History
Remember how fun it was to skip a rock across the water when you were a kid. For those that had a chance, wasn't it fascinating. It even got competitive at times. You kept going until you couldn’t find anymore good skipping rocks.
Then came along water skipping balls. They’re just as fascinating as skipping rocks, but they're even better because they don't sink. You can skip all day until you get tired of retrieving them. Unfortunately people don't like being retrievers, especially in the water. You get stuck having to retrieve them because they can be hard to catch for some people and the balls end up getting away. This makes people tend to loose interest and the balls end up being stowed at the bottom of a beach bag or storage compartment in a boat. Some just might end up floating away because you gave up lugging through the water to retrieve them.
To keep people engaged in water skipping balls, you need something that allows them to keep the thrill of skipping alive. Something that allows them to hone in on the skill of actually skipping so they can continue instead of giving up because the balls get away. The fix is simple, we just need something that keeps them in a confined area, adds predictability, increases competitiveness and makes skipping water balls more engaging for everyone. Something that is unique and makes hanging out in the water ultimately more fun. Just like how cornhole or ladderball made backyard BBQ parties more engaging and fun.
That's why I invented the TOHB backstop™ and created the official skipping water ball game, The Original HustleBall™. Now you can continue that thrill of skipping water balls whenever you go, but all day long because the backstop gives you a target and keeps them in a confined area. The combination of the backstop and a game gives you the ability to keep the thrill of skipping water balls alive. No matter where your favorite swimming spot is. It can be your favorite beach, sandbar, pool, river or favorite backcountry creek swimming hole. The game makes skipping water balls more exciting, addictive, predictable, intuitive, strategic, competitive, engaging, and ultimately more fun. Amplify your water loving adventures more than ever by playing The Original HustleBall™ .
Continue reading to learn more about The Original HustleBall™.
What are Water Skipping Balls
The balls typically come in 2"-3" sizes which weigh around 2 oz. and made with silicone rubber core and nylon type material wrapped around the core so it stretches to create a pocket under the ball when it hits the water. This in turn, with the proper technique, allows the ball to bounce, hop and skip. Throw the ball so it attacks the water at different speeds and angles in between you and another person. The only thing these balls need is a backstop and a thrilling official recreational game to go with it. There are so many of these circulating worldwide which is accomplished by numerous different manufactures producing them for over 20 years. Waboba as the originator in 2005. Most best ones go for $8-$12 each. These have evolved over the years in attempt to make them more fun and keep you engaged but nothing does that better than a TOHB backstop™ while playing The Original HustleBall™.
TOHB™ AVBS features
A design that meets all the requirements to make an official competitive water recreational game.
· Patented Telescoping Legs for Leveling gives you the ability to adjust the backstop and use in most aquatic environments and depths (up to 4 feet) Put it in a Pool, Lake, Stream, Pond, Creek, Calm Ocean Beach.
· Secure design with Patent Pending harness stabilization system. This enables rigidity, stability and increased durability. This design provides an official fixed backstop target which allows for more predictability skipping balls and in turn makes it a more competitive game in the water. After all, who likes moving targets such as inflatable options. Not to mention you need to worry about puncturing them.
· The intuitiveness of a collapsible and expandable design allows for easy set up and breakdown for portability and easy storage. Similar to an EZ up canopy but more intuitive and ergonomic to allow for faster set up. Inflatable options are cumbersome to breakdown, and you need to worry about having an air pump to inflate/deflate them.
· Modularity and backstop target skirt configurations will help keep balls in a confined area for multiple games to be played which in turn will drive more predictability, engagement, skill, strategy, and adoption. You can now even skip water skipping balls by yourself.
Adaptable Features
· Lighting ambience for nighttime play.
· Adaptable shade Bimini option for extended play in the sun.
· Adaptable drink cozies, phone holders, speakers and other accessories.
- Add on backstop extenders
It's a lifestyle - branded water shoes, rash guards and other merchandise
In Conclusion
· All these features will address an untapped water recreation game market, test your skills, and make skipping water balls more exciting, predictable, addictive, intuitive, strategic, competitive, engaging, and ultimately more fun. ·
How to play The Original HustleBall™ and use the TOHB Backstop™
The cool thing about the TOHB Backstop™ is, you can get creative and use it any way you like but here are some games to get you started. Each game will test your energy, agility, strategy, competitiveness, and skill of skipping water balls in different ways.
1. “The Original HustleBall™” TOHB™ which involves two vertical backstops using the 6 pockets face no further than 30 ft away. 25 ft is the official distance but start where you need to, so you get the hang of it. There are two teams, two players per team, 3 balls per team. Build your skills up by starting with the one pocket face, then use the 2-pocket face then the 6 as your accuracy gets better.
Object is to skip the ball at the backstop target while at least one of your legs are behind the backstop face your standing next to and make it in one of the pockets across from you. Your teammate or opponent on the receiving end can stand forward to prepare for catching a ball off the backstop to score. You can’t block the backstop (see scoring for more details below)
· Balls must be skipped before it reaches the backstop.
Each team should have 3 distinguishable balls than the other team. There are several different 2-3”water skipping balls on the market. Waboba, Water Ripper, Water Hopper, Wave Runner to name a few.
Teams alternate skipping the ball and the other side doesn’t begin skipping until both teams have both skipping balls in their possession.
SCORING – Team who wins are the Hustlers. The loosing team…… well, they got hustled.
- Each set played until a team scores 21 points. Going over 21 will set your team back to 11.
- Bottom yellow pockets 3 points
- Middle orange pockets are 2 points
- Top green pockets are 4 points
- Teammate catches the ball off the target, earn 1 point.
Scoring on 2-pocket face:
- Middle orange pocket are 2 points
- Bottom yellow pocket 3 points
FOULS: Receivers can't touch the ball before it hits the backstop unless it's going to miss the backstop all together. If they do, then throw the ball back and the skipper gets another skip.
NOTE:
1. The Original Hustle Ball can also be played with 1 target by playing 3 sets to 11 points. Alternate sides after each set. The player on receiving end just throws the ball back to the skipper until set is finished. If game makes it to the 3rd set – Teammates determine who will be skipping the ball and who is receiving in this final set.
2. The non-official game - you can play the game by going over 21 or 11 but there are no points for catching off the backstop.
2. TOHB Sunset™ - Using one TOHB Backstop™, stand in one spot like TOHB™ but you can move around to attempt skips at the ONE pocket face. Call anything from where you stand (in boat, water, sand, deck etc.), Opponent(s) will attempt to mimic your play if you make it. If they make it then their safe. If they miss, they get an "S", miss again, "U" and so on. Whoever gets Sunset first loses.
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Demographics and Value Prop
Why is this game a viable option? Plain and simple - There is nothing else like it in the water.... Plus
· People that are involved in recreation water sports spend on average $465 a year.
- Whether it’s skipping water ball accessories, kayaking, snorkeling, water skiing, tubing, volleyball, bottle bash, hoops, inflatable targets but none are anything new.
- Non recreational sport related water items
- Floating Mat’s – $200-$600 and guess what, maintenance is hard and so is transporting them due to their large size. Becomes a fad for most that own them, but customers that partake in the water recreation industry still spend a lot of money on them.
- Floating pool lounges or other items for pool activities from $10-$1,000 or even more.
· TOHB™ games can be played in the water at the beach. Americans alone make 400 million visits to the beach annually. It might not be applicable for all beach situations but if you can target even 1% of those visits with the use of TOHB Backstop™, that is a large audience. They can be rented out as a revenue stream as well.
· It can be played in the pool. (Use a Kiddie Pool If Your Hooked 😊).
o There are over 10 million pools in the U.S. alone
o This might be a seasonal recreational activity in some parts of North America but there are also indoor pools and YMCA's that can use the AVBS. For example it can be used for Aquatic PT and other agility training exercises.
o It can be played during some boating fun. There are 11 million registered boaters in the U.S. alone. Not all, but many lakes have a fun hang out area where boats tie off in shallow water and people get in the water. There are also beaches on the lake. Some lakes have a beach entirely around the entire lake when the water is low. Many lake lovers enjoy outdoor games such as Disc Golf, Corn Hole, Ladder Ball (also known as Tether Ball or Horse Balls) or a good ole traditional game like horseshoes. Take it from me, I’ve been around boating my entire life and boating needs a new, unique, and fresh approach for having fun while out on the water.
· It can be played as a Hybrid game. If the back stop is in the water, where a ball can be skipped at it, you can play TOHB™ games. Those skipping the ball don’t necessarily have to be in the water. In fact, it can be used completely out of the water as a land device to work on agility and build other sports related skills.
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