It's great, but...

[user]

I purchased my Neon Powerball just under a month ago and I must admit it is a truly amazing device. I've been using it regualarly every day (I've been using the 90 second Strength Index function once a day and making a good few attempts at beating my R.P.M. record) and I've taken fantastic care of it. Even within a few days I felt positive effects, particularly when playing Raquetball nightly after work with a friend. I found my grip and wrist strength improve dramatically in a very short space of time. After the second week of use the ball felt notably more sluggish during use, making more noise (it felt as though there was grit or sand inside the ball). I initially put this down to general wear and tear and assumed this was something that happens after frequent use of the instrument. Eventually this morning I read another post on cleaning the ball, so I followed the instrustions on how to open the casing (I used the book and fist method) and gave my little friend a good clean. After cleaning, the ball felt positively smoother and I have carried on as normal with no problems yet. I absolutely love my Powerball. I'm well and truly (and very happily) hooked.
All good so far, then.

But...

I'm not sure if this is just me being paranoid, but I've found that I'm experiencing huge difficulty in beating my R.P.M. highscore since about the second week of use. I set a score of 11969 and was frequently hitting high into the 11900's, but since then I have found it almost impossible to achieve a similar R.P.M.
I'm still using the ball daily and just as often, yet I'm struggling to top 11500 at the moment (Since I cleaned it this morning I haven't been able to make 11000 yet, although I could put that down to having slept on my arm last night!).
However, my 90 second Strength Index scores have remained at a steady 13100ish since about week two and have never decreased.
Is this a bad sign or is this all pretty run of the mill on the path to greatness? Am I using it too much or not enough or can someone offer any training advice on improving R.P.M.?

David Dawson
----------------------------------------------------------

Our comments:
Interesting post David (thanks for the positive feedback by the way!).

I will ask others to make their comments on this please but in the interim will remind you that Akis had a similar experience in the past where his own scores stagnatated and even regressed on the basis of over training about 12 months ago before moving swiftly upward.

It is , of course, possible that the ball is at the root of this problem David, but unlikely given the care and attention you have been affording it since purchase.

We find that the only two conditions where you will see a decline in top speed is where 1) the plastic sheddings from the rotor support band (as a result of being used incorrectly) have been allowed to accumulate inside and are eventually vulcanised to the inner platter surface where they disturb the frictional resistance and ultimate top speed or 2) the ball has been used incorrectly resulting in the premature wear of the rotor support band at the points where the axle attaches on both sides and a subsequent decline in performance...

In your case, neither would seem to apply so I'm plumping for the over training route David!

Hope this helps and with kindest regards, Rory

[user]

Don't worry David, we all go through phases where our scores go nowhere. I quite quickly got to 11980 ish, but it was a month or two before I increased my score to 12006. Within a few days I shot up to 12802! Then it was a few more months before I hit 13000. Now it takes longer to make an improvement, and the improvement is always small. But stick with it, and don't lose heart. (I remember thinking, when my record was 12006, that it simply wasn't possible for me to go any faster. Now I've been able to maintain that speed, with either hand, for 30-seconds, and I'm disappointed if I don't hit 13000.)

I personally find the 90-second Strength Index excellent for helping to increase top speeds. I even recommend extreme endurance to people. Get the Powerball going at around 9000 to 10000 rpm and keep it going for 30 minutes or an hour, swapping hands regularly of course! Did wonders for me anyway.

Tim Bridle