Swing Swang from Milton Bradley (1971)

Company: Topper Toys | Release date: 1971 | Ages: 10+ | # of players: 1+ | Where to purchase: eBay

Published by Milton Bradley in 1971, Swing Swang was a skill-and-action game that challenged players to guide a wooden ball suspended from a string through a numbered course before time ran out. Marketed as “The skill game you can’t leave alone,” Swing Swang emphasized skill and timing over luck.

GAMEPLAY

Players controlled a small wooden ball suspended from a string attached above the playing surface. The objective was to swing the ball and drop it into a series of coloured cups arranged in a course on the game board.

Each player competed against a built-in timer. Beginning with the first cup, players attempted to complete the course in numerical order before the clock stopped.
The game could be played solo or in multiplayer, where players compare points earned after each run through the course. As noted in the instructions, practice and repetition were essential to mastering the course.

IN THE BOX

A complete game included the base tray with a built-in timer, four coloured cup inserts, two support posts that held up a Swing Swang header, and a ball-and-string assembly. Printed instructions were included in the box.

COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS

Swing Swang can be found on the secondary market in varying conditions. Collectors should look for examples with a functioning timer, intact ball-and-string assembly, and all original course components.

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