...The Phlat Ball !! Why can't manufacturers understand the importance of the English language, when naming children's toys....maybe I am being a bit harsh....hmmmmmmmmm...come to think of it 'Flat Ball' doesn't really have the same sort of impact does it ?
Anyway, apart from being a fussy ... Read review
Its unique time delay feature ads an element of surprise to game play or even just having ... more
a catch.Throw a disc catch a ball!The Phlat Ball is thrown like a disc by squeezing down the middle to set the time delay, then in the air it transforms into a ba...
Postage & Packaging: £2.55 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Now do pay attention. Here's a nifty device that will really fox your chums on holiday. ... more
It's a frisbee-like disc that transforms itself into a beach ball-like ball while it's in mid-air. Incredible but true. Put simply, here's how it works: Due to a sudden and dynamic internal pressure shift, the device randomly expands from a 9" disc into a 6" ball during its parabolic flight trajectory. In other words, it pops open when you least expect it, making it simply perfect for frolicking beach games of all sorts. Of course the sudden change in air resistance brought about by the ball's transformation means that it instantly alters course, embarking on a new trajectory that makes it extremely difficult to predict. Your challenge, ofcourse, is to catch it before it touches down, otherwise you will appear to be a complete spanner. An accompanying manual details all manner of games to play and gaiety to have. The latest laminated fabric reinforcement technology lends the Phlat Ball XT much greater durability than your average beach ball, guaranteeing years of phenomenal and phantastic phun phrom Phrinton to Phaliraki. There. That feels much better.
Postage & Packaging:free Super Saver Delivery Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Lightweight, portable Disadvantages: The novelty wears off quickly
...to hit the high Street...The Phlat Ball !! Why can't manufacturers understand the importance of the English language, when naming children's toys....maybe I am being a bit harsh....hmmmmmmmmm...come to think of it 'Flat Ball' doesn't really have the same sort of impact does it ?
Anyway, apart from being a fussy so and so I am also a responsible and very kind parent (In other words a push over as far as my son is concerned) I decided ... ...to Hit the US', the Phlat ball is an innovative idea from an American company called Tucker Toys. Personally I have never heard of them but apparently they are very well known.
~~~The 'Phlat' Ball~~~
Made of soft, durable foam/rubber this is basically a collapsible ball consisting of internal plastic hinges with a random spring mechanism and a rubber sucker attached inside the ball to the top and bottom. When you push ... more
I have one of those children that simply 'Has to have' the latest 'In' toy, and, true to form, this past summer I was nagged about the latest phenomenon to hit the high Street...The Phlat Ball !! Why can't manufacturers understand the importance of the English language, when naming children's toys....maybe I am being a bit harsh....hmmmmmmmmm...come to think of it 'Flat Ball' doesn't really have the same sort of impact does it ?
Anyway, apart from being a fussy so and so I am also a responsible and very kind parent (In other words a push over as far as my son is concerned) I decided to check this out, not before warning my 9yr old son that if I approved, then it would be coming out of HIS pocket money (after all what is the point of you paying them money every month and buying them everything they want as well....my son is slowly learning the value of money !!)
~~~A bit of Background~~~
Dubbed 'The hottest new Toy to Hit the US', the Phlat ball is an innovative idea from an American company called Tucker Toys. Personally I have never heard of them but apparently they are very well known.
~~~The 'Phlat' Ball~~~
Made of soft, durable foam/rubber this is basically a collapsible ball consisting of internal plastic hinges with a random spring mechanism and a rubber sucker attached inside the ball to the top and bottom. When you push the ball down flat the two suckers stick fast to each other...rather like those little pop up toys on springs, remember those, you used to push them down hard and then wait for them to 'pop' back up again..well this works on a similar principal.
The basic idea is to throw this in 'disc' form back and forth to one another until the disc 'pops' back into ball form..if you are the one holding it when it pops back, then you are the loser..simple !
~~~What we thought~~~
At £9.99 this seemed a little pricey to me, however it was a harmless toy and if he really wanted it then it was fine by me.....after all he was paying !!!
After the cardboard surround, complete with instructions, was frantically torn off (completely obliterating the instructions) we took the ball out into the garden...to be honest the whole idea is so simple that you really don't need any instructions, just press and play !!!! Being about the size of a standard football, this was easy to catch, even for little hands, and was quite fun...we played hot potatoes (otherwise know as Phlat potatoes by the Phlat ball manufacturers) catching the disc and throwing it back immediately, not wanting to be caught out. The time this takes to 'pop' back into ball shape is completely random, we found it could take anything from 30 seconds to approx 3 minutes, thus always taking you by surprise.
Did I just say this was fun ??? Well it was .....for about half an hour, that's when the novelty wears off I'm afraid, after all is said and done it is just a slightly more original game of catch ! My Son has had this for about 5 months and has played with it only a handful of times....we would give it only 6/10 for the fun factor.
~~~Finally~~~
Recommended age for this is 5 and over, but do be careful, little fingers can get caught in the pop up process and, although made of foam, it can hurt (as I found out and YES I have little fingers !!)
Designed purely for throwing and not kicking, you must also be careful not to get this too wet, or else the suckers do not work effectively.....this I found odd as the manufacturers state that this ball floats, therefore it is obviously designed for wet play too !!
These balls come in various colours and also a smaller size (junior @ £4.99).
For more information on the various different games that can be played and availability look on their website :
www.Phlatball.Com
We got ours from our local KidStuff toyshop, but they are also availble from Amazon. Other than that you may have to get them direct from the manufacturer as I have not seen them around here much now....maybe the novelty has worn off for everyone else too !!
Oh, did I mention it is very durable and long lasting......well it is supposed to be, problem is we haven't really played with ours enough to find out, to be honest....it's all gone a bit..errr....PHLAT !
