Mike We have "questioned" you to death. But just one more please. I went to WalMart and they have 55cc, 65cc, and 75cc balls like you mentioned. The 75cc only came in the 19.99 and the other 2 sizes were $9.99. Did you use the cheaper or more expensive one? What size is your ball? The 75cc balls were $19.99 and I wasn't sure if the cheaper one would be thick enough to suport the wieght. Why spend another $10. if not necessary. I couldn't determine the size of your. Thanks for all your info. Everyone is being rewarded by you. Great paint job too. Give yourself credit.

If you have a "discount" (cheap-o) sporting goods store in your area (we have one called "Academy"), you can find Chinese knock-offs of the heavy-weight exercise balls up to about 40 inches. I have overinflated them up to almost 50 inches, just to see how far they would go with no problems. Got mine on sale for under $10 bucks each and they can be used over and over. I wrap some strips of hardware cloth (metal mesh) then build-up a fairly thin (half an inch?) base layer of fiber reinforced quick-set concrete leaving a 6 inch hole on top with the balls inflation stem centered in it. Let the first layer set well then deflate & remove the ball. Continue building up to the thickness you want. Note...changes in temperature will cause the ball to expand & contract so dont try to apply too much on the first pass. Leaving a few open areas on the surface during the first application seems to help a little. Remember, concrete warms up as it sets, but the open areas must allow the air to stabilize somewhat and prevent too much expansion that would otherwise "blow" the first layer off. Have fun...no, make that..."Have a ball".

I'm glad you guys like this idea! When no one answered for awhile, I was afraid it was a bad idea! I'm thinking the hop ball is more durable outside than the exercise balls. My dilemma is I don't know what size to get. I have a "65" size exercise ball, but I'm thinking I need a smaller one for outside. You want it big enough so you don't stress your knees while sitting on it, but you want it small enough to roll easily to reach the ground. Wish there was a place that had samples of the different sizes. Since you can sort of sit on the side of them, I'm thinking it would be best to err on the side of bigger. When I first went to the physical therapist last year for my legs, I couldn't believe how useful these balls can be for all sorts of exercises and stretching. Anyhow.....lets report back here, if we do get a hop ball and share if it helps us outside. If its anything like the exercise ball, it will make weeding/planting, so much easier! Good luck! P.S. mikeandbarb.........to answer your question about loss of balance.......I'm thinking that if you plant your feet well enough apart, you can be pretty stable on the ball. And like you said.......its not far to fall to the ground!

Thanks for the good information. I will use it when necessary, but I think that I'll just keep going to my massage therapist once a week and let her worry with my back! HA! I use two different massage therapists that used to work together, so if I can't get into one, I go to the other one. Nineteen years ago I was skiing and broke my sacrum, the pelvis bone next to it and three pelvis bones in the front. My doctor told me that the front break actually caused for a floating pelvis break. I was on crutches for 3 months, and my back has never been the same since. Sometimes when I down doing weeding, planting, etc., I have to find something to pull myself up with, and I'm only 55 years old, but I look like I'm 85 years old when my back goes into spasms. People like you, i.e. massage therapist are great for being able to make us feel better. Thanks.