The Consumer in Me: Mom always says “Don’t play ball in the house”

Tyler Ryan shares some cool gift ideas for the back yard and beyond

COLUMBIA SC (WOLO) – With the Holidays right around the corner, finding something fun and unique can add a little pressure.  Tyler Ryan reviewed a few cool gift ideas for the special someone.

Pickleball is all the rage, now considered the fastest growing sport in the country, with an impressive 159% increase over the last year.  If you are thinking about getting on board with this game that can truly be played by all ages, and even abilities, the “Big Dill Pickleball Company” has just the thing.  A pickle inspired pickleball paddle set.  This setup comes with a pair of regulation paddles and balls, so all you need is find someone to take on, and crush.  This set run about $80, and you can find more details HERE.

Sticking with the pickleball theme, if you find yourself in the backyard, the beach, or pretty much anywhere, and have a hankering for a quick game of PB, but have to court, Paddle Smash may be just the thing!  It is billed as a mix of pickleball and Spikeball, and all you need is a flat surface.  The package comes with everything you need for an impromptu match, including the basket, as it were, a set of four regulation pickleball paddles, and balls.  It sets up in just a few minutes, and you can start crushing the competition.

The whole set will runs around $200, and is available at Dicks, Amazon, etc.  Get the details for Paddle Smash HERE.

Now, Mom always said “Don’t play ball in the house,” but clearly, she didn’t know about Gel Blaster!  Think of a paintball battle, without the mess of all the paint!  Gel Blaster uses “no mess” Gellets, which are water based, and dehydrate after impact, leaving no trace.  You can play this game one on one, or in teams, or even just do a little target practice.  You can choose several different style shooters, which are USB charged, and the sets come with safety glasses.

PROTIP: Probably play outside…Mom was probably right. 

You can get all the backyard fun warfare you can handle from Gel Blaster HERE.

So after all the fun with pickleball games and backyard battles, it may be time to settle down with a glass of sweet tea and relax on the back porch.  The Porch Swing Company has just the ticket, with a plethora of options for pretty much any space.  They offer traditional rockers, hanging swings, daybeds, and the super comfy gliders.  They also offer different themes and styles, like farmhouse, beach house, and others, for the perfect lazy afternoon. There is some assembly required when they arrive, but all the stuff you need is in the box.

You can learn more about the Porch Swing Company HERE.

No monetary compensation was offered, requested, nor received for featuring these products.  Each review is individually based solely on the product living up to the claims of the manufacturer and/or Founder.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tyler Ryan is an award winning television and radio personality, writer, investigative journalist, and professional emcee.  He appears daily on ABC Columbia’s Good Morning Columbia, as well as the radio stations in the iHeart Media Network.  Tyler also regularly appears as a criminal expert and journalist on regional and national crime based programs.  You can contact him directly via EMAIL Or on the socials: Tyler’s Instagram  // Tyler’s Facebook