Company Roger von Oech's Ball of Whacks, Red

This is such a neat toy for kids or a math enthusiast. The little book that comes with it is very informative and has some neat anecdotes. This will make for hours of entertainment and fun because it is so versatile. This is a high-quality toy. My nine and 11-year-old boys really enjoyed this.

I bought this because a colleague of mine had the "Google version" of the Ball of Whacks (exactly the same, but with "Google" printed in each piece), but since they don't make those anymore, I settled with the original one. I was immediately drawn to it when I first saw it, and as soon as I got mine, I realized it was pretty ingenious and fun. I knew I was going to like it, what took me by surprise was my wife's reaction. She loved it so much, she constantly makes these awesome figures and puts them on our coffee table to leave there as decoration! Of course, I am reluctant to mess up her art, and you can't imagine the face she made when I told her I wanted to take the ball to my office (she's even planning on getting a metal tray and some other magnetic accessories to make into an interactive art station for our living room!). Thus, I just had to come back for a second one and this time I'm keeping it at the office, where it was originally meant to be.

Does this do everything it's advertised to do? Well, I can't prove to you if my left and right brains are communicating better, but I can tell you that the ball of whacks gives you an often much needed literal and figurative "timeout" so you can contemplate the big picture and the little details. From a sensory perspective, it's fun to manipulate the pieces and I like to leave myself signals (sharp points or rounded symmetry) of my mood on the table. Shapes change as do my moods; a good tool for developing EQ. The use of magnets/magnetism as part of the problem solving or creative exercise comes close to the "stacrobats" concept, but instead of soft figures and balls, you have all these wonderful points and pieces that reward the auditory and tactile sense with a satisfying "snick". Enjoy - have a ball!

Everyone loves the Ball of Whacks. Anytime it has been laying around, inevitably someone picks it up and starts playing with it. The kids like it, the parents like it, the grandparents like it. It keeps everyone entertained. It has a lot of potential, and it's very versatile. It's a great creative toy. You can make art out of it. You can use it to build. The sky's the limit. It looks sharp on the shelf. It's a great office game. It's a great gift for a game or puzzle lover or people who love doing things with their hands. I did end up giving a few as gifts after people fell in love. It has been well-received. My only complaint is that we have one. It's a great item to have a few of.

I finally purchased this after an especially generous "secret Santa" gave me an Amazon gift card and was on edge to receive it. After losing my irreplaceable Buckyballs, I was really trying to find a good alternative to occupy my time at work and this did come through to some extent, even if there are some preference issues. To start with the positive, it is a pretty big toy by comparison to my beloved Buckyballs (it's about the size of a baseball) and the pieces are hearty pieces of plastic with multiple magnets inside. They all fit and snap together easily and it is pretty easy to work with it. It is also interesting to figure out new combinations and disassemble, then put back into the ball configuration. As for the negative, the combination of the shape of the pieces and the locations of the magnets means: first, that the pieces have a clear point of connection and, second, deviating from this results in a connection that is less secure and falls apart easily or, if elevated, spins out of place. What all of this means, though, is that the range of structures is limited if said construct is going to be stable. Lastly, regarding the book: there is a big philosophical emphasis on applying the methodology of constructing structures with the "Ball of Whacks" to everyday life situations. I cannot decide if this is negative or positive. For some, it may offer a different way of looking at situations, but I did not get much out of it that I did not already grasp. After reading a few pages, the book found its way to some lonely, relatively untouched section of counter space to sit until it is thrown away, I move, or recovered by some future archaeologist. All in all, it [can be] fun, but there is an underlying feeling that it might be a little too expensive and the book is just filler.

I have used this device in counseling and as a conversation starter for years.

This is a great item. Very creative and can be very difficult. Love playing with it. Great gift for people with busy heads and busy hands. Highly recommend this! Great fun!!

It's a wonderful game... We've had it for my own 'kids' for 30 years, my grandchildren love playing with it, and these were purchased as gifts for kids in Ethiopia!