A long time dog owner, I was a pathetically late adopter of the Chuckit! by Canine Hardware.
Apparently, a frugal-block prevented me from seeing the utility of spending ten or more dollars on a "plastic stick" to hurl tennis balls across the park. In hindsight, it's one of those forehead slapping "duh" moments.

My dog loves fetch. I take him almost every day. For years I threw unaided, with a slobbery hand and a tender shoulder. Now, the thought of scooping up that slobbery ball by hand sounds akin to skipping the bag on a poop run. And both my shoulder and dog thank me for the longer, easier fetch sessions.

The only remaining inconvenience was lugging my 27" full sized Chuckit! to the park. Problem solved: thanks to the ultra portable Chuckit! Pocket (at 12.25") I'll never be without my plastic stick again. It's truly pocket-able size is perfect for everyday use, and my dog hasn't noticed the reduced throwing leverage.

Chuckit! Pocket is an excellent buy, and they make great gifts for under $10

Tips: I bring an extra bag to wrap the slobbery ball for the walk home. If your dog chews  "extra hard" tennis balls in half, try buying some "practice" tennis balls at a sporting goods store. They are even softer than regular tennis balls so they give more while being chewed. My pup hasn't split one since I switched over.