Having a ball in the park with Tailball

Putting Tailball to the test - it's a hard life!

Thinking of heading to the park this bank holiday weekend?  If so, are you looking for something other than the usual Frisbee to keep the children (big and small) entertained?  Well, perhaps Tailball, from the makers of Swingball, is the solution.  It’s a game a bit like tennis, with bats, a foam ball and a net.  We at Contrary Life decided to head to our local park and give it a test run.

Carrying the game down to the park was no problem as the version we had came in a handy backpack.  The pack is light enough for children to carry and has adjustable straps and a handle.  There is some assembly with the frame and net but it’s easy to put together in a few minutes.  The only drawback is weighing down the base so the net doesn’t blow over.  The instructions recommend using sand or water, which is fine when using it in your own back garden but not so ideal when you’re in the park.  We tried using a book and a jacket to weigh it down and that just about worked.  The game is simple to play, with the foam ball being light enough not to hurt, yet heavy enough not to be carried away by the breeze.  The tail on the ball is a nice quirky touch but is a little flimsy.  It would be better if it came with a spare but I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to repair if it got damaged.

The light and handy Tailball Back Pack Attack

The backpack version of Tailball comes with stickers to decorate the pack, which the children will probably like.  All in all its a good lightweight option for some family fun in the park.

More info: We tried the Tailball Back Pack Attack which comes with a net, two bats and a tailball.  Priced around £29.99.  Other versions include Tailball Extreme priced around £14.99, and Tailball Light which can be played indoors as well as out (so good for our rainy summers), priced around £12.99.

Taillball is available to purchase at Toys R Us stores nationwide.