ChuckIt! Sport 25M Dog Ball Launcher

This ball launcher takes a bit of getting. used to, but it is really helpful for those of us who are not MLB pitchers! The launcher itself is a sturdy plastic that is not brittle yet not soft; when the ball is launched there is no destructive bending in the shaft. The handle is padded and ergonomically sound while the cup end cradles the ball but has cut-outs on each side for easy loading and unloading of the ball. It did take a bit of practice for me to get the hang of it, but for my husband and son it was much easier. The launcher works well to help us older, non-gifted athletes launch the ball farther and faster while saving the shoulder, elbow, and wrist (important if there is any arthritis). The ball fits nicely into the cup and releases easily. The 2.5 size was too small for my Doberman, so we opted for the 3.5 in launcher. This smaller launcher and ball are now in the employ of my sister and her husband for their retriever-border collie mix, an 18 month old little fireball!. This is just the right size for her. My sister's husband has difficulty with arthritis and is neither quick on his feet nor able to stand very long. So the launcher comes in very handy. He can actually sit in a lawn chair and throw the ball repeatedly when their dog retrieves and returns it to him. That is a win- win! Top 3 Likes: -Easy to use -Helps older pet owner -Drives the ball farther and faster Top 3 Dislikes: -With repeated uses the edges of the launcher appear to get scuffed and scratched -Some ingrained staining on the edges persists requiring scrubbing to remove -There is a mild worry that with time the launcher may snap