Product Review: Base and Balls

You already know I have a gadget addiction. Before you dismiss this outright though, stick with me for a minute.

I started my childhood as a dancer. There is a lot of injury, wear, and tear on a dancer’s body. Later I transitioned into cheerleading, aerobics, running, and strength training. The one thing these all have in common is they break your body down.

I know, my gym friends, we have to breakdown to build up at a micro level.

But let’s also acknowledge that sometimes we can overdo it.

Ever since I started exercising, I’ve also been looking for ways to alleviate pain. Most of it isn’t debilitating pain, it’s the normal muscle soreness and tightness you get simply using your body. Restoring our bodies in between exercise sessions is very important and becomes even more critical as we (ahem) grow wiser.

Yoga, massage therapy, and chiropractic care have been go-to solutions of mine for many years.

And yet, my life gets busy.

The time it takes to book appointments, carve out time, travel – it may seem silly but I found that I put off these therapies because time and convenience often got in the way.

Enter my collection of exercise gadgets.

Not pictured here are the massage gun (which I love!), a foam roller, and a larger fascia blaster. The photo really is intended to prove my commitment to doing what I’m told to help relieve muscle tightness.

I use them all but they are all lacking in something. I’m truly not a fan of rolling my muscles because it doesn’t feel like it accomplishes much for me. As I said a moment ago, I adore the massage gun, but in most instances it works better if you can have an amigo help you out. It’s awkward or impossible to angle the massage gun for places on yourself – like your back.

Leverage is also an issue. My array of small balls vary in size and firmness to try to dial in the perfect amount of pressure to relieve a particular spot or area. I can use body weight in some instances, but in others, it’s just awkward.

Base and Balls

I follow the instagram account of sports massage therapist Joe Yoon (IG: joetherapy) I stumbled onto his IG page during the pandemic last year when I was trying to figure out what things I could do at home to still relieve stress and strain. Some of it was activity-based. More of it was actually working from home in less than optimal conditions.

Anyway, I found his targeted stretches very helpful and I started saving posts to go back to them. Then I noticed he launched a product called Base and Balls.

As it sounds, it is literally a base unit and balls. You can buy one set or a double set like I purchased. I think this is the best of both worlds. The base has a non-slip backing so you can easily put it on the ground or a vertical plane like a wall and it won’t slip. The balls can be used by themselves or in the base. The base and ball set clicks in tightly and releases easily.

The balls have different firmness so you have a range of options. This solves the problem of tennis ball, racquetball, or lacrosse ball conundrum I often face. I personally prefer the shape of the ball over a roller but it can be hard to position just so because balls are prone to rolling around, due to the whole nature of spheres and all.

I like the double base set up because a lot of my tension is along my spine so I can set these down and just lay across them. Easy peasy.

Sample Therapies

Joe has a great library of different releases you can do using the ball, ball and base, or double base and balls. I’ve tried a handful out so I can tell you what I think. Frankly the results surprised me too!

T-Spine Massage

This involves a double ball/base setup positioned around the thoracic area of your spine. I found just laying on top of them and relaxing to allow body weight to sink against the balls relieved a surprising amount of stress. I expected to like this one a lot and I did!

Rhomboid Massage

I get a lot of tightness in my rhomboids. It’s a tough spot to get to and the single base and ball did an excellent job. Doing a little active movement really helped get at the range of motion. Again, I expected to like this and wasn’t disappointed. It’s not the most comfortable position when it’s tight but I could feel it release.

Trap Relief

Tight trapezoids are a hallmark of my neck and shoulder pain. Much of it is spending too much time working on a computer or carrying tension in my shoulders. I like the massage gun for this but it’s almost impossible to do this on your own traps. I like massage when I can find the right person who gets the pressure just right. But a single ball and base against a wall (I used a door frame) allowed me to leverage and even roll around the traps to help loosen them up a little. Again, I expected to like this and wasn’t disappointed.

Rotator Cuff

A single ball and base unit under the rotator cuff and some active range of motion really got into uncomfortably tight spots in my rotator cuff. I’ve been plagued with two frozen shoulders so anything that promotes some mobility in my shoulder joints by loosening the muscles a little is much appreciated.

Calf Massage

I hate calf massages. I hate rolling, I hate stretching, I just hate it. Partly it’s because I don’t feel anything, until I do, and then it’s off the table painful. It doesn’t feel good. I’ll say I was pleasantly surprised to find that a single base/ball unit under my calf started to get at the tightness from a lot of walking/running without making me grimace. A shocking favorite of mine.

Anterior Tibalis Massage

I had such luck with the calf massage that I decided to keep pressing my luck with massages in areas I notoriously hate. For all you runners out there, this one is for you. I was STUNNED. Shocked! I loved this one. The pressure wasn’t too much but I definitely felt it release the tension that builds up along the front of your shin.

Quad Massage

Again I expected to hate it and I wound up really enjoying it. I put a single ball/base under my quad and just laid down on top of it. My body weight did most of it and a little rocking from side to side spread out the impact. Not too much, not too little. Just right.

Glute Release

Another love:hate massage of mine, I have chronically tight glues and piriformis. I’ve struggles with it for years. The range of balls I’ve collected thus far have been a futile attempt at finding just the right thing to loosen up those tight muscles. Perfection for the ball and base. I can just relax on to it without worrying about it rolling around. It’s truly one of the best I’ve found in all my searching.

IT Band Massage

The iliotibial band (IT band) is connective fascia that runs along the outside of your upper thigh. If you run, I’m sure you’re familiar with this little devil. It’s tight on most of us and is the least fun thing to have “massaged”. I don’t generally have issues with it, but foam rolling your IT band (in my opinion) is the most masochistic thing you can do. It’s awful. Not so with the ball/base combination. At least for me – it hit a good mid point on releasing and making me hate my life.

I won’t go on forever but I wanted you to know that there are tons of videos out there on how to use these little beauties. I am sold! I can even start to get rid of some of the other collection of gadgets for these guys. And I think they are incredibly affordable.

You can purchase them at BaseandBalls. One set runs between $49 and $79 (currently on sale) and a double set runs you between $89 and $158 (also currently on sale).

Please also note that I purchased these with my own money, my opinions are my own, and I do not make any compensation if you purchase them. I’m merely sharing my opinion on something I think is pretty darned cool!

If you check them out, let me know what you think and what you favorite massages and releases are!