump up with the supplied pump too. I guess I''ll report back if I have any problems with it, but thus far it looks like a very good purchase. I''m enjoying the exercises with it as the balance challenge adds an interesting element. Nice fitness ball!

---Some time later ----

Okay I''ve been working out with the ball for a while now, and it''s great. The only real problem is that I''d like to add more air. I''ve tried and tried but can''t get the plug out. I can''t do it with my fingernails, pliers are impossible to grip it with (and might hurt the ball anyway), sticking various items under the head of the plug hasn''t worked so far. Is there a special tool I need to buy to remove the plug? I did manage to remove it once before, but over time it''s become really stuck in the air. In general, that''s a good thing; but for adding more air, it''s difficult.

---Later ----

I wrote the manufacturer and they suggested working the plug out by using 2 dimes. Or my brother-in-law did it in 2 seconds flat using a butter-knife. :) So it hasn''t been a real problem. I''ve had the ball quite a while now, and it works great. I''ve done some long stability-ball exercise classes, and this is perfect for them. Very good quality.

I recently added strength training (dumbbells & resistance bands) to my workouts, but quickly injured myself when I increased the weight. Determined not to stop completely, I looked at a sports medicine textbook which said that the key to avoiding injury is to become comfortable with a particular weight level and then to perform the exercise (using the same weight) in a less stable environment. This helps to challenge and strengthen various stabilizer muscles before moving to a higher weight level.

For this reason, I was looking for a good exercise ball to use with my strength training exercises. If you read through the reviews of other balls, you''ll see the occasional story of someone who was injured when their ball burst. Most of the high-quality burst-resistant balls that I saw were too expensive, but the GoFit Professional balls seemed like a good compromise between price and quality. They have a 1,200 lb. burst rating and are slow to deflate if the ball is accidentally punctured.

I originally ordered the 65 cm. ball but this was too big (I''m 5''7"), so I sent it back and ordered the 55 cm. Deflating the 65 cm. ball seemed to take forever. This gives me a certain comfort level that I won''t be doing a face-plant if my new ball punctures while exercising on it.

The 55 cm. ball is more of a reddish color than the picture shown on Amazon. The pump included with the ball is certainly adequate, but I bought an Isokinetics pump, which made short work of pumping up the ball. Fully-inflated, the ball measures a bit less than 57 cm. high.

So far, I''m very happy with this ball. It seems to be very high quality and I feel comfortable exercising on it. My one minor complaint is that it''s a bit difficult to remove the plug (I use a small screwdriver) when you need to add air to the ball. The ball comes with a second plug (which I''ve already lost) along with an instructional booklet and a DVD. I haven''t looked at the DVD yet, but other reviewers speak highly of it. One of these days, I''ll get a DVD player for the old tv in the basement and maybe add this to my workout routine as well.

All in all, I recommend this ball highly. I think it''s well worth the extra money to buy a ball of this quality.

Buy GoFit 55cm Professional Stability Ball Now

If you search the page you will see that the professional quality balls are 10 to 15 dollars more than the simple "burst resistant" balls. In my opinion, it is money well spent. The professional ball is rated for use with weights: bench presses, inclines, flyes, etc. This 55cm GoFit ball comes with an excellent DVD. The DVD offers 3 training programs: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The person performing the exercises on the DVD does an excellent job showing the proper form, and the individual doing the naration is very knowledgeable. The icing on the cake is the excellent booklet included with the ball. The booklet includes 36 pages of black and white photos and follows the DVD perfectly.

I should add that an air pump comes with the ball. It''s adequate. I must also add that the size ball you order is determined by your height. I''m 5''6" and I find that I''m comfortable with either a 55cm or 65cm ball. If I had to choose between the two sizes, I''d go with the 65cm ball. I''m incredably happy with my purchase and have just ordered a second ball.

Read Best Reviews of GoFit 55cm Professional Stability Ball Here

When I got this ball, it showed up in a dark blue color. With the included pump, it takes a long time to inflate, but the ball is sturdy and holds air well. As others have pointed out, the plug can be hard to pry open I use the edge of some silverware if I need to deflate it.

I''ve used it only occasionally for exercise and mostly for sitting or playing with kids with. I''m only 5''4" and it''s really too low to sit on, so if that''s your purpose, go for a larger ball. For most exercises it''s fine. It''s held out for me both on carpet and on a jagged concrete floor.

The only negative is that it holds a wrinkled shape for a long time, even when full, and that somehow the neoprene on my ball has white stripes on the side, as if it rubbed against some other plastic in the case and absorbed its'' color. Aside from these minor annoyances, it''s a reasonably priced and sturdy ball!

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I have had the GoFit professional fitness ball for a week and still have not been able to inflate it. Really unacceptable that instructions are not included, and the hand pump is next to useless. Will bring it to my gym and have it inflated and hopefully then I can enjoy using it!!!

UPDATE: I had to buy another pump, and then even once I got it inflated (which took a small eternity) the air escaped overnight. Not a good experience at all. But I will say that they gave me no problems with the return. I ended up buying a Gaiam ball which was a snap to inflate, is also anti-burst, and has served me very well! I love it!!

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