I like this product for playing with the pup in water (me on shore/pup in water). I can throw the ball clear across the lake if I wanted to - but losing the ball isn't the intention. :) It's also good if you have a large grassy area to play fetch in. You don't need to use any force when throwing, the stick does all the work. I'd actually feel sorry for a dog that had to retrieve the ball if you were genuinely trying to throw it as far as you could - I have no idea how far it could really fly if you hefted it. It takes a few tries to learn how to throw/fling/release, but once you've got it, it's easy as pie. Highly recommended for a retriever or any pup that's constantly dropping tennis balls in your lap.