If you thought that tennis balls were only good for tennis, think again, we have managed to find 10 practical ways to use old tennis balls.
It's far safer for a dog to play with a tennis ball on a cord rather than chew on a tennis ball.
Here’s to how to use old tennis balls:
1. Cover up a trailer hitch
How about using an old tennis ball to cover up a trailer hitch on the back of your car or bakkie?
Simply cut a hole in the bottom of the ball and then pop it over the hitch to protect it from rust.
2. Replace worn walker frame feet
Nothing new here but tennis balls can be used on walker frames with worn feet to provide extra traction on slippery floors.
Cut out a section on top of the ball and slip over the feet.
If you like your towels fluffy then you'll be better off using tennis balls rather than fabric softener.
From a personal point of view, I would give them a quick spray with black paint to make them less obvious.
3. Use as a fabric softener
If you like your towels fluffy then you'll be better off using tennis balls rather than fabric softener.
If you can live with the gentle thumping toss in a few tennis balls in your washing machine, they make wonderful fabric softeners and don't cost you anything.
4. Make a portable camera stand
If you're an avid photographer you could use old tennis balls to make a sturdy, portable camera stand.
You can use a tennis ball for foot exercises.
You will find instructions here on Instructables for making your tennis ball camera tripod.
5. Dog toy
If there is one thing dogs love, it's tennis balls.
It's far safer for a dog to play with a tennis ball on a cord rather than chew on a tennis ball.
Make two holes on either side of the ball and thread through a tough nylon cord to secure.
6. Twist open a stubborn lid
Even real men have to admit to defeat at times.
When hot water, banging and shouting doesn’t work, try an old tennis ball to unscrew a stuck lid.
The rubbery surface on the inside grips to the lid and makes it easier to twist and turn.
7. Parking in the garage
Sometimes it can be difficult to pull into one's garage without crashing into the back wall.
Even with daily practice, pulling into the garage can be a nerve wracking experience. Sure, it's not landing an F-16 on the deck of an aircraft carrier, but it can be a tricky maneuver.
To keep your car safe, why not dangle a tennis ball from your garage ceiling to mark where you should stop?
8. Unblock a drain
If you find yourself with a blocked drain and no plunger on hand, cut a tennis ball in half.
Now you have two mini plungers that work just as well at removing small blockages.
9. Foot exercises
Because your feet spend most of their life against flat, unchanging surfaces, the numerous joints in them are not encouraged to move individually.
You can use a tennis ball for foot exercises.
Place the front of the foot on a tennis ball, letting the sides of the foot drape over.
Keeping your heel on the ground, slowly move your foot forward, spending 20 to 30 seconds with the ball underneath that area.
Once you have worked as far back as you can without lifting your heel, switch to the other foot.
10. Physical therapy
Whether you have shoulder, low back, or neck pain, a physiotherapist will recommend soft tissue mobility.
Soft tissue work is performed with tennis balls, foam rolls, or with a trained professional.
Put your old tennis balls to work as valuable massage tools on areas you wouldn't normally be able to reach.
Tennis balls are one of the most recommended physical therapy tools for recovery and rehabilitation of soft tissue dysfunction. They are simple to use, readily available, and one of the most inexpensive physical therapy tools you can buy.
The basic procedure is to identify and target the sore and tight areas of your body, and with the ball supported by the floor or a wall, let that targeted area slowly sink onto the ball.
You will feel some discomfort as the tissue fibres are being released from their contracted state.
Concentrate on relaxing as much as possible and hold the area for at least 10 seconds. Release the pressure, take a breath and repeat.
At least 10 seconds is beneficial, but longer periods are recommended. You can remain stationary, or shifting your body slightly as you continue to relax, roll around on the targeted area.
They are recommended for day-to-day self maintenance to anyone engaged in an active fitness regimen to improve elasticity, remove toxins held within soft tissues as they increase blood circulation and reduce recovery time from exercise.
Ball therapy release is beneficial for people that are inactive and it will stretch and stimulate atrophied and inactive muscle tissue.
Article courtesy of www.home-dzine.co.za