The History of Nerf Balls

Children like to play ball in the house, even though most moms--and some dads--don't approve. Since the early 1970s, there have been fewer broken lamps and windows because of the Nerf Ball, a soft, rubberized product that is safe for indoor play. Parker Brothers' soft toys continue to top children's wish lists.

History

The Nerf Ball originated as an indoor volleyball game by Reyn Guyer, who approached Parker Brothers with his idea. Nerf was developed by Parker Brothers in 1969 as a 4-inch foam ball and was introduced in 1970. The Nerf Ball made it possible for indoor play without the fear of destroying anything. Nerf has created one of the most successful toy lines in history.

NERF

NERF stands for Non-Expanding Recreational Foam. Nerf products are soft, spongy materials made from polyester. They are similar to material found in foam mattresses. They can be squeezed and filled with water for a super soak when thrown.

Nerf Products

Nerf is available in many different styles. Shortly after the Nerf Ball was released, a heavier, denser Nerf football was introduced. Now, Nerf has a full range of disks and guns for indoor fun including the N-Strike, N-Force and Dart Tag,

Sales

According to Soft-Go.com, Hasbro Inc. (HAS.N), which owns Parker Brothers, is the second-largest U.S. toy company. Hasbro's profits have been boosted by strong demand for its Nerf, Transformers and Furreal Friends product lines. Despite the recession, Hasbro's 2008 earnings rose to $133.7 million, or 84 cents a share, from $108.3 million, or 62 cents a share, in 2007.

Where to buy

Nerf products can be found at most major toy stores and department stores including Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us. Toys also can be purchased at Amazon.com.