disclosed is an apparatus , including a shaft ; a scoop , coupled to a distal end of the shaft , for collecting and holding a bolus of a compressible medium , the compressible medium retaining a post - compressed shape when operated from a proximal end of the shaft ; and a former , coupled to the scoop and mating with the scoop , for molding and compressing the bolus into a generally spherical ball retained within the scoop . a method for forming a throwable ball , includes scooping a bolus of a compressible medium with a scoop coupled to a distal end of a shaft , the compressible medium retaining a post - compressed shape ; and molding compressively the bolus into the scoop using a former coupled to the distal end , wherein the molding step creates the ball retained in the scoop when a user operates a proximal end of the shaft .