How hard do you grip you powerball? [Archive]

uglyoldbob

23-01-2007, 05:59

Hmm. Not sure how to do a poll, so I hope this works.

I was wondering how hard everybody grips their powerball.

I figured out that the harder you grip (relative to how hard you have to grip it to keep it in your hand) the better it works your forearm. I did the crushing grip at about 7000 rpm (I didn't look at the counter, I just estimated) and it burned real quick.

dcash10181

23-01-2007, 06:03

I try to crush it and turn it into a black hole, but usually it ends up that I grip it pretty tight. :)

Always Powerballing,
Duane Cash

Adrena1in

23-01-2007, 10:26

The top Powerballers like Akis and Duane do say that a vice-like grip is really important, but not having a particularly strong grip I find I don't really think about it. With the plastic I don't have an issue with my grip up to my limit of 14200, but I do have an issue with the Metal, so for that I use an assisting material - SurGrip, which makes my hand sticky.

One-Eye

23-01-2007, 10:40

My hands are big enough so I can comfortably hook my fingers over the lip of the Powerball when held so the counter is in the palm.

In fact I have to be careful that my finger tips don't brush the inner ball at speed.

Holding like this I can pull the Powerball back tightly into my palm.

Although it's been some time, I used to do a lot of physical manual work so developed quite strong hands and I'm out of practice but I used to do finger tip pull-ups on the architrave around the doorframes at home.

I also crush beer bottle caps between my thumb and forefinger, get a lot of practice at that ;) =D

So, I hold it real tight, but it feels to me like I'm not actually trying to crush it.

uglyoldbob

23-01-2007, 18:09

My hands are big enough so I can comfortably hook my fingers over the lip of the Powerball when held so the counter is in the palm.

In fact I have to be careful that my finger tips don't brush the inner ball at speed.

I have that same problem. When I wrap my hand (most of it is long fiingers) my fingertips of my thumb and the two fingers near the thumb are at most 0.25 inches from touching.

Installed

23-01-2007, 18:38

I have mid-sized hands so I dont have that problem. With the 250hz I just hold it fairly hard, but with the metal, I hold on for all I'm worth! I try to generally start with a relaxed grip, so my fingers fall in place right, then tighten as it gains rpm.

Tstering

24-01-2007, 16:39

I wish I had the problem of my hands being too big lol. I hold on for dear life using SurGrip aswell even on the plastic ones as my hands dont get remotely close to the exposed ball. Metal is jsut a disaster area lol. I have to freshly apply SUrSrip aswell as clean the ball and hands before EVERY run if i want to hold onto it above 11,500 rpm. (Hence i don't practice the metal that often)

One-Eye

24-01-2007, 17:09

Heh, glad I don't have to use that Surgrip stuff.

I'd soon get fed up of cleaning it off me and my Powerballs. =D

Tstering

24-01-2007, 18:16

Heh, glad I don't have to use that Surgrip stuff.

I'd soon get fed up of cleaning it off me and my Powerballs. =D

It is a pain having to clean my hands all the time, and the stuff is a bugger to get off. Plus I use about 1 bottle every 3-4weeks!!!! at a cost of Â¬Â£2.99 a bottle, so in a year probably spending around Â¬Â£40 on the stuff.

petemayhew

19-02-2007, 19:07

Installed

19-02-2007, 20:29

Yes its some kind of grip substance that makes some white sticky substance on the ball. Lots of other powerballers use it too, ones that I can think of would be Bjorn Helte and Jarkko Pietelia. I have some pine tar spray that works well, but it smells awful!:o

loligo

24-02-2007, 14:10

Well as for me,I don't use any substance to help with my grip. I juat make sure that my Powerball are clean from any oil or sweat from the previous session. I grip pretty strong as I am physically smaller from you westerners(I am Malaysian). The more faster it spin, the stronger I will grip..hehe...by the way I just got my Metal Powerball a couple days ago & it was amazing, much more heavier and smooth than my previous 250Hz Blue Pro...Good job NSD!!!!!:)

arrankenny

07-04-2007, 12:11

When i first started (earlier today :P), i couldnt keep hold of the ball even gripping it as hard as possible, but now, i grip it just as hard, and can control it, but im guessing that at 15000rpm, even holding onto it for your life isnt enough to keep control of it???

Arran

xaverr

01-10-2007, 05:35

I grip my powerball as hard as possible most times, thats probably the main reason for the majority of my blisters! :o

I've never tried surgrip what is it? Like a spray that enables more grip :confused: Is it white in colour because i saw on "Wild Thunders" ball that it was all white at the bottom.

Yes Pete, I bought one of this a few weeks ago and I improve a lot my scores..., I improve like 400 rvs with my 250Hz (13.400 most of time to 13.8**) that liquid put your hands more dry and for that reason your scores improves a lot ( the P.b. and hands turns a little white).:)

Javier!

--------- edit ---------

The Date of that post was a lot of time before, probably now you know that... :D sorry I didn't see that

The Force

03-11-2007, 11:16

I do not use any grip material. And most of the times I even do not clean my hands nor the powerball. Most of the times I use a towel or just my pants to wipe of the sweat (because my hands tend to be quite sweaty during powerballing). Just wondering how much difference all that would make if I would clean the powerball and my hands better.

Regards,

The Force

Akis

03-11-2007, 19:07

Just wondering how much difference all that would make if I would clean the powerball and my hands better.

HUGE difference, trust me. I can't believe you are struggling with sweaty hands.

The Force

04-11-2007, 22:39

HUGE difference, trust me. I can't believe you are struggling with sweaty hands.

:confused:

I think I am not catching what you are saying. You can't believe that I have sweaty hands or you can't believe that I did not find proper ways to handle them? If so, what do you suggest (I never see you using magnesium powder or some other grip material).

Or maybe I do not understand all this is because it's Sunday, 10:37pm and I am just tired? :D

Regards,

The Force

Armitage

04-11-2007, 23:17

Well, i belive you but i still don't get it how can you make 15 K with sweaty hands!! :D:D

Akis

05-11-2007, 00:15

I think I am not catching what you are saying. You can't believe that I have sweaty hands or you can't believe that I did not find proper ways to handle them? If so, what do you suggest (I never see you using magnesium powder or some other grip material).

Most people get sweaty hands, this is not hard to believe. But just wiping them on your pants won't do any good. Sometimes I have to wash my hands every two runs to ensure a flawless grip. Grip material may be helpful but I try to avoid it as it causes blisters more easily and the powerball becomes a mess.

Regards
Akis

The Force

05-11-2007, 20:13

Most people get sweaty hands, this is not hard to believe. But just wiping them on your pants won't do any good. Sometimes I have to wash my hands every two runs to ensure a flawless grip. Grip material may be helpful but I try to avoid it as it causes blisters more easily and the powerball becomes a mess.

Regards
Akis

Mmm...now that we have reached Monday evening I do understand your point. I think I should seriously consider taking up your advice as there is nothing I would like more than beating Adrenaline's scores :D ;) :D ;) .

Regards,

The Force

Adrena1in

06-11-2007, 12:46

...there is nothing I would like more than beating Adrenaline's scores :D ;) :D ;)I'm waiting for you to get close, as it'll be the best incentive for me to start training again! ;)

The Force

09-11-2007, 10:34

Dangerous attitude, because I might run over you, before you can say boo :D :D :D

Regards,

La Force

Tstering

09-11-2007, 15:33

Oh, death threats :D Now we know powerballing is becoming serious. :p

Adrena1in

09-11-2007, 16:11

"Run over you" from a Dutchman probably just means to pass me on the scoreboard, so I didn't treat it as a death threat.

.
.
.

It's not, is it?! :(

Tstering

09-11-2007, 16:25

Its ok anyway Tim. Wasn't the Netherlands meant to flood today or something? I know they though SE England might flood. His probably under water at the moment.

The Force

09-11-2007, 23:12

Ermm.....I indeed thought that to "run over someone" meant something in English that is similar to "to pass him".

If not, my sincere apologies ;) ;) .

An no...The Netherlands did not flood today...at least not where I live (far from the sea in the " City of Light" :D .

Regards,

The Force

Tstering

09-11-2007, 23:42

LOL. Always funny when something doesn't translate from one language to another.
Though your English is far better than my Dutch, even though i've spent 2 years playing an online Dutch game which is populated by 95% Dutch speakers.

jihmmie

11-11-2007, 04:07

Ha! That's pretty funny.. I hope I start running over people soon then...

Botsa

15-11-2007, 13:41

I am just wondering, is it allowed to wear cloves, because I have hand full of blisters.

Sorry my English :P

Tstering

15-11-2007, 14:38

It is ok to wear gloves if it helps you get a good grip.

Botsa

15-11-2007, 15:19

Ok. Thank you.

Chance

06-04-2008, 03:40

I grip it pretty hard. For me that's the only way I don;t get all the skin on my little finger removed.... lol

johnderriLLL

15-06-2008, 01:30

i crush it as hard as i can

ronaldace

10-09-2008, 06:10

Most of the time when i try to grip my powerball it slips out of my hand, i am not very sweaty or oily, but still... this makes my interest in powerballs decrease....

Any solution guys??

ZeroKelvin

14-10-2008, 01:04

Usually what I do to get a good grip is I ALWAYS clean the surface of the metal powerball and wash my hands IF I am going for speed. I would recommend doing this anyway since it helps increase your grip. Also experiment with different soaps. I know if you use different types of soaps your hand will either become more "grippy" or soft. I usually like to do a claw kind of grip where I hold the powerball on the rims near the rotor so I'm pushing it into my hand I guess death grip applies here?

Animalonfire

15-10-2008, 18:09

The skinny guy work out plan in your signature screams out to me your in need of some grip strangthening. But untill such a time as you can grip the ball confidently prehaps you should try some of the grip aids that seem to be so popular such as stickum.

Estereos

09-02-2009, 19:33

I think it would be nice idea to have a silicon ring with kinda wavy shape that would help holding powerball in more secure way.
It would also help people with longer fingers. Ring could be produced in different size/shape...

Something like that...
http://www.beastick.com/powerball/mypowerballshape.jpg

Estereos

09-02-2009, 19:39

It is ok to wear gloves if it helps you get a good grip.

Is it ok also for championships and scoreboard records?

In this case I would suggest football goal kippers gloves may be. They kinda sticky...

EmperorKabir

10-02-2009, 11:57

is it ok to put talcum powder on the ball/hands, or can that get inside the ball and mess it up?

Adrena1in

10-02-2009, 12:31

There are no rules or regulations regarding the wearing of gloves or the use of grip aids, such as magnesium-type powers or "sticky" products. Hairspray is a known aid as used by the second fastest Powerballer in the world! Since gettng the Metal I took to using something called SurGrip, though that's not available anymore, but I still have a couple of bottles I occasionally use.

However, getting powder inside the Powerball might not be a good idea. A small amount probably wouldn't hurt, but get too much in there and it'll slow the Powerball down a bit I'm sure.

I also don't think there'd be a problem adding some sort of knobbled ring, like in Estereos's post, though excessive alteration of the shape of the Powerball might raise a few eyebrows and cause us to question the validity. However, never happened in the 7 or 8 years the scoreboards have been around, so go nuts...!

Estereos

10-02-2009, 13:33

Adrena1in

10-02-2009, 13:47

Some people use them for the Metal as it's a lot heavier and quiet slippery as it's polished chrome. I used gloves for my 24-hour marathon, but I agree that for speed I find it helps to be in direct contact with the Powerball. Plus the gloves may grip the ball nicely, but if the gloves move over your hand a bit then that's going to cause problems...you really do need the Powerball locked within your palm to get those really high scores.

I hear those surgical latex gloves are meant to be quiet good.

LTLFTC

10-02-2009, 13:51

Tried gloves today, didn't like it at all. Kinda loosing the feelings. Hand becomes robotic.
I only ever use gloves for my hour long sessions even then I tape them. The best protection is a nice set of callouses built up over several months:rolleyes:

Koman

09-03-2009, 01:30

You know, when I am really up for a challenge, I take my metal powerball and a woolen glove. That is crazy, almost impossible to hold or spin fast, but damn it's a good exercise!

Nick the Greek

15-11-2009, 17:27

i usually grip it hard so that it wont fall.

Koman

13-12-2009, 19:11

I also grip very hard because i use a special glow so it's harder to hold the ball. More muscles are trained that way.

Darkeye

17-12-2009, 08:11

I grip it pretty hard. So it wont slip out of my hand.

Torque

29-04-2010, 00:21

Hi,

I grip my powerball real hard, so hard that my veins starts poppin out.

Keep Spinnin,
Sam

Powerball Kid (Stanley)

28-06-2010, 01:31

I also grip very hard because i use a special glow so it's harder to hold the ball. More muscles are trained that way.

whats a special glow??

timmyt

02-07-2010, 05:56

I made the mistake of gripping to hard and doing tons of speed runs. at the moment i can barely use my thumb cant even open a bottle lol. buts its getting better so should be able to some more powerballing when i get back from holiday.

Installed

03-07-2010, 02:16

whats a special glow??
"Special glove", I assume. ;)

tburke

17-03-2011, 11:49

"Special glove", I assume. ;)

I think we are speaking of a thick glove like welding glove in this case. I've read some gripper tips and one of John Brookfields tips is that one should use a thick glove with grippers to improve one's grip strength. I guess it's adaptable with powerball and I presume Koman is referring to this. I'm going to try this out someday also... :rolleyes:

Edit: My bad. I didn't read all the posts. Koman was talking about a slippery glove to make it harder to have a grip of the ball. Well maybe this welding glove tip was useful for someone... :cool:

Nick the Greek

12-04-2011, 09:36

I think we are speaking of a thick glove like welding glove in this case. I've read some gripper tips and one of John Brookfields tips is that one should use a thick glove with grippers to improve one's grip strength. I guess it's adaptable with powerball and I presume Koman is referring to this. I'm going to try this out someday also... :rolleyes:

Edit: My bad. I didn't read all the posts. Koman was talking about a slippery glove to make it harder to have a grip of the ball. Well maybe this welding glove tip was useful for someone... :cool:

why use a glove? XD
pure skin power :D

Thorkil Johnsen

15-08-2011, 14:31

I grip it hard, but i don´t really know how hard i grip it past 12k. I´m too focused on getting the powerball to spin faster. I think it´s natural to grip it hard when you reach hihg speeds : )