Waterballs

High-performance waterballs currently are not well known to the public as they have only been on the US market for a few years, having been introduced in the summer of 2008 with the launch of the Waboba Ball.

These are polo and catch balls designed to play on the water surface however they are not high-performance waterballs or part of this discussion.

With a certain amount of force they skip, bounce and glide in a straight line on the water surface and can travel fast and long distance.

Waterballs have traditionally been seen as a children's toy, with a number of manufacturers aiming for that particular market segment when introducing new products.

Most high-performance waterballs are sealed balls and are made out of different types of rubber or neoprene with gel material center and polyurethane and Lycra jacket.

[citation needed] The new generation waterball is water absorbing with fluid high-density particulate contents.

The sealed or water-absorbing, high-performance waterballs are typically 2 inches (51 mm) or larger and made of soft rubber generally with a neoprene single seam jacket.

It is a collapsing bag or sack like a footbag with an Ultra Suede single seam cover and beaded fill with other water absorbing high-density materials.

This type of waterball requires the players to have a grip or "timed grab" to catch the ball in flight and stop it.

Because it collapses on impact on the water or in your hand, it is easier and safer to play with young children ages 4+.

This changes and balances the bag's density, mass and shape to conform to the water or surface it is performing on as it loses its velocity and comes to rest.

The beanbag-like design of the waterbag changes shape and conforms to a surface thus it collapses and is "slow acting" on impact.

Slow acting on impact is an intended design characteristic that is very pleasing and safe in high-speed play action.

[citation needed] They have a low skip pattern and they are easy to catch and stay in the pool.

People playing with a waterball.
People playing with a waterball.
Water Bag being held in hand - size and shape.
Water Bag being held in hand - size and shape
Water Bag floating - water absorbing, balanced density design.
Water Bag floating - water absorbing, balanced density design
Water Bag being thrown - the physics and motion.
Water Bag being thrown - the physics and motion.
Water Bag being thrown by a player - Low profile skip pattern.
Water Bag being thrown by a player - Low profile skip pattern.