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The art of tackling and blocking in football is not perfected easily. In fact, players must touch up on their skills constantly. This requires a lot of practice hitting football dummies, those huge pads held by coaches so players can crash into them over and over. How would a player, parent, or coach go about purchasing one of these dummies?
By reading this review, of the best football dummies for 2024 and the years immediately following, of course!
We researched dozens of current models, and judged them according to a series of factors including weight, size, style, price, durability, portability, brand guarantees, and more. Following is a list of the very best of those dummies you knock around on football fields.
Summary
- This sporting goods company has delivered plenty in recent years, and the GoSports XL Heavy-Duty Tackle Dummy is part of its success. This nicely made pad tops our list.
- The Trademark Innovations Football Stand Up Blocking Dummy has much to like, especially a 2-piece outer skin design that lets the dummy bend or twist on impact ~ like real people.
- The utility of the Goalrilla Football Step Over Dummy, is something to behold ~ whether being held straight up, or laid on the turf for footwork drills.
- Younger or smaller players may like the Franklin Sports Inflatable Football Tackling Dummy, with an affordable price for something so light and portable.
- The skinniest of our dummies is the GoSports XTRAMAN Football Dummy. This thin and light sign-like board bends without falling over ~ so it’s a nice target for quarterbacks to throw at.
Our Choices: Best Football Dummies for Tackling & More
1. Best Football Dummies for 2024 Overall ~ GoSports XL Heavy-Duty Tackle Dummy
Analysis
We really like what this sporting goods manufacturer has been delivering lately, and its GoSports XL Heavy-Duty Tackle Dummy is definitely part of it. The materials and craftsmanship, along with seriously reinforced handles, makes this the perfect dummy for any contact drill.
Those handles are placed well to allow the holder to get better angles and maintain balance. The composite leather skin is tear-proof, and we appreciate the quality ultra-dense foam interior core. The company conveys that this tackling dummy is built to last with a 6-month warranty.
Specifications
- Size: 4 feet tall x 1 foot wide
- Weight: 13.2 lbs.
- Material: Faux leather, dense foam core
- Style: Stand-up tackling dummy
- Special Feature(s): Strategically placed handles
What We Like
- High-quality exterior skin and dense foam inside
- 6-month warranty on materials and workmanship
2. Best Football Dummies for 2024 Runner-Up ~ Trademark Innovations Football Stand Up Blocking Dummy
Analysis
The Trademark Innovations Football Stand Up Blocking Dummy might fly under the radar in some industry reviews or commentary, but we found there is much to like here. A big advantage is a 2-piece outer skin design, connected by metal grommets, which allows the dummy to bend or twist on impact ~ like real humans might perform in collisions.
Besides that design element, this tackling dummy incorporates top-quality materials, including a polyurethane (PU) leather skin, and high-density expanded polyethylene (EPE) closed-cell foam that is very cushioning while remaining flexible enough for solid football drills.
Specifications
- Size: Measures 38 inches tall, 12.5 inches wide
- Weight: 10 lbs.
- Material: Polyurethane (PU) leather, expanded polyethylene (EPE) core
- Style: Stand-up full dummy
- Special Feature(s): high-density expanded polyethylene (EPE) closed-cell foam
What We Like
- Super high-quality materials inside and out
- Weighted well for more solid impacts
3. Best Football Dummy for Footwork for 2024 ~ Goalrilla Football Step Over Dummy
Analysis
Coaches will appreciate the utility of the Goalrilla Football Step Over Dummy, which is designed to lay on the ground for real-life practice jumping over fallen players, but also still has convenient handles for traditional stand-up blocking drills. This is a superb tool to improve footwork.
Looked at long-wise, notice the trapezoidal shape, as opposed to typical rectangular-shaped blocking dummies. Those couple of angles leaning inward at the top makes jumping over it in cleats easier, so they don’t catch sharp edges of the dummy and go down. How many players, after all, have sharp 90-degree corners to get in the way of other players?
Specifications
- Size: 50.5 inches tall x 17.5 inches on the larger side, 8.25 inches on top/smaller side
- Weight: 6.4 lbs.
- Material: Nylon and foam
- Style: Step-over or stand-up full dummy
- Special Feature(s): Trapezoid shape as viewed from side
What We Like
- Dual use ability
- Says 100% satisfaction guaranteed in marketing material[CQ]
4. Best Football Dummy for Beginners for 2024 ~ Franklin Sports Inflatable Football Tackling Dummy
Analysis
Players or coaches new to football, particularly those smaller in size, can turn to the Franklin Sports Inflatable Football Tackling Dummy, our recommendation for beginners. The price is affordable compared with alternatives, and this model is light, inflatable, and super portable.
The size is nice at 51 inches tall, and the tear-resistant polyester exterior goes well with the reinforced handles for control. This comes with an inflation pump and needle, so squeezing it into a car or storing it in a garage is as easy as possible.
Specifications
- Size: 12 inches wide x 51 inches tall
- Weight: 6 lbs.
- Material: Polyester
- Style: Stand-up tackling dummy
- Special Feature(s): Inflatable and deflatable
What We Like
- Transportability and ease of storage
- 90-day limited warranty
5. Best Football Dummies for 2024 on a Budget ~ GoSports XTRAMAN Football Dummy
Analysis
Not quite up for a full-fledged big foam or air-filled football dummy? Then check out the GoSports XTRAMAN Football Dummy. It’s thin and light and designed to bend without falling over, as the company markets it as a target for quarterbacks to aim at because it resembles a full-size wide receiver.
The design was developed with the help of actual professional football coaches and players. It’s a dummy not necessarily for blocking or tackling, but really for quarterbacks to aim at or throw over, or to just get an impediment in the way during drills. This dummy can be a defender or an offensive target.
Specifications
- Size: n/a
- Weight: 6 lbs.
- Material: Fiberglass, polyester woven netting
- Style: Stand-up impediment/target dummy
- Special Feature(s): Folds up into a bag with handles that is included
What We Like
- Super light
- 6-month warranty on material and workmanship