View Full Version : Starting advice for beginners
Rather than asking for advice, I'm going to presume to give some! I've just bought a powerball, and it took me nearly the entire day before I could get it going. I felt like throwing the thing into the wall! So I wanted to post something while I can remember how it felt, since it might just help someone in the future.
Firstly, I know some sites say you should get 2400+ RPM from the cord, but it's more like 1400 *at best* for me. You want to wind it around reasonably tightly, but you don't have to do anything special. If you're getting ~1200 from a pull, that seems to be enough. Once you have that, concentrate on the motion. As everyone says, it's slower than you'd think, but also 'wider'. Make the biggest, most exaggerated circular movement you can with your wrist, about once a second. Smoothness+timing is key - imagine pushing a swing around in a circle, or scouring the inside of a pan while pushing outwards. Try and 'pick up' the ball movement. If the gyro is still spinning after 6-7 seconds or so, you probably aren't far off, since it seems to die quickly if you get it wrong.
Oh, as a righty, it's easier for me to start with my left hand too. Thanks to everyone who posted advice in the past, it helped a lot. Just broke 4500 for the first time :D
Hello spider and welcome to the forum. :D
Thats a pretty good advice for all beginners to come.:)
I must say, i got the Neon Powerball about 2 weeks ago, and can easily get scores of 11,8xx. with my highest score being 12150, but i got a regular 250hz pro, and it only has the one hole for using the string, and its about half as deep as the Neon.
Now i start my neon cordless, but the new one is a lot harder to start!
So id recommend beginners get the neon, as i find it 10 times easier to start than the 250hz pro.
Also, start your pb upside down... (bottom pointing up toward ceiling) then when you get it buzzing SLOWLY turn your wrist so PB is right way up.
I can't start mine when facing down toward the floor for some reason..!
Autolupus
11-12-2006, 18:34
The Neon has only one starting hole! The bigger holes you were using are for the central leds!:rolleyes:
Choosing the wrong hole to stick things in can get you into all sorts of trouble!;) :D :D
The Neon has only one starting hole! The bigger holes you were using are for the central leds!:rolleyes:
Choosing the wrong hole to stick things in can get you into all sorts of trouble!;) :D :D
Yeah i know, but it starts it easier, i cordless start it anyway now, hahaha.
Dont tell me about sticking things in the wrong hole! Thats why my ex IS my ex. ;)
yeah, its a lot easier to feel the rotor moving around with your left hand. I placed my order yesterday, but today a buddy of mine brought a corporate cheap ripoff to work, and ive been twirling it. i dont think you can start this one without the cord, just because it has major friction on the inside, but i have a question....
what kind of motion do you do to get the record breaking spin? because it seems i try to shake my arm around and the rotor just clanks in the ball. we shall see when i get my official one...
yeah, its a lot easier to feel the rotor moving around with your left hand. I placed my order yesterday, but today a buddy of mine brought a corporate cheap ripoff to work, and ive been twirling it. i dont think you can start this one without the cord, just because it has major friction on the inside, but i have a question....
what kind of motion do you do to get the record breaking spin? because it seems i try to shake my arm around and the rotor just clanks in the ball. we shall see when i get my official one...
well, from a newby, my experience is if it clanks around in the shell you are going too fast for your current 'ability'. A sort of clumbsy technique is being used ;) I practice starting at low speeds and increasing the speed by only tighting the circle of my wrist, not the speed in which my wrist gyrates. I get to about 7500 - 8500 with my wrist barely moving, then you have to 'feel' the gyro forces to keep ontop of the thing - then you can increase your speed.
Its all practive really!
Oh, and you shouldn't move your arm at all if you can help it! rest arm on a table or something and hold wrist?!?
Yeah i know, but it starts it easier, i cordless start it anyway now, hahaha.
Dont tell me about sticking things in the wrong hole! Thats why my ex IS my ex. ;)
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
congratulations!! :D
Soon you will be all over 9K!
i made it to 8k!!!
Me too, finally! It's depressing seeing all these 'I got 11k on my first day' posts when you're still on 4 figures :D
Adrena1in
14-12-2006, 12:52
well, from a newby, my experience is if it clanks around in the shell you are going too fast for your current 'ability'.Not strictly true. The clonking and knocking noises come from simply not making smooth, circular motions with your hand. If you go too fast, but have a good technique, then the Powerball will simply speed up.
It's very hard to describe the correct motion, but all I can say is that it will happen with time and patience and persistence. The more you use the Powerball the more your muscles will attune to the motion, and the faster you'll get. But as well as going faster, your technique will start to improve, your arm/wrist movement will decrease, it'll get easier...and STILL the speed will continue to rise.
It might be boring, but if you really want to make quick improvements, spend half an hour or an hour just spinning the Powerball smoothly, and putting in about 70% effort. If your muscles tighten, swap hands. Things might be knocky at first, but you'll soon notice it getting easier, and afterwards, rest a few minutes then see if you can do some speed runs.
Not strictly true. The clonking and knocking noises come from simply not making smooth, circular motions with your hand. If you go too fast, but have a good technique, then the Powerball will simply speed up.
I thought that is pretty much what I said, barring the circular bit, isn't it?
I guess I meant that anyway! Also if you go too fast it is easier to lose sync with the gyro and knock things about a bit. I find this happens occasionally with my left hand when spinning inward at 'maximum' speed.
One way i describe the movement, is that you have to feel the gyro force of the ball and sort of follow it's circular 'orbit'??. Then, to speed up you are sort of pushing or nudging the force from behind so to speak - does that make any sense to you adrena1in?
Adrena1in
14-12-2006, 15:48
One way i describe the movement, is that you have to feel the gyro force of the ball and sort of follow it's circular 'orbit'??.Yes, that's exactly the sort of thing I say to people when they're trying one for the first time. I spin it fast and put it in their hand and tell them to hold tight and just let the Powerball move their hand, then try to copy the movement.
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