Alright, let me tell you about this pool game I got recently, the swimways 2-in-1 basketball and volleyball thing. Summer’s here, pool’s open, figured we needed something new to mess around with.
Getting it Ready
So, the box arrived. Pretty standard stuff. Pulled everything out. Lots of plastic parts, you know, the usual for pool toys. Didn’t feel super heavy-duty, but seemed okay for what it is. Putting it together for the basketball mode was the first step. The instructions were… well, they were pictures mostly. Took me a bit, maybe 15-20 minutes? Had to snap pieces together, make sure the floats were on right. Wasn’t rocket science, but you gotta pay a little attention.
- Laid out all the pieces first.
- Followed the pictures step-by-step.
- Snapped the hoop and backboard onto the base.
- Attached the flotation bits.
Once it was built, it looked pretty much like the picture on the box. Seemed stable enough sitting on the deck.
Basketball Time
Tossed it into the pool. It floated just fine, didn’t tip over right away, which was good. The little basketball that came with it is small and light, perfect for the pool so it doesn’t splash too crazy. We started shooting hoops. It’s definitely a casual thing. The hoop isn’t huge, and the whole setup moves around a bit when the water gets choppy or if a shot hits the rim hard. But hey, it was fun! We spent a good hour just splashing and shooting. It drifts, obviously, so sometimes you’re chasing it around the pool, which is part of the game, I guess.
Switching to Volleyball
Okay, after getting tired of basketball, we decided to try the volleyball mode. This meant taking the hoop assembly apart a bit and reconfiguring things to make two net posts. Honestly, switching modes wasn’t instant. You have to detach the hoop/backboard section and then use the base parts differently to hold up the net ends. Took maybe 10 minutes to figure it out and get it switched over. Not terrible, but not something you’d want to do back and forth constantly.
Volleyball Action
Setting up the net across the pool was easy enough. You just stretch it between the two floating posts. We have an average-sized backyard pool, and the net spanned the width okay, maybe a little sag in the middle, especially once the ball hit it a few times. The volleyball is lightweight like the basketball. We just batted it back and forth. It’s not for serious volleys, more like splash-volleyball. Kept us entertained for another chunk of time. The posts floated well and stayed upright mostly, though they’d drift apart sometimes, needing adjustment.
Final Thoughts
So, what’s the verdict? It’s a decent pool toy. Does what it says – gives you a basketball hoop and a volleyball net. Don’t expect pro quality; it’s plastic and floats.
- Pros: Easy enough assembly, provides two games in one, fun for casual pool play, kept people busy.
- Cons: Feels a bit flimsy, switching modes takes a few minutes, net sags a little, whole thing drifts in the water (expected, but worth noting).
Overall, I’m glad I got it. It added some extra fun to our pool time without breaking the bank. If you’re looking for some simple games to play in the water, it does the job. Just manage your expectations – it’s a pool toy, meant for laughs and splashes.
