Slam ball - Page 2

Allan Fisher · 03-01-2006, 01:06 PM

Based on web research and arithmetic, not experience, it looks as if you could probably get about 120lb of lead birdshot into a basketball. Or 190lb of mercury...

Jim Biancolo · 03-01-2006, 03:02 PM

In my one failed (not using Pierre's method) attempt at doing a sand-filled basketball, I got it up to about 23 pounds with dry sand. It occurs to me now that you could get it heavier by then dribbling water in until the sand won't absorb any more. Not sure how heavy this would make it. Then there's the aforementioned lead birdshot idea. I don't know how much increasing the weight increases the chances of structural failure (again, not having tried Pierre's method (yet)).

Pierre Auge · 03-01-2006, 03:14 PM

Mike,
With sand the max is approximately 25 pounds and the ball is virtually FULL. I've considered the led shot but I would mix it with silica sand because led shot alone would destroy the ball from the inside-out. As far as the second hole thanks to Lindsey Lane its not required. Which is GREAT because that means the ball is less likely to be damaged in one of the puncture positions. The less modification you make to the ball the stronger it will be.

To be honest if I could figure out how to fill the ball through the pump hole I would, (Something to consider) because it would make the ball extremely durable. So yes place a filler needle in the pump hole and you will only need to punch 1 hole.

Matthew Nielsen · 03-01-2006, 05:10 PM

Couldn't you drill out the pump hole, fill it, and replace the plug?

(Message edited by Matthew Nielsen on March 01, 2006)

Pierre Auge · 03-02-2006, 09:40 AM

Yes you could but the problem with drilling it out is that you would still require a second hole for air flow unless you drill out a hole that is big enough to allow its own flow. Problem with that is pluging the damned thing would require a patch because the plugs are not big enough and would make the ball structurally unsound.

This is why so many home made balls fall apart quickly. People generally make the holes too big which weakens the ball to the point that it can't handle to pressure imposed upon it. The cool thing about the small hole and plug is that the plug I use is actually tougher than the surrounding ball therefore it holds it all together.

The idea would be to spread the pump hole enough to allow the sand to flow through it and still allow some airflow. I think this would seriously take HOURS which I barely have the time to come and read the message board at lunch time these days so I can't assess it myself.

Kevin Anderson · 03-02-2006, 10:01 AM

Has anyone handled one of those really heavy d-balls. On EliteFTS they have them up to 150lbs. I don't know exactly what I would do with it but it sounds cool.

Mike Burgener · 03-02-2006, 02:03 PM

i have d-balls up to 120 lbs. i have my athletes clean+fs+press or push press. 3-8 reps. i have several athletes that can handle the 120, several can handle the 100 and all of them can do the 90.

today i had students doing ball slams with the 70...and remember they had to throw it hard enough to get a bounce so they could catch it. i had one kid do 10 and he stopped...i am sure he could have done more.

Kevin Anderson · 03-02-2006, 02:57 PM

Thanks for the info. I've got to get one of those heavy dudes, especially for the portability. 70 lb ball slams sound tough.

Pierre Auge · 03-02-2006, 09:21 PM

Thats half my bodyweight Mike I'll have to give it a try! Sounds like a puker if I can handle it.

David Wood · 03-03-2006, 07:53 AM

190 pounds of mercury would look *REALLY* cool the day it finally burst on a ball slam. :happy:

Probably poisonous, though, no? Vapors and all that?

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03-01-2006, 01:06 PM	#11
Allan Fisher Member Profile: Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 63	Based on web research and arithmetic, not experience, it looks as if you could probably get about 120lb of lead birdshot into a basketball. Or 190lb of mercury...

03-01-2006, 03:02 PM	#12
Jim Biancolo Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Richmond MA Posts: 65	In my one failed (not using Pierre's method) attempt at doing a sand-filled basketball, I got it up to about 23 pounds with dry sand. It occurs to me now that you could get it heavier by then dribbling water in until the sand won't absorb any more. Not sure how heavy this would make it. Then there's the aforementioned lead birdshot idea. I don't know how much increasing the weight increases the chances of structural failure (again, not having tried Pierre's method (yet)).

03-01-2006, 03:14 PM	#13
Pierre Auge Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ottawa Ontario Posts: 735	Mike, With sand the max is approximately 25 pounds and the ball is virtually FULL. I've considered the led shot but I would mix it with silica sand because led shot alone would destroy the ball from the inside-out. As far as the second hole thanks to Lindsey Lane its not required. Which is GREAT because that means the ball is less likely to be damaged in one of the puncture positions. The less modification you make to the ball the stronger it will be. To be honest if I could figure out how to fill the ball through the pump hole I would, (Something to consider) because it would make the ball extremely durable. So yes place a filler needle in the pump hole and you will only need to punch 1 hole.

03-01-2006, 05:10 PM	#14
Matthew Nielsen Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Herndon VA Posts: 602	Couldn't you drill out the pump hole, fill it, and replace the plug? (Message edited by Matthew Nielsen on March 01, 2006)

03-02-2006, 09:40 AM	#15
Pierre Auge Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ottawa Ontario Posts: 735	Yes you could but the problem with drilling it out is that you would still require a second hole for air flow unless you drill out a hole that is big enough to allow its own flow. Problem with that is pluging the damned thing would require a patch because the plugs are not big enough and would make the ball structurally unsound. This is why so many home made balls fall apart quickly. People generally make the holes too big which weakens the ball to the point that it can't handle to pressure imposed upon it. The cool thing about the small hole and plug is that the plug I use is actually tougher than the surrounding ball therefore it holds it all together. The idea would be to spread the pump hole enough to allow the sand to flow through it and still allow some airflow. I think this would seriously take HOURS which I barely have the time to come and read the message board at lunch time these days so I can't assess it myself.

03-02-2006, 10:01 AM	#16
Kevin Anderson Member Profile: Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 180	Has anyone handled one of those really heavy d-balls. On EliteFTS they have them up to 150lbs. I don't know exactly what I would do with it but it sounds cool.

03-02-2006, 02:03 PM	#17
Mike Burgener Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: bonsall ca Posts: 627	i have d-balls up to 120 lbs. i have my athletes clean+fs+press or push press. 3-8 reps. i have several athletes that can handle the 120, several can handle the 100 and all of them can do the 90. today i had students doing ball slams with the 70...and remember they had to throw it hard enough to get a bounce so they could catch it. i had one kid do 10 and he stopped...i am sure he could have done more.

03-02-2006, 02:57 PM	#18
Kevin Anderson Member Profile: Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 180	Thanks for the info. I've got to get one of those heavy dudes, especially for the portability. 70 lb ball slams sound tough.

03-02-2006, 09:21 PM	#19
Pierre Auge Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ottawa Ontario Posts: 735	Thats half my bodyweight Mike I'll have to give it a try! Sounds like a puker if I can handle it.

03-03-2006, 07:53 AM	#20
David Wood Moderator Emeritus Profile: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lebanon NJ Posts: 3,310	190 pounds of mercury would look REALLY cool the day it finally burst on a ball slam. :happy: Probably poisonous, though, no? Vapors and all that?