Bally Total Fitness

Pros: nationwide facilities
Cons: unethical sales staff, dirty locker rooms, pay extra for certain classes, expensive

When I decided to join a health club I lived in Los Angeles. I knew I'd be moving to San Francisco, so I wanted to a join a club with access to nationwide facilities. So I stopped by Bally Total Fitness just to check it out. No, no. They had...

Pros: many locations nationwide, cheap dues
Cons: minimally qualified instructors and trainers, hard sell sales tactics

Joining Bally's is like going to McDonald's for a hamburger. Sure, it looks like a burger, but you get what you pay for and there are many other places where you're going to get a real burger (e.g., New York Sports Club, Equinox, Crunch, your local...

Pros: Lots of Equipment & Friendly Staff
Cons: Billing department is Tricky

I joined Bally's last summer when I was home from college on break. I joined their summer student plan and was extremely happy.

Price.It was a little costly at $35 a month, but most clubs charge a lot for short memberships. A monthly...

Pros: Variety of equipment and local
Cons: Poor training and follow up

I joined Bali's two weeks ago primarily because it is across the street from my home and has all the equipment I could ever use. However, I made it clear to the salesperson that I wanted to maintain my current strength and muscle mass and thus, getting...

Pros: variety of machines
Cons: Contract scammers

Bally-
What' can be said about them? Well, enough. I was a member of Bally for about a year. I went into one just to see what is was like. I had a tour by a guide and it looked nice. They had a nice open area with plenty of machines and other...

Pros: Some good equipment, close to home.
Cons: dirty showers, overcrowded, poor parking at many locations.

Initially I enjoyed Bally's - for the first 2 years. As time passed I noticed the following:

New members were given preferential treatment - catered to and spoken to with respect in nice dulcet toned voices.

New members were given...

Pros: variety of machines, lots of space
Cons: price, contract policy, not good feed-back from trainers

It's about 6 months I go to Bally and I am not very happy about how things are going over there. First of all, the policy of the club is to get you in, no matter what your needs are.

They will tell you anything to get your credit card number....

Pros: Numerous locations nationwide, Atmosphere, Group Exercise Classes
Cons: Closes earlier on weekends

Bally has a lot of the glitz of its parent casino. If you are looking for a stimulating atmosphere to go with your workout routine, you will find it here. The music is just right to bring your cardio workout up to speed. TV's are placed in easy view...

Pros: Plenty of equipment
Cons: Can get very busy on weekends

I have been a Bally's member since I first visited one that was connected to a Holiday Inn in the Philadelphia area more than ten years ago.
Bally's has provided me with an environment where I can work out unfettered or in harmony with others. In...

Pros: Variety of equipment, some professional staff, multiple locations, good hours of operation.
Cons: Crowded often, some unprofessional staff, "night club" atmosphere, aggressive sales staff.

Bally Total Fitness is an excellent facility for working out. Stemming from a recent injury, I changed my routine from all-out powerlifting to a more fitness oriented program.
Like all health & fitness clubs, Bally's has its benefits and...

Pros: I like it
Cons: NO CONS

I joined Bally Sports Club in CT about six months ago because I got a great deal. I Have been these almost every day ever since and I cant get enough.

I joined the sports club instead of Total Fitness because I wanted to be able to swim....

Pros: good equipment, usually kept in good condition
Cons: singles hangout, men and women work out together

I guess the heading I gave this basically describes how I feel about Bally's. I joined up before I had my daughter several years back. I spent 3 years paying my membership off, and using the facilities on a fairly regular routine. I am not crazy about...

Pros: Has more than the typical gym (Powerhouse, World Gym) for a fraction of the cost.
Cons: Attracts many casual who are more interested in socializing and/or do not become familiar with gym etiquette

If I were to have written an opinion of this club 18 months ago it would have received one star only because there is not rating of zero. But because of the outstanding commitment to a job well done by Mgrs. Sherri O. and Trevor S., the complexion of the...

Pros: Offers several convenient locations.
Cons: Classes are generally overcrowded and the types of classes and services are not varied.

I signed up for Bally's Total Fitness (BTF), hoping to get in shape and to reduce stress. Boy was I ever disappointed! Not only was I unable to achieve my goals, but I increased my stress level with every visit.

Although many BTF...

Pros: Exercise equipment that you couldn't afford to have in your home; classes.
Cons: Expensive membership fees, Unclear contract(s), Our local one is lousy.

I had the occasion about a year ago to go explore the nearest Bally's, which is about 15 - 20 minutes away from our home. It was well-kept, but cramped throughout. As we took a tour of the facilities, we were told that while "all" Bally's have an...