Ladder Ball Game Materials

Does it matter what your ladder ball game is made of? Of course it does. Do the ingredients of a recipe matter? The construction of your ladder ball set is important not only because it costs money, but because it will affect your gameplay and how long your set will last. Ladder ball games come in a variety of materials, colors, and weights, and you'll want to figure in portability as much as durability. Are you going to play ladder ball primarily in the backyard? Or is your set going to live in the trunk, ready to pop out for a game at any time? Taking ladderball to the tailgate? These are the important questions. Here's a quick rundown of what ladder ball games are made of and the advantages of each.

PVC Pipe When ladder ball was really new, developing on the campgrounds, beaches, and college campuses of America, the ladder was made of glued PVC pipe. If it didn't work beautifully, the game would've been a flop, right? PVC remains the standard in ladder ball construction because it's lightweight and super easy to transport. A lightweight ladder ball set comes in handy as a go-to tailgating game that sets up quickly and moves effortlessly from place to place. The only drawback to a PVC game is some sacrifice in balance and weight. A PVC ladder ball set must be solidly grounded to stand up in the face of vigorously flung bolas, strong winds, and your rowdy cousin. If you know you'll be playing on concrete only, consider that you can't very well put in ground stakes - but that's the price you pay for lightweight convenience.

Wood
Wood ladders stake out a nice middle ground in ladder ball design. While not quite as lightweight and maneuverable as the PVC ladder, they're able to with stand stronger breezes and tosses without ground anchoring. A wooden ladder ball set has the looks, too. If your game sits primarily outback and you'd like it to blend in with a nice aesthetic, choose wood. Or, if you like to compete with other tailgaters to see who has the coolest ladder ball setup, wood is definitely an attention-getter.

Steel
Steel. We've been equating its durability to that of Superman for the past 70 years, so it's probably safe to say a steel ladder ball set is as sturdy as it gets. Wind? Forget about it! If you want to play in gale force winds, your might lose your bolas or suffer other losses, but your ladder will stand resolute! However, you are sacrificing the maneuverability and light weight of a PVC or wood ladder ball set, so there's that... but it's not like this thing is going to weigh 400 lbs.

So, Does It Matter?
Whichever ladder ball set you choose, the game remains the same. We recommend going for equipment that meets your needs as specifically as possible, but this is a sport born of necessity and invention; you'll make it work.