Pros: * Body safe silicone * Removable straps for easy cleaning * Velcro on straps makes the gag easy to remove for safety * Gag feels nice and pacifier shape puts the bulk of it firmly in your mouth Cons: * Poor molding. The surface finish on the gag is pockmarked and uneven, not nearly as clean and even as shown in the promotional image. There was also a ~1/4in layer of silicone above where it seemed like it should have ended, making the base bulkier. This extra silicone was trimmed away very shoddily, leaving a deep, jagged chamber around the edges that looks sloppy and cheap. * The snaps do not fasten properly. Possibly due to the poor molding of the gag, the snaps are not spaced far enough apart to properly fasten around the gag. It is incredibly difficult to get them to fasten at all. Even stretching the gag significantly and applying a lot of force to the snaps, one snap wasn't fully fastened and would frequently come undone. * The straps are far too long. The Velcro portion on the end of the straps is only a few inches long, and for me they were too long to fasten at all. The straps could be tied or rigged another way, but this completely negates the pro of the Velcro being a safe quick-release mechanism. Overall impression: The gag portion is very nice, although the silicone molding is sloppy and unprofessional, especially on the base. The straps have problems with both the Velcro/length and the snaps, rendering them essentially worthless. I have always enjoyed Tantus toys, so it is really disappointing to get something that is so shoddily-made and poorly-designed. Unfortunately I don't think it is worth the money, considering how many issues there are with this gag.

Texture and material construction: Leather straps and smooth silicone ball. Review Details: I got the Beginner Ball gag as, yes, my own beginner's ball gag. I was a little nervous about trying one. The leather straps fasten around the back of the head with Velcro. I wish the Velcro was a little longer, sometimes it feels a little hard to strap firmly enough around your head. I really like that the leather straps snap onto the silicone ball part of the gag, meaning you can detach them in order to sterilize the silicone (in boiling water or the dishwasher). I've worn it several times now and it's comfortable around my head as well as in my mouth. Apparently the shape is modeled after a pacifier, so it's very easy to wrap your mouth around. I've been able to moan and scream around it easily, and when things have gotten really intense I've been able to push it out of my mouth with my tongue. However, I did have a little more trouble with it while I was on my back, since the mouth-opening of moaning had the ball gag slip a little too deep for my own somewhat sensitive gag reflex. While I think that might disappoint some people who want complete restraint, I think for someone new to gags it's very comforting to be able to get it out of my mouth if I want to. Get this if: you're new to gags and want something comfy and well-made.

Texture and material construction: The Tantus Beginners Ball Gag is a silicone gag with a unique shape. Rather than the traditional ball, its a plug or pacifier shape, which fits farther back in the mouth. Because the shape does resemble a pacifier so much, it could be worked into a scene with a little if you are into age play. The ball part of the plug is 2.5 inches long, and sits back in the mouth, but no so far back that you need to worry about your gag reflex being triggered unless its super sensitive. The silicone plug is attached to the leather straps by snaps that pass through holes on the side of the plug. These can be removed for cleaning, although the snaps do take some vigorous wiggling to get through the holes. The gag fastens with Velcro, rather than the traditional buckle closure, so you can more easily release your partner if needed. You could also switch the straps out with another pair if you prefer your gags to be less easily escape-able, which is what I am planning on doing, as I found that Velcro caught on my hair and pulled in an annoying way. The care and feeding of your Tantus gag is as follows: for the silicone bit, you can boil it for three minutes, season lightly with the herbs of your choice and have a delicious gag soup. Well, ok, maybe not. But boiling it will kill any germs you or your partner(s) have left on it. Another disinfecting option is to wipe it down with a 10% bleach solution. Please, for the love of Cthulhu, let the bleach dry and maybe give it a rinse before putting this in your partners mouth! For the leather straps, you can wipe them down with a damp cloth, then let them dry. There are also leather cleaning products you can use to clean them with, such as Saddle Soap. However, these wont totally sterilize the leather, so its something to consider before using this gag with multiple partners if you are worried about any kind of bodily fluid sharing. I adore my gag, and its a something that always gets packed into my Bag OEvil that I take to play parties when I am in a Domme-y mood. The only thing I would change about it would be to offer it with the option of buckling straps versus Velcro, but that's it! Its a great first gag, and definitely worth splurging on. Review Details: The gag feels quite comfortable during use, even with my hair getting caught a few times. The ball part of the gag measures 1.6 inches across, and doesn't bother my mouth or jaw, even with extended wearing. The last male sub I had in this gag didn't have any complaints about the fit either, or at least none I could understand Where the plug tapers down to the base is where the teeth naturally want to sit, and the silicone is dense enough that biting doesn't seem to affect it. I know I've bitten down hard on my gag several times during some scenes, and I cant see a single mark on it. The base of the plug sits against the lips, and mostly covers them, although this will vary from person to person. I can spit the gag out if I *really* work hard at it, but it isn't easy to do, so no worries if your submissive is a bit bratty. They're going to be stuck in the gag until you decide to let them go. With the Beginner Ball Gag, there will also be drooling issues unless they manage to keep their heads back and somehow swallow around the ball every few minutes. Their protests at this indignity are going to be muffled as an added bonus. You should also have a non-verbal safe-word to stop the scene if your partner is unable to make themselves clearly understood, such as dropping something loud like a set of keys.