Has anybody used build-a-balls

[Anita Plot]

I have been looking at these but are not sure if they are any good.
Has anybody used them and if so could you please let me know if they are any good
Thank you

[binley100]

We use tennis balls (from the pound shop ) instead ...........tried the build a balls in the Centenary Garden (they were donated) and they were rubbish .......

[VirginVegGrower]

I've got some and they are OK but not really worth the money.

[hollychap]

i will be trying a few things out this year going to use the tennis ball method not sure where but i saw them on a piccy probably on this site

[allotment grower]

they are expensive for what you get... usually sold in packs 12..

the other thing they dont tell you is if you use bamboo you cant get the correct size as all bamboo canes are different thickness shapes etc. they were loose on some and too tight on others..

i would recommend them on allumminimum tubes ...

[WendyC]

I would echo what other Grapes have said. I use them for a temporary fruit cage each summer. You do need aluminium tubes and even then the ends of the tubes drop out and then you push that one in and the other end falls out. Probably quite amusing to watch. I did see Harrod Horticultural ( I think ) had a different system I might give a go. They're called Slot and Lock connectors.

[binley100]

Tennis balls grip better as long as you don't make the holes too big.......

[hollychap]

Tennis balls grip better as long as you don't make the holes too big.......

do you drill holes or just make a slit ?

[binley100]

OH drilled some holes , 6 in each one ........

[Florence Fennel]

I'm with Binley on this one because I have used tennis balls from the £ shop. I didn't make holes, just slit a x where I needed to and slotted the canes in.

[binley100]

It'll be interesting to see if my psb frame is still standing after the weekend ......so far it has survived strong winds and its only bamboo canes and tennis balls with netting over........

[ladylottie]

I'd looked at the build-a-balls as well because it seemed such a good idea. But I can't really afford to pay what they're asking for them though, so this year I will give the tennis balls a try. Sounds easy, simple and effective to me. I'll be off to the pound shop later in the year.

[salome2001]

I like the idea of the build a balls but also read reviews saying that they didn't fit canes well, since canes aren't all the same size. i found something similar called flexi-balls, the holes are varying sizes and also have little ridges in them to grab canes.

considerably cheaper than biuld a balls too. found them on amazon
Bamboo Cane Flexible Ball Connectors (10): Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

[binley100]

aah those were the ones we tried ........couldn't get our big canes to stay in them

[salome2001]

Play dough??? it seems to stick to everything else and set hard....