Step One

Dick Moss

Here's how to make inexpensive balloon racquets using coat hangers, old panty hose, and some masking or athletic tape. It takes only a few minutes to produce each racquet.

Construction Instructions

Step Two

• Pull the bottom of the coat hanger until it forms a diamond shape.
• Using your hand or some pliers, straighten the hook.
• Pull one leg of the panty hose over the racquet until the tip of the toes are tight against the tip of the racquet. This will form a nice bouncy surface.
• Wrap the rest of the panty hose (i.e. the other leg) around the handle of the hanger.
• Wrap the handle with tape and voila - you have a racquet your students can use to bounce balloons either to themselves or to partners.

How to Make a Rebound Racquet
You can easily turn your coat hanger racquet into

Step Three

a balloon rebounder.

• Blow up a balloon until it is three quarters full of air.
• Tie it off and tie a short length of yarn, string or ribbon around the bottom of the balloon.
• Tie the other end of the yarn to the handle of the racket. Or make a little hole in the top of the racket and fasten the yarn there.