Change Wall Ball Target Height per Person?

[David Doran Marshall]

Hi,

We recently bought a house and one of my first priorities is getting some rugged pullup bars, and a wallball target set up in the back yard.

I understand that 10feet is the Crossfit standard height for aiming a wallball. My question is whether that height should change based on the height of the wallballer using it.

If I'm 3ft tall, and my wife is 6ft tall (hypothetically..), then I'm going to have to do a lot more work to get that ball up to 10ft.

So- should 10ft just be a guide? should I mark off a spot 3ft lower to aim at? does it even matter at all?

Thanks

DDM

[David Sailor]

Hi David,

Welcome to Crossfit.

You can use any height for the target and any weight ball, for that matter. The 10 foot target and 20lb ball is the standard and it's a great way to have consistency and to know that you are doing the same movement as everyone else.

But if you are 3' tall? Definately more work. But maybe no more work than someone who is weaker but using the same weight ball.

I don't have a definitive answer but would approach it this way: find a height and weight ball that is suitable to you and track your progress. That way you can see how well you are improving. I'm 5'8" and clearly have a shorter reach than someone a foot taller. In fact, that person probably only has to throw the ball a foot to hit the 10' target. But I really don't care about what the other person is doing, I'm interested in seeing how I improve. Hope this helps, David.

[Brandon Oto]

For what it's worth, the actual height differential between athletes is not usually three feet...

[Becca Borawski]

Different athletes will have advantages on different exercises -- while the taller person might have an easier time getting the ball up to the 10foot target, the shorter person has an advantage on pullups and squats where there's a shorter range of motion because of shorter limbs. Just like the heavier longer-limbed person has an advantage at rowing, but a shorter person will be at an advantage in Turkish get-up. It all balances out.

[Leonid Soubbotine]

On the wallball:
Taller person has to throw less, but squat more weight and longer distance.
Shorter person has to throw more, but squat less weight and less distance.

[David Doran Marshall]

Awesome guys, thanks for the perspective.

[Ryan Wooley]

FWIW, I am a skinny 6'3" with long legs and arms. I feel like I do have an advantage throwing a ball to a 10' target, but I also feel like I have a disadvantage squatting down and trying to generate power out of the bottom of the squat. It all evens out. Wall balls hurt no matter where you come at it from. Though I do feel a shorter target would be ridiculous since my reach is about 8'.

[Juan Cantu]

Originally Posted by Leonid Soubbotine

On the wallball:
Taller person has to throw less, but squat more weight and longer distance.
Shorter person has to throw more, but squat less weight and less distance.

I agree with the taller = less throw and more squat distance & a shorter person with further throw and less squat distance, but not on weight.

Why ? You can be super tall, and skinny as a stick or super tall and heavy as a truck ... same with being short.


Although, as others stated, find what fits you and improve yourself with the goals you have in mind.

[Ryan Wooley]

Originally Posted by Juan Cantu

I agree with the taller = less throw and more squat distance & a shorter person with further throw and less squat distance, but not on weight.

Why ? You can be super tall, and skinny as a stick or super tall and heavy as a truck ... same with being short.

True. If you are heavy, you will be doing more work when you squat, but the momentum you generate from your squat will make it easier to launch the ball than it would be for a lighter person. From what I have seen, wall balls seem to be challenging for all shapes and sizes. Now, if you are doing Karen in under 3 minutes, then maybe you should think about scaling up target height or ball weight.