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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ "power Ball" - Wrist/arm Workout
Posted by: wrk Jul 21 2008, 02:17 PM
Hi,
I found this little thing called "Power Ball" and i was thinking it could be interesting for some of you guys as well. Maybe you have heard of it, but i don't remember to have seen it mentioned before here at GMC.
[attachment=8715:powerball.jpg]
I think every guitar player is sometimes looking for some workout gadgets to strengthen the arm or finger muscles in the hope to find any kind of shortcut through endless hours of practicing.
For different reasons i was looking for something to work on my right arm and wrist. The Power Ball is mainly a workout tool to strengthen the arm and wrist muscles. Not really targeting specifically the group of guitar player, but i think it could be useful when using it the right why.
How does it work:
Inside the Power Ball is a unbalanced rotor which is rotating around two axis. By doing a circular movement with the wrist, the rotor starts to turn around the two axis and thereby causing a centrifugal moment.
As faster you turn the Power Ball, as more force you need in your arm to keep this little thing in place, by still being able to do a constant circular movement with your wrist. Tension and strength is not everything here. If you loose the rhythm, the rotor inside the Power Ball will change direction and you have to synchronize your movements again, which can be difficult or at least take a while.
If you manage to turn it really fast you will be surprised about the force the Power Ball develops.
Video:
I have added a small video, as my explanations above are maybe not that clear:
[attachment=8714:PowerBall___Mobile.avi]
The rotor need a minimum speed to start turning around both axis. You can see that i need a while to adjust my movements. With my left hand it goes much quicker to find the corresponding rhythm.
The Situation:
Maybe i should explain why i was searching for something like this to evaluate for yourself if it could be helpful for you as well.
First of all, i guess everybody has a preference for one hand and fine motions on the other hand/arm are a little underdeveloped. I am left-handed but play standard guitars, so of course in general i have lesser control over my right hand. I can not even brush my teeth properly with the right hand (without having the toothbrush in my nose at some point). This should have make me skeptical much earlier ..
Another thing, i was a bit unlucky around 4 year ago and had a serious car accident. The most damages i've had on my left leg and ... what a surprise ...on my right arm. Without going in to too many details, i needed some fundamental reeducation on these both extremities. Everything is fine now, but maybe as a result of that, some muscles in my arm are still not equally developed and need some improvements 
.
Experiences:
Damn, no shortcut . The Power Ball is not a guitar and it is not improving any guitar specific technics. I used to have some strange movements of my wrist in all directions when i come close my speed limit. I have the impression those movements are reduced a bit. There is more stability in my right arm and with that more control.
To do coordinated movements, muscles need some fine tuning. Not only when putting the muscle on tension, as well the way to release the tension is really important.
Warning:
I don't want to miss to remember you that this thing is a workout tool !! If you see some advertising video of the Power Ball or other videos on you tube, they try to break records of doing it as fast as possible. This you don't want to do !!
If someone wants to try it, please don't overdo it !! I really suggest you to adapt the speed to the goal to gain more control and flexibility over your muscles not for to do free-climbing. Slowly, constant and controlled ... you all have hear this before as an advice for good practicing
Informations:
http://www.powerballs.com or ebay.
I hope you find this interesting. Criticize it, laugh about it, ... or just let me know what you think
Posted by: kjutte Jul 21 2008, 02:21 PM
I found this little thing called "Power Ball" and i was thinking it could be interesting for some of you guys as well. Maybe you have heard of it, but i don't remember to have seen it mentioned before here at GMC.
[attachment=8715:powerball.jpg]
I think every guitar player is sometimes looking for some workout gadgets to strengthen the arm or finger muscles in the hope to find any kind of shortcut through endless hours of practicing.
For different reasons i was looking for something to work on my right arm and wrist. The Power Ball is mainly a workout tool to strengthen the arm and wrist muscles. Not really targeting specifically the group of guitar player, but i think it could be useful when using it the right why.
How does it work:
Inside the Power Ball is a unbalanced rotor which is rotating around two axis. By doing a circular movement with the wrist, the rotor starts to turn around the two axis and thereby causing a centrifugal moment.
As faster you turn the Power Ball, as more force you need in your arm to keep this little thing in place, by still being able to do a constant circular movement with your wrist. Tension and strength is not everything here. If you loose the rhythm, the rotor inside the Power Ball will change direction and you have to synchronize your movements again, which can be difficult or at least take a while.
If you manage to turn it really fast you will be surprised about the force the Power Ball develops.
Video:
I have added a small video, as my explanations above are maybe not that clear:
[attachment=8714:PowerBall___Mobile.avi]
The rotor need a minimum speed to start turning around both axis. You can see that i need a while to adjust my movements. With my left hand it goes much quicker to find the corresponding rhythm.
The Situation:
Maybe i should explain why i was searching for something like this to evaluate for yourself if it could be helpful for you as well.
First of all, i guess everybody has a preference for one hand and fine motions on the other hand/arm are a little underdeveloped. I am left-handed but play standard guitars, so of course in general i have lesser control over my right hand. I can not even brush my teeth properly with the right hand (without having the toothbrush in my nose at some point). This should have make me skeptical much earlier ..
Another thing, i was a bit unlucky around 4 year ago and had a serious car accident. The most damages i've had on my left leg and ... what a surprise ...on my right arm. Without going in to too many details, i needed some fundamental reeducation on these both extremities. Everything is fine now, but maybe as a result of that, some muscles in my arm are still not equally developed and need some improvements
.Experiences:
Damn, no shortcut
. The Power Ball is not a guitar and it is not improving any guitar specific technics. I used to have some strange movements of my wrist in all directions when i come close my speed limit. I have the impression those movements are reduced a bit. There is more stability in my right arm and with that more control.To do coordinated movements, muscles need some fine tuning. Not only when putting the muscle on tension, as well the way to release the tension is really important.
Warning:
I don't want to miss to remember you that this thing is a workout tool !! If you see some advertising video of the Power Ball or other videos on you tube, they try to break records of doing it as fast as possible. This you don't want to do !!
If someone wants to try it, please don't overdo it !! I really suggest you to adapt the speed to the goal to gain more control and flexibility over your muscles not for to do free-climbing. Slowly, constant and controlled ... you all have hear this before as an advice for good practicing
Informations:
http://www.powerballs.com or ebay.
I hope you find this interesting. Criticize it, laugh about it, ... or just let me know what you think
IMO I'd rather stretch and do the excersizes I need on the guitar.
Posted by: wrk Jul 21 2008, 02:34 PM
Sure, for guitar related movements it's definitely the best to do, but playing guitar is a specialized way of using muscles.
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Jul 21 2008, 02:35 PM
You don't always have a guitar around. That Power Ball can be taken anywhere. Looks interesting and quite cool. Well designed.
Posted by: kjutte Jul 21 2008, 02:37 PM
I guess that's why I said 'in my opinion'.
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Jul 21 2008, 02:41 PM
I'm not saying I'd use one but they look quite clever and can probably save your wrists from damage due to building up the muscles so they are stronger. Injuries through guitar playing are quite common and bad but if you strengthen up your wrists which a guitar can't really do as well as some other methods then you are less likely to get hurt. So it's all good
Your opinion has nothing to do with what I said. I just stated that you can't have a guitar on you 24/7. If you can then lucky you. I'd rather carry a ball around with me than a guitar everywhere to work and on trains. That isn't fun.
Posted by: kjutte Jul 21 2008, 02:52 PM
Your opinion has nothing to do with what I said. I just stated that you can't have a guitar on you 24/7. If you can then lucky you. I'd rather carry a ball around with me than a guitar everywhere to work and on trains. That isn't fun.
No it doesn't, I must be retarded. Excuse me
Posted by: Xicoria Jul 21 2008, 08:10 PM
Thank you for the tip.
I will try one. I see that there is 250 to 350 hz... I will buy a 250 since its the most inexpensive!
Lets see if its worth. I post something when I receive it and again if I notice some improvement in some time.
Posted by: wrk Jul 21 2008, 09:05 PM
I will try one. I see that there is 250 to 350 hz... I will buy a 250 since its the most inexpensive!
Lets see if its worth. I post something when I receive it and again if I notice some improvement in some time.
I just have the regular one (250) as well, without counter and all this stuff. I payed 14 €, so not a big investment.
Don't expect a huge improvement directly on your guitar, but i think it's interesting when you compare your abilities of both hands.
Let me know your experiences ...
Posted by: Duncan Jul 21 2008, 09:19 PM
I've had a powerball for about a year now. It's a great warm up before you play guitar. 2 minutes with it is like the same as 20 minutes guitar playing.
Posted by: wrk Jul 21 2008, 09:31 PM
Really? Hm .. for the picking hand maybe, but i would still take it easy with your fretting hand when you start to play guitar the first minutes.
Posted by: -Zion- Jul 21 2008, 09:54 PM
i have had a powerball for 2 years now.. and not using it as much as i should..
i bought it because i have problems with my picking wrist.. i had an operation in the wrist a couple of years ago, and bought the powerball to strengthen the wrist and lower arms..
What i can say, is that it will definately strengthen your lower arm.. the "motor" inside is a Gyro, and those familiar with a gyro know what kind of force a thing like this can produce.. (think of the times you held a turning bicycle wheel and tried to turn the wheel sideways in the air.. i know i did this everytime my tire was flat.. 
)
anyways.. i dont use it as much as i should.. dont know really.. i should really use it again.. it is sitting and staring at me right beside my monitor.. 
like mentioned above: Keep it at a speed you can endure.. dont overdo the speed.. It's a workout.. not a race.. and doing it too fast might cause bad things to you (or your surroundings.. because it will be REALLY hard to hold on to when it goes super fast)
Posted by: Tsarpf Jul 21 2008, 10:05 PM
There was a thread about it long time ago
I've had mine for approximately 3years, and yeah, it really is a good way to warm up
Posted by: Muris Varajic Jul 21 2008, 10:11 PM
Nice gadget,haven't seen it before,thanks.
Posted by: wrk Jul 21 2008, 10:32 PM
.. really? too bad i didn't see it earlier ..
Keeps your right hand busy while you use your shredneck with the left ..
Posted by: Fsgdjv Jul 22 2008, 12:10 AM
I've had one for ages, bought it (before I even had the slightest desire to play the guitar) because I thought it looked fun, used it a bit then put it away. Maybe I should try using it again 
Posted by: Xuestor Jul 22 2008, 12:22 AM
This thing get's "out of control" heavy when you get the speed up, it's amazing! Me and 2 friends had one of these spinning an entire evening by taking turns. Guess if we had some sour arms the following morning .
It takes a little technique to get it to spin, but after that, it's a great workout for your arm, fingers and hand.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 22 2008, 11:39 AM
I've tried a similar version contraption, and it is a nice toy, but haven't managed to get it inot my practice schedule
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jul 22 2008, 11:54 AM
I tried the similar thing...It really works out your wrists
Posted by: Xicoria Aug 6 2008, 08:04 PM
Mine arrived today. I played a little with it and here what I think about it.
It does not force finger too much, but you still has to make force to hold the ball (not with the edge of fingers)
The main forced muscles are the wristle and arm.
I use computer for large ammount of time everyday and I have several pain. I am sure that this will help a lot with this pain.
And for sure, it will give me more strength in the arm, helping somehow n guitar playing.
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