Customer Reviews

Baden Extra Durable Rubber 8.5-Inch Utility Playground Ball

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bought this ball for playground games with my family (wall ball, 4-square). Bought the Baden, because I remember them being higher quality than other brands. Ball is very high quality, with thicker rubber. Will be very durable, much more so than other balls you might find in a store. The only downside of this is that the ball is harder and stiffer when you hit it with your hand/fist, due to the thicker rubber. I suspect this may get better over time and use. Perfectly fine for middle-school kids, but may not be the best choice for pre-school age kids.

We have been trying to find a ball that our Australian Shepherd Mini puppy couldn't destroy. She has a pile of "dead balls" numbering 6 :) This one is a winner! She can "herd" it around the yard, bite at it and it still holds up. We even forgot to put it in the garage in below zero weather and it hasn't deflated at all. I am sure most people will buy this product for their kids. I know it will be just as wonderful for them. I am very pleased :)

The 1st reviewer wrote "downside of this is that the ball is harder and stiffer when you hit it with your hand/fist, due to the thicker rubber."

OK this fact was lost on me, I figured, thicker and hardier, better constructed etc right?.. wrong. If you think about it, thicker rubber can be a good thing or a bad thing. Thicker rubber means that the ball is substantially heavier, thus does not have as much bounce. Plus it literally hurts the hands when striking it (I mean its thicker harder rubber). But the main factor is, since the rubber is thicker, it is not as flexible, thus there is less bounce. This is the key factor. Heavier, Less bounce from a thicker skinned ball, and you cant hit it as hard with your hands. Like the 1st reviewer said, for a middle school guy or gal, perhaps, me as an adult, it hurt my hands, plus it was heavier (didnt bounce as high) and it was thicker (had less bounce from the material itself), made for an usable handball.

If I were to buy again, and I am going to, I will get a thinner membrane ball, which will be lighter, more bouncy and wont hurt the hands as much on contact, as this was bought for handball. (I have to admit, great for kickball or dogs though!!) 3 stars, 5 stars for contact with shoes or a dogs mouth, 1 star for contact with the hands!

My children leave their balls outside. They rarely last long. This one is noticeably harder than other balls we've had...but the kids don't mind. It has sat outside almost all summer and it will bounce like the day we bought it. I suspect it will last a long time.