Open Workout 26.1: 246 Wall Balls and a Whole Lot of Heart
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CrossFit Open 26.02.2026

Open Workout 26.1: 246 Wall Balls and a Whole Lot of Heart

By WE.FIT

The first workout of the 2026 CrossFit Open has dropped, and it’s beautifully brutal. If you like wall balls, you’re in luck. If you don’t — well, this is your week to make peace with them.

The Workout

26.1 — FOR TIME (12-minute time cap)

  • 20 wall-ball shots
  • 18 box jump-overs
  • 30 wall-ball shots
  • 18 box jump-overs
  • 40 wall-ball shots
  • 18 medicine-ball box step-overs
  • 66 wall-ball shots
  • 18 medicine-ball box step-overs
  • 40 wall-ball shots
  • 18 box jump-overs
  • 30 wall-ball shots
  • 18 box jump-overs
  • 20 wall-ball shots

Rx Standards

  • Men: 20-lb (9-kg) medicine ball, 10-foot target, 24-inch box
  • Women: 14-lb (6-kg) medicine ball, 9-foot target, 20-inch box

Breaking It Down

Let’s do the math. That’s 246 wall-ball shots and 108 box movements (72 jump-overs and 36 step-overs in the middle). The rep scheme is a diamond — it goes up to 66 in the middle, then mirrors back down.

The first thing that jumps out: this workout is about volume and pacing. There’s nowhere to hide. Wall balls demand legs, shoulders, and lungs — all at once. And the box work in between isn’t rest. It’s just a different kind of effort.

The middle chunk is the hardest part. You hit 40 wall balls, then step-overs (slower by design), then the peak at 66 wall balls. That’s the moment where your legs are screaming and your arms feel heavy. If you survive that, the back half is a countdown — the reps get smaller and the end is in sight.

Pacing Strategy

This one is all about steady output. Going out too fast on the first set of 20 will come back to haunt you by the time you hit 66.

Our coaching advice:

  • First 20+18+30+18: Settle into a rhythm. These reps should feel almost easy. If you’re gasping after the first set, you went too hard.
  • 40 wall balls: Break them up if you need to. Sets of 20 or 15+15+10 work well. Shake your arms out during quick breaks.
  • 66 wall balls (the peak): This is where your strategy matters most. Break early and break often. Sets of 10-12 with short 5-second rests will keep you moving better than one big set that blows you up. Think 12-12-12-10-10-10 or similar.
  • The back half (40+30+20): The reps are dropping. Use that mental boost. You’ve already done this. You know what it feels like. Now you’re just counting down.
  • Box work: Jump-overs are faster but cost more energy. Step-overs in the middle are a small gift — use them to breathe. On the jump-overs, find a steady rhythm and don’t rush.

What to Focus On

Wall-ball technique matters more than ever. With 246 reps, small inefficiencies add up fast. Keep the ball close on the way down, catch it in a quarter squat, and drive through your heels. Don’t let the ball drift forward — that turns every rep into a mini-thruster plus a chase.

Breathing is your secret weapon. Exhale on the throw, inhale on the catch. Find that rhythm early and protect it. When you start holding your breath, everything falls apart.

Transitions are free time. Moving from wall balls to the box and back should be smooth. Don’t waste 10 seconds standing around deciding when to start. Walk to the box, get on it, go.

For Scaled and Foundations Athletes

The beauty of the Open is that everyone does the same structure. Scaled and Foundations versions will have lighter balls, lower targets, and potentially step-ups instead of jump-overs. The strategy is the same: steady pace, smart breaks, stay moving.

Whatever version you’re doing — the goal is the same. Move well, keep breathing, and finish strong.

Our Take

This is a classic Open workout. It’s simple, everyone understands it, and it separates athletes by who can pace smartly over 12 minutes. There’s no complex skill to worry about. No barbell. No gymnastics. Just you, a ball, and a box.

It rewards the athletes who respect the volume and stay disciplined. And it punishes anyone who goes out too hot.

The community reaction at WE.FIT? Pure excitement. The group chat exploded the moment the workout was announced. Wall balls might not be everyone’s favorite, but when the whole gym is doing them together, under the Friday Night Lights — that’s what the Open is all about.

This Week at WE.FIT

  • Friday Night Lights: 17:30 at WE.FIT Wädenswil
  • Saturday Community WOD: 10:30 at WE.FIT Wädenswil

Come ready. Bring your wall-ball face. And remember — 246 reps sounds like a lot, but broken into pieces, it’s just one rep at a time.

See you on the floor.

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