Inventing Fun in Barnesville: How Rocket Ball Is Bringing Fast-Paced Play to Kitchen Tables Across the Region 

John McDonough has always thought like an inventor. 

Growing up in Moorhead and graduating from Moorhead High School, he spent years dreaming up products and figuring out how to bring them to life. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he created the Rapid Rake—a double-sided rake that landed in Menards and many other stores. That experience taught him what it takes to design, manufacture, and distribute a product. 

Rocket Ball started more simply. “I was just trying to invent some kind of board game,” said John. “And then it just kind of morphed into this—what it became now.” 

What it became is a high-energy tabletop game that feels like air hockey meets pinball. Players use their thumbs as spring-loaded paddles to launch a ball across the board, trying to slip it past their opponent and ring a bell. It’s competitive, fast, and designed to sit safely on a kitchen table with a rubber base. 

“It’s like being able to put an air hockey table right on your kitchen table and just start playing—but it’s even more fun,” said John.  

Tournaments, Conventions, and Growing Demand 

Before launching into full production, John tested Rocket Ball in real-world settings. At Buffalo Wild Wings, he hosted one of his biggest tournaments—16 teams of kids and parents competing side by side. The restaurant even provided gift certificates for first, second, and third place. 

“It got very competitive,” said John. “The kids and the parents were high-fiving each other. It’s a great game for families to play together.” 

He also brought a prototype to Gen Con in Indianapolis in 2023, the largest game convention in the world. 

“I had about 60 people play it—around 600 games on it,” he recalls. “Eighty percent of them thought it was more fun than air hockey or foosball, and 95 percent of them wanted one at home.” 

Kids love the speed and excitement. Parents appreciate that there’s no screen involved. Nursing homes and retirement communities have started placing orders, too, because the game supports dexterity and motor skills. 

Retailers are also beginning to take notice. Scheels has expressed interest in carrying Rocket Ball, and John hopes to explore wholesale opportunities once production volume increases. 

Building Rocket Ball in Barnesville 

As demand grew, John needed a space to assemble games at scale. After mentioning his search at a Greater Moorhead Business Association meeting, he received an invitation to tour a property in Barnesville—a former dentist’s office that turned out to be a perfect fit. 

“It just works so great,” said John. “We’ve got a break room in the middle and different stages of assembly all the way around it.” 

John appreciates the supportive, small-town atmosphere Barnesville offers. With room to expand next door if needed, Rocket Ball has space to grow. 

Rocket Ball will make a big public appearance at the Fargodome Home & Garden Show, February 27 through March 1, where John and his team will host live demos and sell games on the spot. 

“For the first time, we’ll actually have inventory there,” John says. “People won’t have to go home and order—they can take it with them.” 

Backed by Local Lending 

Scaling from prototype to production required capital. Through our lending program, he was able to move quickly. 

“Working with West Central Initiative was great,” said John. “The very next day we had the money in the account, and I was able to start buying these parts.” 

That support helped Rocket Ball move from concept to full assembly in Barnesville. 

Rocket Ball started as a spark of invention. Now, with tournaments underway, retailers interested, and production ramping up, it’s poised to ring a lot more bells across west central Minnesota and beyond.