It seems like everything has the word “smart” in front of it these days. Smartphones, smart tv, smart homes, smart fitness balls…
So what does the title “smart” mean for a product? Well, it means that it’s connected to a network that allows it to be far more interactive, intelligent, and personalized than if it were not.
As a fitness enthusiast and professional, I am always looking for a way to train smarter, optimize my results, and have fun doing it. So when I came across Dribble Up and their smart medicine ball recently, I knew I needed to try it out. I also took an interest in the dribbleup smart basketball and smart soccer ball as a mom of a son who’s starting to explore sports.
In this DribbleUp review, I’m covering everything you need to know about this brand, its three current product offerings, and the corresponding app and workouts so that you can decide if you or someone in your family should try a smart fitness ball.
Let’s get the ball rolling!
What is DribbleUp?
DribbleUp is a connected fitness brand that brings its own innovative smart fitness balls to the market. While the concept is simple, the idea is revolutionary in the sports and fitness world. With humble beginnings, this NYC-based startup was created by two brothers at their parent’s kitchen table in 2016.
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As a family-owned company, the team is always looking for creative ways for families to stay active and to do so together at home. This brand born out of a true desire to help other families be happier, healthier, and have more fun.
Currently, their product offerings include a smart basketball, smart soccer ball, and smart medicine ball. Let’s take a closer look at each of these products next.
DribbleUp Smart Medicine Ball Review
The DribbleUp Smart Medicine Ball is a weighted ball that’s used as a tool in your fitness routine. Medicine ball workouts have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years, especially this last year as more people have begun working out from home and many are looking for workouts that require the least amount of equipment possible.
What differentiates this medicine ball from the others is that it includes smart technology that allows you to pair it with your phone or tablet. Once paired, you can work out with the workouts in the app where you will be able to access instant feedback from your sessions as well as track your progress over time.
Smart Medicine Ball Features
Below are a few key things that are helpful to know about the DribbleUp Smart Medicine Ball:
Different Sizes
You have two size options to choose from - a 6 lb ball that’s great for beginners or those who haven’t worked out in a while. Or, a 10 lb ball that’s best for those who have some fitness experience.
Phone-Sync
It works with any phone or tablet that has iOS10+ or Android 8+.
Connectivity
You can connect it to your TV either with Chromecast or Apple TV.
Excellent Tracking Within Range
For proper tracking, you will need to maintain a space of 6 ft between the ball and the connected device.
High Quality
The ball is made from high-quality, durable materials that won’t fade or lose integrity over time.
It has an App!
It includes unlimited cardio and strength training workouts that do not require you to use any additional equipment.
Hit your marks!
The app counts your reps, speed, and tracks your time for you so that the only thing you need to focus on is hitting your targets.
DribbleUp Basketball and Soccer Ball Reviews
Their Smart Balls are made to help you or your child train for the sports they love while having fun doing so. It’s an interactive experience that’s perfect for players of all levels and expertise. This is the first of its kind, truly interactive sports training system that has the potential to change the way kids play and train for the sports they enjoy most.
The goal of both the smart soccer ball and the smart basketball is to help your young player develop the skills they need to succeed out on the field or the court. Rep by rep, they’ll learn the fundamentals and develop the skills required, which will translate to better performance in real-life situations.
Features and Benefits
Whether you choose the basketball or the soccer ball, you can expect the following:
Phone Integration
Integration with your smartphone and/or tablet with iOS 10+ or Android 7+.
Included Stand
An included stand for holding your device.
Skill Instruction
Access to daily live and on-demand classes at varying skill levels.
Use it anywhere
Convenient for use both indoors and outdoors.
Small space is fine
A small space requirement of about 6 ft total.
Smart Tracking
Interactive tracked training that counts your reps and speed, allowing for progression of skills over time.
Hit your marks!
The app counts your reps, speed, and tracks your time for you so that the only thing you need to focus on is hitting your targets.
Consider Basic or Superstar Smart Ball Packages
Both SmartBalls have two different packages to choose from:
Basic
Small, lightweight phone/tablet stand that allows for quick, easy use.
Superstar
Larger stand that’s designed to keep your head up when using your SmartBall
Smart Soccer ball size options:
- Size 4 - This slightly smaller ball is the perfect size for kids ages 12 years and younger.
- Size 5 - This is a regulation-sized ball that’s designed to be used by teenagers and adults
Smart Basketball size options:
- Official - At 29.5”, this is the size you’ll want for boys aged 13+ and adult men. This ball is the official size used in men’s high school, college, and professional leagues.
- Women’s/Youth - A slightly smaller size, this 28.5” ball is best for boys under the age of 13 and girls/women of any age. This is the size used by women’s high school, college, and professional leagues.
How Does DribbleUp Sports Technology Work?
This brand created a product like nothing else on the market, providing live, interactive training from home with minimal equipment. By combining the fun of a video game with the benefits of working out, the brand has managed to create a unique workout experience.
Set up your Stand
Set up your stand. Each smart ball comes equipped with a stand that’s designed to fit your smartphone or tablet. If you’re performing movements on your feet, you can place the stand on an elevated platform like a table or bench. If your movement will on the floor, you can place the stand on the floor.
Fire Up The App
Open the App on your device and place it on the stand. The ball pairs with your phone by using its front-facing camera.
Scan in to sync it up
Once you have the stand and your device setup, you’ll hold your ball in front of the app so that it can recognize it and let you get started right away.
Get to work!
Once you’re connected, you’ll have access to a wide range of classes, both live and on-demand. Once you choose your class, you’ll be coached through a variety of drills and movements that you will match by hitting the green targets lit up on your screen.
Smart tracking
Every smart ball tracks your speed and reps. If you’re participating in a live class, you’ll be working out with countless other users at the same time and may even hear a personalized shoutout from your coach.
Community
Outside of the app, there is an entire community of fellow users that you can connect with. You can also use the community space to participate in the weekly challenges that allow you to win some awesome prizes!
Who is DribbleUp For?
Overall, it's for basketball players and soccer players who want to master their craft. It's also for fitness enthusiasts who would like to use a smart medicine ball to improve their fitness.
Who is DribbleUp's Medicine Ball A Good Fit For?
The DribbleUp Smart Medicine Ball is ideal for anyone who wants to workout from home using a combination of cardio and strength training workouts. Whether you’re brand new to working out, you’ve been out of the game for a while, or you’re a seasoned athlete, you’ll get a ton of value out of these unique, interactive workouts that challenge your body in new, different ways.
Workout from home and rep counting.
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Additionally, it’s perfect for folks who want to workout from home but don’t have a ton of space to do so and don’t care to invest in bulky, expensive gym equipment. The med ball is designed to be used, for the most part, by adults.
Who is DribbleUp Smart Soccer Ball And Basketball A Good Fit For?
These balls are most popular and specifically geared towards youth athletes between the ages of 5-18. For kids who are just starting in sports and need to learn the fundamentals, their SmartBalls are a great way to introduce them and help them get better over time. Furthermore, young athletes who want to step their game up on the court or field can find tremendous value in the interactive training offered.
Rep counting with the basketball.
Rep counting with a soccer ball.
While the SmartBalls are geared towards athletes who would like to see improvement in their game, it’s also just a fun way to get your kids up and moving instead of plopping down on the couch. It’s a sneaky way of getting your kids to play and move their bodies more, which can be difficult to do these days!
What’s the DribbleUp Live App Like?
Want live, professional training on your schedule? With your Smart Ball and the App, you can get just that. You’ll be able to access hundreds of live and pre-recorded workouts while competing on their global leaderboard.
Access live classes with DribbleUp's App
There are countless options for working out with your smart ball, including legs, arms, abs, and more with your medicine ball, and working on sport-specific skills with your soccer or basketball. With these workouts, you’ll learn new skills and movements and be able to master them thanks to intuitive training and feedback. After every workout, you’ll get access to your results, which will allow you to see your stats and track your progress over time.
There are daily live classes to choose from, or you can choose from their countless on-demand options that vary in levels, duration, focus, and more.
Is DribbleUp Any Good?
Yes, it's is a great opportunity to get up, get moving, and practice your favorite sport, and/or develop new skills. The technology included with all packages is cutting edge, it’s an interactive sports and fitness experience like no other.
Juggle counter in action. The app counts your reps - yup, it's that good!
Made for both kids and adults, the whole family can get in on the fun. When combined with live and on-demand training sessions led by expert trainers, users can put their skills to the test while competing on the leader board against thousands of other users worldwide. Visit their website now to start mastering your craft!
Does it Require a Subscription?
Yes, to use DribbleUp Live and get access to the interactive live training, you must pay a monthly subscription fee of $9.99. Your subscription grants you access to hundreds of live and on-demand classes every day. Your first month is completely free and you can cancel your subscription at any time.
Customer Reviews of DribbleUp
I never want you to just take my word for it when I’m presenting a product or brand review, I like to do my due diligence and scour the internet to see what others are saying, too.
After reading through all of the customer reviews I could find online, I discovered that the vast majority of users are 100% happy with their purchase and would highly recommend it to any child or adult looking to improve their skills or step up their fitness game.
Of course, not every review was so complimentary, there were some negative reviews, too. The one thing that I saw repeated in the reviews was that there are some issues with the ball and the app un-syncing. This is an inconvenience, however, after digging into the company’s response, it appears that this has been a major focus for them fixing and, recently, there have been no new complaints of this issue.
It’s clear to me that this is a company that cares about its reputation and the quality of service they provide, as evidenced by their responses to customer inquiries and all attempts at making every situation right.
Final Thoughts: Is a DribbleUp SmartBall Worth it?
Armed with everything you need to know about their innovative SmartBalls, it’s time for you to decide if you’d like to try one for yourself. I have one of their Smart Medicine Balls, and for me, it’s 100% worth it. I love the change-up in my fitness routine and the fact that I can easily get a great workout from home without requiring any additional equipment or space.
When it comes to the smart soccer ball and the smart basketball, it’s evident that the brand is onto something here. With childhood obesity on the rise, it’s more important than ever that we find things for our children to do that don’t perpetuate the growth of these numbers. So many parents have reviewed these products with excitement that their children were staying active, busy, and engaged for hours. In addition, kids learn new skills that are translating to the soccer field and basketball court.
In closing, I find that DribbleUp is well worth the relatively low investment (usually less than $100!). From their dedication to providing expert training and an interactive experience to the simplicity of the setup, this is a wholesome, family-owned brand that’s doing great things and won’t be going anywhere any time soon.
Think Dribble Up Is A Good Fit For You, Your Son, Or Daughter?
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