Preparing a brand new powerball for best performance

**The Force** · 27-02-2006, 14:57

I think you all must have noticed that brand new powerballs do not spin as easy as used ones. While using those new powerballs you get the feeling that the rotor slips internally at higher speed. But now I have the following questions:

1) How long may this reduced performance last?

2) What should I do to reduce this time to the minimum? Should I do lot's of endurance runs with it? Or should I do many speed attempts with it?

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Another thing I noticed is that most powerballs have a preferred spinning direction. Let me explain this a little bit. You can always start the powerball in two opposite directions (directions A and B).

Now, for example if I spin the powerball into direction A, then this means that the powerball is fast for my left hand (spinning anti-clockwise). And if I spin the powerball (rotating in direction A) using the right hand the powerball is slower.

And if I spin the powerball into direction B, then this means that the powerball is fast for my right hand (spinning clock-wise). And if I spin the powerball (rotating in direction B) using the left hand the powerball is slower.

Did anybody ever experience this? Let me be clear, the difference between the preferred and non-preferred direction of a powerball differs quite a bit. In somes case it even seems to be absent, but in some other cases the difference can be over 1500rpm!!

Regards,

The Force

**flip** · 27-02-2006, 17:47

I do that but put it down to weakness of the muscles in my arm that get exercised from the other direction.

**James M** · 27-02-2006, 20:48

Are refering to which direction you flcik the rotor or the direction that you turn the powerball?

**Rory** · 27-02-2006, 22:58

You are certainly correct in your findings Steven - there is a specific directionality to be observed for each ball depending on the manner in which the [ball] was run in.

While this won't really be evident for those who use Powerball on a casual basis or as a rehabilitation tool, it is definitely a consideration for all those players who are using the splendid sphere in the pursuit of those high speed runs and it will be useful for all of us to learn as much about this characteristic as possible therefore.

In truth, I have really only observed this over the past 6 months and am not really qualified to speak about it.

However...there is a man among us who is definitely qualified to speak about this issue and so here is what Akis had to say about it when we discussed it recently (I believe that one of our customers, Frank Arcati in the US posed the question in the first instance having observed something similar);

"I had noticed some months ago that the disc-unit response varies when rotor is rotating in a different direction. But this has nothing to do with the product specification nor there is a structurally "correct" spin direction (like the techno unit). It is just the way you "shape" the powerball during usage
(collaboration of inner parts etc).

If you have been spinning the rotor equally in both directions, probably the ball will be evenly shaped for each spinning direction. But if you have been spinning the rotor mostly to one direction, the unit will be best settled to this particular direction. Furthermore, I believe that this kind of settlement is better than the "even" settlement.

Of course there is not a standard spinning direction (i.e. disc next to thumb or opposite); it's just the way you have "taught" your ball. And there is no case of more or less resistance; actually it is exactly the same, only the ball's "willingness" varies.

To verify the above, I relate to you the following: I recently opened a fresh Powerball. Since my first spin on this unit, I have been operating it ALWAYS at the same direction. According to Frank's theory, in my case I spin the rotor up when disc sits opposite my right thumb, every single time I use it. This ball works fine and I can hit 15k on it. A few minutes ago I tried to spin it in the opposite direction. The result? 11750 rpm!!! It was just refusing to accelerate.

I have not noticed the same effect on the older non-disc models. This could probably be explained by the fact that these models are absolutely symmetrical (as opposed to disc-models which have the metal disc on one side) and maybe the directional settlement is not important. Or perhaps, since this rotor type is symmetrical, there is no way you can tell which direction you are spinning, therefore, eventually, it is been evenly shaped to both directions.

Hope the above is clarifying."

Well put as always Mr. Akis! :-)

As the man says, I hope this has shed some further light on an interesting issue! Best regards, Rory

**Akis** · 28-02-2006, 00:27

That's the story indeed Rory. And, btw, it's nice to have you in the Top100!

Regarding your second question Steven, about the best way to shape a brand new powerball, I have a theory.

When you have your new unit in hand, instead of ripping it on the first go, try more gently at the beginning. For example, initially try a few 11k runs, then some 12k runs, then a few 13k. After this procedure the ball will be better prepared for your best efforts.

I believe that this way you will be settling your powerball progressively and mildly instead of violently pushing the inner parts to their collaboration.

Of course, as Rory mentioned, this will not make any difference to casual (e.g. 12k) users, but it probably will to those who wish to exploit every factor involved to get the best possible performance.

(But don't ask me about performance increase ratios or statistical charts :-)

Regards
Akis

**The Force** · 28-02-2006, 11:44

Dear Rory and Akis,

Thank you so much for your clarifications/explanations.
I do appreciate that. And from now on I will use my new powerballs with more care

Best regards,

The Force

**Adrena1in** · 28-02-2006, 11:46

I certainly have to agree with Steven with regards to his comments about the newer rotors feeling like they slip at high speed. I currently have two Powerballs with old rotors, (don't have the cylindrical counter weight on one side of the axle), and two Powerballs with new rotors that DO have the counter-weight.

The first new rotor started to vibrate badly after only a few weeks, so I don't use that one anymore. The other has always been smooth, but I have rarely been able to achieve good scores with it. In tests I'm consistently between 4% and 10% slower with the newer rotor. Sometimes it does the slipping thing as well. I'll be trying my hardest, but I will feel the rotor losing it's grip and moving out of sync with my hand. If I pick up my original old Powerball and spin that it won't do the slipping thing, so I know it's not my technique. (There'll be times when I'm struggling to even get 11500 with the new Powerball, but will be able to whack out 12500 to 13000 easily with the old one.)

However, I've NEVER noticed a Powerball spinning better in one direction. Perhaps that's because, right from the start, I just spin the rotor in whichever direction it happens to be in my hand, so I don't end up favouring a certain direction. As Rory said, it's probably because, these days, I use my Powerballs for extended mid-speed endurance, and not top speed runs.