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Get ready for March Madness with the HoopLight which lights up when you score

NEWS – I live in southern Indiana near Bloomington, home of the Indiana Hoosiers IU basketball team. It goes without saying that people in this area take basketball very seriously and with March Madness right around the corner, it’s time to get your own game in tip-top shape. One fun way to do that is with a HoopLight. What’s a HoopLight? It’s a kit that you add to your existing basketball hoop that causes it to light up when you score a basket. Check out the video below to see what I mean.

The sensor-activated LED light strip mounts on the rim of the basketball hoop you already have and lights up in 1 of a 100 different light patterns every time it detects that a ball has swished through the hoop. HoopLight encourages you to improve your game just so you can have the reward of seeing it light up. Want one? The kit is $119 on hoop-light.com

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Get ready for March Madness with the HoopLight which lights up when you score originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 4, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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Rollors Yard Game review

Looking for a new game to spice up your outdoor parties? Rollors provides a new take on some classic lawn games, using wooden disks that you roll across the yard. It’s simple & friendly for all ages, and adds an element of chance that evens out the playing field. Let’s play! 

What is it?

It’s an outdoor yard game with wood pieces that combines elements of bocce, horseshoes and lawn bowling.

Hardware specs

  • ASTM toy safety tested and approved
  • Product Weight: 5 pounds
  • Product Dimensions(in inches)15.0 x 8.0 x 5.5

What’s in the box?

The Rollors game comes with 2 goals, 3 red rolling disks, 3 blue rolling disks, measuring chords and instructions. It’s all packed in a convenient travel bag.

Design and features

The Rollors game kit is pretty sweet. All the the pieces are made from lightweight wood that can be managed with big and small hands. Friendly graphics are printed on all the pieces. Here’s a close up of some parts. Don’t they look fun?

Gameplay is very similar to lawn bowling or horseshoes. You’ll set up the pylon-shaped goals about 25 feet apart. Each player gets three disks, which they take turns rolling at the goal on the opposite end of the playing field.

The objective is to roll your disks to a stop closest to the goal. After each player has rolled all three disks, the closest disk to the goal within a 5 foot radius scores points equal to the number face up on the disk. The fist player to 21 points wins the game.

Here’s where the element of chance comes into play: each disk is printed with a different number on each side ( 1-6, 2-5, and 3-4 respectively). That means that you could score the closest shot, but points will vary based on which side faces up.

Much like horseshoes, the rules also allow score multipliers. A “leaner” is worth double points, and a disk that scores and remains standing on its edge is worth the total points on both sides of the disk. If you have more than one disk that lands closest to the goal, you’ll get points for each. This means that scoring can add up pretty quickly if you have a good round.

The game also comes with a measuring string. Stick the post in the goal, and pull the measuring string tight. That’s your scoring radius. You can also pinch the line to measure rolls that are comparatively close. It’s a clever addition that will keep things honest if there’s some heavy competition happening.

We pulled out Rollers over the Memorial Day weekend, and it passed the Family Fun Test. Everyone enjoyed the simplicity of the game, which doesn’t require special skill to participate. It’s also quite a bit safer for younger players since the pieces are light and staying on the ground. The disks will also work on sand, dirt or similar rough surfaces without any extra setup, so you can pretty much take it anywhere. It’s a lot of fun.

The only negative that I noticed about the game is that the finishing on the pieces can pick up some nicks and scratches. We hit a rock in the lawn that left a mark on one of the disks. Not a big deal, but a stronger finish on the wood might reduce this issue.

What I like

  • Easy to learn for new players
  • Family friendly for kids and adults
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Certified fun by Bob’s Backyard Play Testers

What needs to be improved

  • The softer finishing on the pieces picks up nicks and scratches

Final thoughts

Rollers is a clever yard game that will satisfy both skilled and novice players. I really like the portability and ease of setup; you can take it just about anywhere. If you’re looking for an alternative to some of the current backyard games, you’ll be sure to keep the crowd entertained with this one.

Price: $49.95
Where to buy: But direct from Rollors or on Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Rollors. 

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Rollors Yard Game review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 8, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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For Father’s Day, make sure Dad always knows which ball is his!

USGA Rule 12-2 requires each golfer to be able to identify which ball is his during a game.  Buying customized balls can be expensive and sometimes you can’t get the brand of balls you prefer from the customizer.  With the Tin Cup ball customizer and a extra fine point permanent marker, you can easily mark balls of any brand yourself.

Cabell Fooshe and Nick Green, the founders of Tin Cup, manufacture these “cups” in Falls Church, Virginia from 100% stainless steel.  You just snap the golf ball into the Tin Cup and color in the design with a permanent marker.  Each Tin Cup comes with a permanent marker and a leather storage bag.  Or you can buy your own ultra fine Sharpies for custom-color or multicolor identifiers.

The Grommet has a selection of Tin Cup markers currently marked down to $25.46.  If you prefer a truly customized design with Dad’s initials or name, you can go to the Tin Cup website and design a cup uniquely your own.  Customized Tin Cups start at $49, and you can use the code “DAD” for 15% off the price of a custom cup for Father’s Day gifting.

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For Father’s Day, make sure Dad always knows which ball is his! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 4, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Give Dad his favorite stadium for Father’s Day

And you won’t need billions of dollars to buy it, either.  These Laser Cut Stadium City Maps recreates some of the most famous stadiums and the roads, buildings, and geographic features surrounding them.  The map is made by “layering laser-etched Baltic Birch wood pieces that each capture different details—like rivers, roads, and buildings – in the neighborhood around each stadium.”

Each arial map is handcrafted and laser cut, and the stadiums are laser cut with 3D detailing.  The map includes a matte black metal frame, with hanging hardware and wall protectors included.  These maps are made in Toledo, OH, and they require 10-14 days for processing.  Most cities are 12″ x 12″, but Cleveland is 12″ x 18″ and Ann Arbor is 8″ x 12″.  The 12″ x 12″ maps are $150, and the other two are $125.  There are 27 different stadiums from which to choose.

Purchase the Laser Cut Stadium City Maps at The Grommet.

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Give Dad his favorite stadium for Father’s Day originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 24, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Surf stairs and more with this 8-wheeled skateboard

The Stair-Rover from Allsport is a uniquely designed skateboard that will allow riders to skate down a flight of stairs with no effort. Traditional skateboards have only 4 wheels, but the Stair-rover has twice as many. The eight wheels and built-in shock absorbers allow this maple wood longboard to go where regular skateboard riders would typically avoid. Skate your whole city, from stairs to curbs and more with the Allrover StairRover. For more info about this skateboard, visit allrover.com and to buy one for $280, skate over to the Grommet and Amazon.

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Surf stairs and more with this 8-wheeled skateboard originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 26, 2017 at 9:52 am.

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