Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Franklin Sports Classic Games: Soft Tip Target Toss, CHUX! Bean Bag Toss and Advanced Badminton Set {Review & Giveaway}

Franklin logo
While I have long believed that my children's imaginations can keep them entertained with nothing more than a cardboard box or a handful of sticks and rocks, that doesn't mean that I'm not always keeping an eye out for convenient, portable, entertaining additions to our game collection.

After all, often the best memories are made when we spend an afternoon laughing and playing with our family and friends!

Which is why I was happy to realize that Franklin Sports, a name that I have always associated with baseball gloves and bats, also offers a wide variety of classic games that can bring together all ages for a great time out in the sunshine.

yard games

As the top choice of baseball stars young and old (as well as the Official Batting Glove of Major League Baseball), Franklin Sports also produces a wide variety of entertaining games — everything from bocce to tetherball to croquet. You just can't go wrong with the fun that these traditional games can bring to your backyard barbeque or next tailgate!

Considering how much we enjoy the ability to spice up our gatherings with a little friendly competition, we were excited to get to try out the Franklin Soft Tip Target Toss, Franklin CHUX! Bean Bag Toss and Franklin Advanced Badminton Set.

Franklin yard games

Designed for quick and easy backyard fun, Soft Tip Target Toss is an updated, safe version of the classic lawn darts. With four soft tip target tosses (two red and two blue), two scoring rings, and a handy storage/carry bag, this game can be pulled out just about anywhere, anytime.

Franklin Soft Tip Target Toss

While we found the scoring rings to be a bit too light and loose to stay laid out on their own, we added two of our own small stakes on either end to hold them in place without problem.

After that, this game was great for playing competitively (by keeping score) or more casually (by just seeing if we could hit the target) and we found that even though the box states that it is for ages 12+, that Soft Tip Target Toss could provide a safe afternoon of fun for the whole family.

Afterward, I love the convenience of being able to rinse off the parts if needed and that the storage bag is just the right size to keep all of the pieces together. There is no problem stashing this in the garage and having it ready to pull out for in the yard or to bring along to a park, the beach and more.

plastic lawn darts

Retailing for $19.99, Soft Tip Target Toss can be purchased directly from Franklin Sports or on Amazon.

When we're looking to show off our aiming skills even further, the CHUX! Bean Bag Toss game has proven to be another simple, portable, entertaining way for everyone to get in on the action.

CHUX Bean Bag Toss

After a minute or two of assembly, we had the frame together and the target in place. All that was left to do was take aim with the blue and yellow bean bags and hope to rack up the points!

Franklin Bean Bag Toss game

As with Soft Tip Target Toss, CHUX! Bean Bag Toss is easy to adapt based on skill level — changing the distance between the player and the target, how many attempts each player receives, etc.

We found that no matter how competitively we opted to play, that the concept was simple and straightforward and led to plenty of laughter, cheers and groans. All in all, a great time!

When we are done for the day, Franklin has made CHUX! Bean Bag Toss easy to clean, if necessary, as everything from the bean bags to the target can be wiped down or hosed off. After pulling apart the frame, the pieces all store easily in the carry bag so that it can be hung for later or tossed over your shoulder with the comfortable strap. Just grab it and go for your next backyard party, block party or more!

bean bag toss

Retailing for $29.99, CHUX! Bean Bag Toss can be purchased directly from Franklin Sports or on Amazon.

Finally, for those with slightly more skill and hand-eye coordination, the Advanced Badminton Set provides all of the necessities for four people to get in on the action of sending a shuttlecock soaring through the air.

badminton game

We did encounter assembly issues with this set, as the included instructions didn't seem to actually match up with the pieces included. Eventually giving up trying to follow along, my husband went ahead and connected the poles and net and stuck the ground stakes into the ground at what seemed like an angle that would hold tight.

badminton set

Fortunately, we guessed right! The PVC poles stood strong and the net held plenty of tension so that we were able to play round after round of badminton. And who doesn't love this classic game?

The padded grip on the rackets made them easy to hold and they were lightweight enough that both of the girls were eager to try again and again (even though they had a bit of a hard time actually getting the racket to connect with the shuttlecock). Although we again didn't keep score, I have no doubt that we'll pull this set out for our next party in the yard or park!

As Franklin included a messenger carry bag to store all of the pieces, there's no reason that the Advanced Badminton Set can't come along with you the next time you're joining friends and are looking to have some friendly competition.

badminton

Retailing for $39.99, the Advanced Badminton Set can be purchased directly from Franklin Sports or on Amazon.

For the remainder of summer, tailgating in the fall, warm weather winter vacations and more, Franklin Sports has a huge collection of classic games that are sure to help bring your family and friends together and provide the laughter and memories that will be treasured for years to come.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be prepared to entertain outdoors for quite some time, because...

One lucky person will win a Soft Tip Target Toss, a CHUX! Bean Bag Toss and an Advanced Badminton Set from Franklin Sports (total ARV $90)!


(Enter with the Rafflecopter form below. If you have any questions or problems entering, there is a video tutorial found here that can help.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A big thank you to Franklin Sports for providing these three games for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

207 comments:

  1. These games look great. Would be a good way to end the summer!

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  2. My boys would love the pitching machine.
    countrycookinmama at gmail dot com

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  3. The pitching machine is something we could really use with the kids.

    cgentry1952@yahoo.com

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  4. We would like the Franklin Golf Toss
    sylviawhit@gmail.com

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  5. i'd also like to own the Deluxe Boxing Set with Authentic Sounds

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  6. I like the Recreational Horseshoe Set.
    janet3rdgrade@yahoo.com

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  7. I would like to get Franklin Sports' Classic Badminton Set

    abfantom at yahoo dot com

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  8. I'd love to have the hoops to go pro for my family!

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  9. My family would love the Deluxe Boxing Set with Authentic Sounds

    shilobeedy@gmail.com

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  10. I would love to have this:
    http://www.franklinsportsgear.com/14178.html

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  11. I like the Glow in the Dark Flipper Hockey Table Top Game. That looks like fun!

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  12. My son would like the Electronic Bounce-A-Bucket.

    Jennifer Rote
    wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com

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  13. I like the Chux Toss game.

    chrissylea1979 (at)gmail(dot) com

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  14. Badmiton would be fun!

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  15. Recreational Tetherball Set sounds fun

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  16. The Field Master Pitching Machine would be great.
    Thanks so much.
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

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  17. The croquet set would be so much fun.

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  18. Really like 5-A-Side Flag Football Set

    mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com

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  19. We would love to play the Fold n Go Golf Toss.

    sflickinger at rocketmail dot com

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  20. the bocce set looks great!

    jek9880 at gmail dot com

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  21. Love a LITE UPZ™ Foam Soccer Ball!

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  22. A pitching machine would be fun... to help my son get better for his little league team.

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  23. Franklin MLB 3-Position Batting Tee to Go my son likes baseball

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  24. pitching machine

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  25. I like the nhl indoor sport 2 in 1 set.

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  26. We also enjoy Horseshoes as well! bekki1820cb at gmail dot com

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  27. i like the MLB® SuperStar Batter & Fielder Multi-Function 4-in-1 Pitching Machine

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  28. My family would love the Deluxe Boxing Set with Authentic Sounds

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  29. I would love to have the Intermediate Horseshoe Set.

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  30. We could really use the MLB Professional Multi-Sport Return Trainer

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  31. My family would enjoy the FOLD-N-GO® Magnetic Dart Toss Set
    traymona[at]aol.com

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  32. I like the Field Master Pitching Machine
    kellywcuATyahooDOTcom

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  33. Croket is another set we would love!
    masugr at yahoo dot com

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  34. My family would love the LITE UPZ™ Foam Bowling Set!

    cherriesjessilee at gmail dot com

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  35. I would like the MLS® Light Up Soccer Goal Set.

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  36. i like the Classic Horseshoe SetHome

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  37. I would like to get their Lite Upz foam bowling kit! I could REALLY use this with my pre-school church group.

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  38. Honestly, I'd like a plain old frisbee! But I think my kids want some baseball mitts and balls

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  39. Id love the Bocce set.Thanks for the chance.
    mogrill12@gmail.com

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  40. Well I would love to learn how to play Bocce but my son would rather have the pitching machine :-)

    marielay@gmail.com

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  41. The Recreational Horseshoe Set.

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  42. Danielle Davis/GradyAugust 16, 2012 at 11:11 PM

    Franklin 5-in-1 Sports Center! :)
    Thank you!
    Suchaproudmama @ yahoo.com

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  43. I would love to have the 6 in 1 Table Top Arcade. dwelchert@yahoo.com

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  44. The Lite UPZ foam Football would be perfect for my great grand.
    gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  45. The Light Ups Foam Basketball Set looks awesome http://www.franklinsportsgear.com/14181.html

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  46. We would enjoy playing t Bocce Ball.
    mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com

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  47. Disney Cars Hoops to Go
    marypopmom@yahoo.com

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  48. A Bocce Set rkmarsh at aol dot com

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  49. classic horseshoe set

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  50. Love their pop up mini soccer goal
    kimberlysummer40@aol.com

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  51. The Badmitton Set

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  52. I would like the Advanced 113M Bocce Set. It would round out the options provided with the sets being given away. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

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  53. The NHL Shoot-Out Pop-Up Target 54" x 44" would be great fun...smthepas@gmail.com

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  54. i like the Premier 5' x 10' Steel Soccer Goal

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  55. pitching machine
    msboatgal at aol.com

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  56. A Bocce set would be wonderful!

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  57. I think they would love the classic bocce set.

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  58. We would also love the Field Master Pitching Machine with Auto feed Combo Set

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  59. My family would also enjoy their Franklin Golf Toss (PVC) :) ngiraldi at gmail dot com

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  60. would love to have a pitching machine for the boys

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  61. Our family would love the Field Master Pitching Machine with Auto feed Combo Set

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  62. My boys would like to have the Trac Tec Breakaway Hoop.
    Thanks, Karen
    lemontart5kb at gmail dot com

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  63. We would like Classic Horseshoe Set.

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

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  64. I'd love the Classic Croquet Set

    Wanda McHenry
    wbailey113 at hotmail dot com

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  65. the Junior Deluxe Multi-Sport Return Trainer would be great.

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  66. my son would love the mlb pitching machine
    tcogbill at live dot com

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  67. I'd love the Hoops to Go Pro!

    Thanks,

    selinda_mccumbers at yahoo.com

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  68. I've always wanted to try bocce!

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  69. The Classic Bocce set looks fun to have!

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  70. My boys would love Light Strike Hockey.

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  71. I would like the recreational tetherball set or a croquet set.

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  72. i'd love the LITE UPZ™ Foam Bowling Set
    kayleefaith1228@aol.com

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  73. a bocce set would be awesome ! thx !

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  74. My nephew loves soccer! I'd love to get him a soccer net!

    marymichelotti(at)gmail(dot)com

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  75. My husband would love the horseshoes set!!

    2u3mommy at gmail dot com

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  76. I would also like to have their Franklin Golf Toss.

    colljerr at comcast dot net

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  77. I would like to own the Classic Volleyball Set

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  78. the Lite UPs foam bowling set looks fun

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  79. I'd love the Adjust A Sport Youth Golf set for my son!

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  80. I would like the Pop Up Junior Goald so I could play soccer with my kids in the yard.

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  81. The ZERO GRAVITY SPORTS 32" Hockey Table looks pretty cool!

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  82. My family would love the LITE UPZ™ Foam Football!

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  83. the Electronic Bounce-A-Bucket looks fun! heinzmom at hotmail dot com

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  84. I love the horseshoe set.
    dolniaks at consolidated dot net

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  85. I like the LITE UPZ Foam Bowling Set.
    elena.cacahuete(at)gmail(dot)com

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  86. The golf set looks cool. Thanks

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  87. the FOLD-N-GO® Magnetic Dart Toss

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  88. we would love the Pop UP Junior Goal

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  89. I like the Franklin Expert Volley Ball Set.
    Susan Chester

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  90. I like the Disney Cars 3-in-1 Arcade Center

    yanktheese@yahoo.com

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  91. The horseshoes or the bocce set would be fun to own.

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  92. My son would love the Lite Upz soccer and football
    Kristina.Glidewell@gmail.com

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  93. i like the NEO CLASSIC® II Batting Gloves (Adult & Youth)

    christinejessamine at hotmail dot com

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  94. My boys would like the Franklin Value Pack Baseballs 12-Pack. Thanks.
    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  95. We would love to have the Badminton set!
    tiffoverton77@yahoo.com

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  96. the horseshoe set

    hebb dot julie at gmail dot com

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  97. http://www.franklinsportsgear.com/1087.html
    My husband wants one so bad lol to play with the boys.

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  98. I like the Intermediate 5 Game Set.

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  99. I want to play Badminton right now!

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  100. Fold and go golf toss, we love playing this game when we visit family

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  101. My son would love to have the Pop-Up Crossfire Trainer for practice.

    Leslie Galloway (LesGalloway //at// hotmail //dot// com) www.facebook.com/GallowayLeslie

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  102. My daughter would love the Mini Dora the Explorer Pop-Up Goal

    caryn9802 at yahoo dot com

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  103. the Official GRIP RITE® Football

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  104. We'd love to get the Cars Flipper Hockey, Glow in the Dark.

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  105. We would like the Franklin Golf Toss

    Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

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  106. i like the classic horseshoe set.

    imisstx at comcast dot net

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  107. I would love the Franklin Golf Toss.

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  108. the bocce looks cool
    rusik76@hotmail.com

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  109. We would like the Recreational Tetherball Set.

    alittlepieceofheaven777(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  110. We love the the horseshoe set

    xuanthaohkus(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  111. would like to have their Mini SpongeBob SquarePants Pop-Up Goal


    brich22 at earthlink dot net

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  112. The ZERO GRAVITY SPORTS 32" Hockey Table would be fun for winter.

    Entered under the name of Jill L

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  113. disney cars hoops to go

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  114. i would love to have the bocce set!!

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  115. i like the GRIP-RITE® 100 Basketball (Intermediate - 28.5")

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  116. Adjust-A-Sport® Youth Golf Set because we are a golfing family!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  117. I would love to get the boys the MLB Professional Multi-Sport Return Trainer. They would use it continuously.

    Thanks so much!

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  118. The Toy Story 3 Ball Pack!
    ptavernie at yahoo dot com

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  119. MLB Professional Multi-Sport Return Trainer

    LMB419@aol.com

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  120. The Lite UPZ Foam Bowling Set would be great!

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  121. The MLB multi-sport return trainer looks super fun!! :)

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  122. Im loving the Cars Flipper Hockey (Glow in the Dark)

    Thanks!!
    Jenni

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  123. neo classic 2 batting glove

    lowville04@yahoo.com

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  124. My family would love the Advanced Tetherball Set. Thank you for the lovely giveaway!
    Erin E
    busymom369 at gmail dot com

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  125. Wow! So many great things to choose from! I think we'd like the Advanced Tetherball Set first!

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  126. The fold and go shooters!

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  127. The Adjustable Rebounder for soccer.

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  128. I would like the horseshoe.
    shawnac68@hotmail.com

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  129. we like the Classic Horseshoe Set

    ltlbit1@hotmail dot com

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  130. I would like the volleyball set.
    brigettestreeper@yahoo.com

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  131. Intermediate 5 Game Set - it has many different games,I like that !!

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  132. would like to own the bocce set

    pansyadams@gmail.com

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  133. We'd like to have the 5-A-Side Flag Football Set.

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  134. I like the Recreational Tetherball Set

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  135. the pitching machine

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  136. Franklin Sports' Classic Badminton Set and the horse shoe set!

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  137. We'd like to own the Franklin Advanced Volleyball Set!

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  138. My daughter picked the GRIP-RITE® 100 Basketball (Official - 29.5")
    christal c w
    willdebbie97 at yahoo dot com

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  139. THIS WOULD BE SO GREAT.. LOVE THE HORSE SHOES AND VOLLEYBALL

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  140. Their Trac Tec Breakaway Hoop
    Franklin Trac Tec Breakaway Hoop.

    sheilatf52 at yahoo dot com

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  141. we would love to get the grip-rite 100 basketball intermediate 28.5"

    susansmoaks at gmail dot com

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  142. We like the volley ball set. saltpepper1_2000@yahoo.com

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  143. my nephew would love a MLB® SuperStar Batter & Fielder Multi-Function 4-in-1 Pitching Machine
    sarahyurga@yahoo.com

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  144. I like the Fold-N-Go 10-Cup

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  145. I like the NFL Foot Locker - New York Giants
    schueler.jessica@yahoo.com

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  146. I like the Pop Up Mini Soccer Goal!

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  147. I like the MLB Professional Multi-Sport Return Trainer

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  148. I would love to own the LITE UPZ™ Foam Soccer Ball.

    choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

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  149. My kids would also enjoy the 3D Electronic Pinball game for our long winters.
    reejen at comcast dot net

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  150. My son would love the soccer lease kick trainer

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  151. We would love to own the competition steel soccer goal!
    cassandraashleym at yahoo dot com
    fb: rab pom

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  152. Glow in the Dark Flipper Hockey Table Top Game I think i found a Christmas gift

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  153. We would love to get the NHL® Goal, Stick and Ball Set

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  154. I like the 6 in 1 table top arcade
    thank you

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  155. My daughter would love and use the Field Master Pitching Machine with Auto feed Combo Set.

    tridingermckee at gmail dot com

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  156. I would love the Field Master Pitching Machine with Auto feed Combo Set. I just noticed the previous poster posted this. But, I really want one of these. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  157. The glow in the dark hockey table top looks awesome!

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  158. I thionk the FOLD-N-GO® 10-Cup.

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  159. Franklin MLB® 3-Position Batting Tee to Go.

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  160. The 3-D electronic pinball would be fun to have and play.

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  161. a soccer net!
    amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com

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  162. I'd love to own the elite volleyball set.

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  163. The GRIP RITE® 100 Basketball Team Pack (6) with Pump
    mightynaynay(at)cs.com

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  164. We'd also like to own the Franklin MLB® 3-Position Batting Tee To Go

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  165. i like the pop up mini goal for soccer

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