How in the world do i use this??

[Obliterate]

Hi Guys

I've had mt metal powerball for two days now and i can't get it to do a thing?? I bought this as i have RSI and it is supposed to help it alot but i cant even get it started.

I use the string, it spins for about 10 seconds but no matter how i move my wrist it just dies, i can't keep it at the same pace or speed itup at all.

There are only so many ways you can move your wrist so im wondering if there is a problem with it? Whenever i try to spin it it just sounds clunky and i've never had one of these loud aircraft type sounds that everyone seems to be getting.

Please help I'm usually good with technology but at the minute this is just like an overpriced paperweight to me.

[Woblee]

Have you used a powerball before??

If not I would suggest using a normal powerball first. The "metal" is only really for experienced powerballers.

[Obliterate]

Nope, it never said anything about needing to be experianced I just have a habit of getting the best model avilable of things so i thought i would dive right in

[Autolupus]

For RSI rehab the Metal wouldn't have been my first choice!
That said, at low revs it will work nicely...but to be able to work at low revs you do really need to have a bit of powerball know how!
Just read the "Getting the powerball started" threads, try using tips therein and I'm sure you'll get it.
Don't get all disparaged and give up, a metal is a beautiful thing and well worth having, you've just got to feel for the movement, it's all about feedback!
Might be an idea to get a plastic too though. I've got quite a few and they're all lovely!

[dabar]

Don't get all disparaged and give up, a metal is a beautiful thing and well worth having...

...Might be an idea to get a plastic too

i second both of those, the plastic is good for a warm up before using the phenomenal metal and the for high speed runs after.

i'll take a stab at explaining my method of starting a metal: with a string start or good hand start (1.5k-2.5k rpm), hold your wrist stable, face your palm down and rotate your hand out wide and steady into tighter circle (like a 9 or 6 shape). you should feel the force/pur start almost directly, then it's a bit like riding a bike as to keeping it going smoothly.

i hope that helps

[Prot3us1]

I'm a relatively new powerballer too. For me I found the instructions a tad disconcerting (stirring a pot..now that I know how to work the ball it makes sense..but that instruction didn't help me starting out).

Now follow these steps, try to make them as "fluid" as possible.

Put your hand in front of you, palm facing up.
Make a fist (don't hold the ball at this stage).

Bend your wrist, so your fist goes towards your wrist (will look like you are flexing your muscles).

Now twist your wrist around so it faces the floor.
At the same time unbend your wrist so it is straight again.

now complete the circle by twisting your wrist again, bringing it back to where you started.

Do this a few times and make it as smooth as you can.

The motion is not really a circle..it would be more like an oval. In fact if you drew a line as you powerballed it wouldn't be a circle but rather a lot of overlapping ovals..I forget what this shape is called.

DON'T DO IT FAST. Everyone I try to show how to use it I say go slowly...they grab it and start spinning it like they are Akis on his legendary world record attempt!!! While this works for him, it will NOT work for you at 1,500 rpm...He already has the ball going around 13k I think (with his other hand) at that point.

You MUST let the powerball lead you!
You are in no way controlling that ball...the REASON it is a workout is because the ball controls you..you merely resist it (hence the workout).

You will fell a slight movement in your palm when you hold the spinning ball..it will try to twist your wrist. let it.

When its just twisted a part of your wrist move that part again..so you are sort of lagging behind what the ball is doing to your wrist, then follow the motion of the rotor (the "ball" inside the shell).

Just gently turn your wrist..I would say if you start in the position I mention above and do the motion I said..you would count "one and two and three and" at a normal speed.
You will do one revolution per second.
Every time you say a number your wrist will be facing up again.

you will feel something weird now..it will be as if the ball is suddenly affected by gravity much more..it doesn't really feel heavier it just pushes harder.
Once you feel this feeling the ball IS speeding up.
You wont hear the "scream" till 8,000 rpm or so.

Once you can maintain the rotor spinning like this for say 30 seconds you can do the next step.

DONT turn your wrist faster.
This is hard work..it WILL speed the rotor up but its way harder than the alternative.

Instead you want to change the angle of your wrist..which will in turn make the effective circle you are following get smaller.
The gyro speeds up due to friction between the ring and the casing sort of nudging it.

The rotor goes 2 ways at once, it spins the way you start it (vertically) but it also spins horizontally.
This horizontal spin is what causes the vertical spin to accelerate.

The clicking you hear is it changing directions horizontally.
Spin the ball up with the string.
Lightly support the case and gently rock it back and forth. you should see the rotor change directions horizontally and hear the click.
Notice its spinning not only vertically (at 1500 rpm) but horizontally (at maybe 2 revolutions per second or so..varies depending on angle and such).

When you are gaining power you will hear a "whoosh whoosh whoosh" (as if you were pedalling hard on a pushbike..the sound of the air passing through the spokes on the tyres).
This is exactly whats happening... When you spin your wrist you turn the gyro horizontally.
Centrifugal force and the laws of physics then make the gyro want to spin vertically faster.

I am now stuck at just under 13k after about a week of powerballing.
The reason is I tried to speed the ball up too fast and I keep getting ahead of the rotor... I need to slow down a bit in order to stay "behind" the "power wave" as I call it.
I'm now starting from scratch but reversing the direction I spin my wrist, as my arm wont let me change how it behaves anymore at those speeds..it has "learned" the wrong way now.

Remember high speed is about strength AND technique. The worlds strongest athlete couldn't pick a powerball up and first go get 16k. The incredibly tiny circles you need to do to get the ball going faster are REALLY hard.
You will see soon enough.

As far as the top of the line ball being the metal, they are all equally as good. Just different :P.

The metal is pretty much for those who have mastered the lighter balls and want a bigger workout.

The Standard ones are perfect for high speed, the neons are pretty. The Techno is just cool as is the Screamer.
I personally have a Neon Blue. With a Neon green in the post on the way to me and soon to get a 250hz pro for record attempts.

It seems strange to have more than one of these when you start out (I remember thinking...why would you want 16 of them...) But you will probably expand your collection also one day.
I want a green Neon for the cool look when I do dual runs.
And I would like a standard 250hz Pro to use just for records, this ball will be kept perfectly maintained at all times...Plus if i need to send a ball in, or wait for parts I will still have a spare!.

Hope this helps. If not pm me and we can arrange a video and voice chat where I will show you what it looks like and sounds like to start the ball. I will go really slow so you can see the movements and hear the sounds.

Once you have the ball going you can develop your own technique..but to start with theres really only one way to go.

Tyson

[ronasor]

Tyson's right, you should work hardly on your technique, you must work always on the lower speeds, so if youre trying to get high speed try spinning the ball as fast as possible at low speeds but without loosing the technique, when ull succeed youll see your top speed will improve
if youre having any grip problems try to use some stuff to reduce slippage of the ball, you can see it in techniques in forums, people advice are always useful..
(Tyson, you forgot the signature series model )
but though, dont start with high speeds from the start, anyone that is trying that will complain later about serius pains at the wrist, my cousin at first tries had 9860 tops yesterday he told me he couldnt write for a week... so be careful with your sesions,
also try to sync with the smallest, fastest and strongest circles of your technique, its very hard as Tyson sayed, but youll see improvemence...
Good luck with your metal experience ,

Ron