Nerf Ball / Nerf Toys

A ball you can actually throw in the house! The original NERF Ball turned a simple piece of soft foam into a toy classic.

Mom always says, “Don’t play ball in the house.” Well, with NERF, that rule goes out the window - it’s a ball you're actually allowed to throw indoors! The original NERF Ball was a simple four-inch ball made of soft foam. Throw it. Catch it. Bounce it off the wall. And if your throw gets away from you, chances are pretty good the lamp (and Mom’s favorite vase - and yes, those are Brady Bunch references) will survive.

The NERF Ball started out as part of a game using soft foam “rocks.” Parker Brothers wasn't particularly interested in the game itself, but they liked the foam ball. So they got rid of everything else and sold the ball by itself. Sometimes simple really is better.

Parker Brothers promoted it as an indoor ball that wouldn't break lamps or windows, and kids apparently liked the idea - millions were sold in the first year. Before long, the basic NERF Ball was joined by NERF footballs, basketballs and other soft sports toys.

But NERF didn't stop there. Today the NERF name is probably better known for NERF blasters for shooting foam darts, so now you can have NERF dart wars in the house without breaking anything.