Rubber band ball

Joel Waul of Lauderhill, Florida, built a rubber band ball that Guinness listed at about 4,100 kilograms in 2008.

Re-check the Guinness page, as new attempts are made.

Context

Joel Waul reportedly began the ball in 1977 and kept adding to it for many years. By the time Guinness recognised it, it weighed about 4,100 kilograms. He worked on it at his home in Florida, and it became a local attraction.

A record like this depends on how the object is defined. Guinness sets rules about what counts as a rubber band ball, such as whether the core may include other material, and how weight is verified. A newer attempt must meet the same rules to replace the old mark.

Other people have built large rubber band balls, and some have claimed bigger totals under different rules, so statements about the biggest ball should always name the record keeper. Guinness listings also change as new submissions are accepted or old ones are retired, which is why it is worth checking its current page.

The ball is a good example of an everyday-object record in which the hard part is patience, not strength or skill.

Anyone checking the record today should look at the Guinness entry itself, since it states the current rules, the current holder and the verified weight.