No, you do not need to dry gel balls before use. However, if your gel balls are not hard enough to pop after being left on a flat surface, you should allow them to dry out for a few hours before using them again. If your gel balls are hard and solid when you first place them on a surface, they will remain that way for some time. However, if you want them to become softer and easier to pop, please allow them to dry out for a few hours before using them again.