What’s the deal with tennis balls in a walker? It’s an effective way to add stability and comfort, but also has its downsides. In this blog post, we’ll cover why to use them, what makes one good over another, tips for putting them on your walker and more!
Why You Should Use Tennis Balls On Walkers
Tennis balls are used on walkers to help people move more easily and securely. Sliding the tennis ball-covered base of a walker is easier than lifting it off the ground, which can be difficult for older or less physically capable people. The added grip that the tennis balls provide also increases stability while moving around slippery surfaces like leaves and wet wood.
The fuzzy fabric material of the tennis ball is durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use and cheap enough to replace them when they start to wear out.
Here are some of the tennis balls that will last long:
AspireTennis Balls Pack of 12 or 24 – The Best Economic Choice
- MATERIAL: The ASPIRE UK tennis balls are made from the high quality of rubber and...
- PRESSURELESS BALL: The tennis balls are pressure less balls that don’t lose...
- FUN GIFT: The tennis balls are perfect gift for anyone it’s a great toy through...
Aspire Tennis balls are available in packs of 12 or 24. Unlike regular tennis balls that lose bounce over time, these are pressure-less and maintain a consistent bounce throughout their lifespan. Accompanied by a handy mesh carry bag, they’re great for walkers seeking a lightweight and transportable option. They are durable and just perfect for indoors and outdoors.
DUNLOP Tennis Ball Fort All Court TS – for Clay, Hard Court and Grass – Durable Option
- Dunlop Fort All Court TS tennis balls offer a pleasant feel on all surfaces and are...
- The tennis ball ensures accurate bounce on hard courts, dirt, grass and indoor...
- VISIBILITY: Thanks to the yellow fluorescent and moisture-resistant felt of the...
The DUNLOP Tennis Ball Fort All Court TS is a top-tier choice for tennis enthusiasts and walkers alike. Designed for versatility, its consistent and durable build makes it perfect for clay, hard courts, and grass. Featuring an advanced HD core and a vivid fluoro cloth, this ball promises elite performance. Packaged in a convenient 4-ball tin, its quality rubber material not only caters to tennis players but also offers walkers a durable and consistent option for their needs.
Some people find that using tennis balls in a walker helps with balance, while others say it makes their walking more comfortable and enjoyable. Those who are looking for an inexpensive way of improving the performance of their walker will likely enjoy this low-cost solution.
Safety First
The majority of people who choose to put tennis balls on the bottom of their walkers are looking for additional safety measures. Maybe they have a problem with regular rubber tips, or maybe they often slip instead of picking up. Either way, tennis balls offer more surface area and their felt-like material keep things in place. If one were to use a round object for an alternative, the same outcome would be unlikely.
Tennis balls are a reliable option for walkers as they provide better traction and stability than the plastic tips on other walkers. These issues arise when a person tries to slide on an excessively rough surface. The sliding aspect should not be used unless the surface is appropriate for it.
Indoor vs Outdoor Use
One thing to remember is that tennis balls on walkers will be more useful for indoor floorings such as tiles, laminate, and certain types of cement. Tennis balls won’t slide on asphalt or pavement – not easily anyways.
When it comes to walkers, wear and tear on the rubber tips is inevitable. However, they can be easily replaced with tennis balls that are relatively inexpensive for a small price of a coffee each! If you don’t have access to used ones though, there’s no need-walkers only touch the ground making new or old both suitable substitutes.
Ask around at your local courts if anyone has some extra balls laying about from their games; most people would gladly donate them as well since this will improve someone else’s mobility in time instead of sitting idle collecting dust just waiting for an opportunity like this one.
The Downsides Of Using Tennis Balls On Walkers
There are some reasons not to use tennis balls on walkers, but they are few and far between. To name a few that might come up:
There are really good reasons not to put tennis balls on your walker:
- Balls often come in neon – not a good look for you and your walker.
- It can be difficult or dangerous to cut the tennis ball open with a knife and wiggle it onto the legs of the walker.
- Tennis balls are more durable but don’t last as long – the softer surface means they wear out faster
- Unsafe if used incorrectly. Check with someone that has experience before cutting the ball open to ensure you are doing it in a safe manner.
- It all adds up. Balls are cheap but in the long run, you will spend more money than if you just replaced the original tips.
- It´s a colony of germs, bacteria, fungus, mould.
How To Attach Tennis Balls On Walkers
The process might seem a little strange at first, but once you get the hang of it, it only takes a few seconds to attach new tennis balls to your walker. Some people cut a ball with just a knife, but it requires a greater deal of precision and skill. You could also use a device to cut the wood and/or a hammer & nail to poke an initial hole.
Below are the instructions to prepare a tennis ball for use in a walker.
In some cases, the following steps might not work for everyone; comment below if you have a better method or handy tip for everyone´s benefit.
- Position the tennis ball underneath the walker. Those with more experience at it can be done by hand, but for beginners, a vice or another person could help.
- For an initial hole, use the knife or hammer and nail. This is just a way to start to figure out where the cuts might need to be made.
- To make the tennis ball stay on your walker, first cut a hole in it with the knife. The size of this X should be about 2 inches long and fit around most standard handles to leave 4 openings for attaching.
If you’re using a knife, make sure that it is sharp. Cutting into the ball can be difficult because of how durable and tough they are! A lot of people don’t realize just how strong these balls really are- which makes them perfect for use in walkers. But with knives being hard to manoeuvre at first, get something pretty sharp so cutting through won’t take too long or require much effort on your end.
If you want to cut tennis balls up without struggling like most people do when trying out new tools (especially if it’s their first time), then try going with a very good quality blade!
Remember: The sharper the better if this is one task you have high expectations about completing because cutting will go by faster than expected.
If you are using a vice, make sure that it doesn’t crush the ball before making cuts around it. If they have too much pressure on them, then it’s time to switch! Sometimes people use their hands or another person’s hand in order to help flatten out the ball and get the initial hole started- which is a great way to go about it if you don’t have access to other tools.
- Push the walker’s leg into the ball. Push the flaps up to capture tennis balls firmly. Some people might even add some tape or glue but for those who don’t like the idea of tape or glue, this set-up should be just fine.
Last tip: There are certain tennis balls that are easier to attach than others, I listed some of the best tennis balls for walkers in this post.
Summary
But in the end, I think the good outweighs the bad: tennis balls are a great way to make your walker perform better, increase safety and stability when moving around. You don’t want to be stuck in one place with an ineffective tool for mobility so give this little addition a try!
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