I need an Argument Settling

[MrPowerB]

I had this crazy notion that strapping my wrist (bandage etc etc) to keep my wrist stiff would get the RPM higher, figuring any movement by the ball on the wrist is Torque lost on internal spin. My best score was about 11700. Strapping my wrist I can get to about 12400! So it seems I am right. Now this melon head of a work collegue (not mate) is convinced this is down to the fact I am getting better with my technique? Even though I was stuck around 11200-11700 for a week and made the jump to 12000 and above in a matter of three attempts with my wrist strapped. Even on an aching arm that is dropping into the 10000 I can get it back into the high 11000 and low 12000 as soon as my wrist is strapped.

Can someone back me up on this?

[LTLFTC]

My personal feel is that my improvement from 12.5 to 14k was 85-90% technique rest strength improvement. But thats just me. as you get faster a locked wrist with more forearm is beneficial but for me thats not until 13.5k

[GILPI]

Hard to tell really, it seems when your use this "bandage" that your scores do improve, maybe its mental, maybe its physical, surely the "bandage" would decrease the amount of grip you have therefore lower scores, maybe your not washing your hands before you powerball without a "bandage".

GILPI

[MrPowerB]

I just did 12020, which nearly killed me, my arm is on fire, had three other attempts and it is stuck in the 10,000.

Strapped my wrist with a bandage, zero effort really, 12378.

But you are saying, that although it only benefits you at higher speeds, locking the wrist to remove unwanted movement in the wrist joint allows a higer speed to be achieved?

If someone was to come on with a video of a new World Record, and his wrist is all strapped up, do you think it will be allowed.

Put it this way, I am taking the 12020 as my PB and not 12378.

[LTLFTC]

Have a look t the videos of the top 10 there is basically no wrist movement at all

[GILPI]

nooo, doesnt matter about the strap, its perfectly legal, thats like saying you cant powerball with plasters/blister plasters, suregrip, any other grip enhancers gloves etc..... Its all perfectly legal, But its down to you, if you believe this strap helps you, then so be it, use it and see what you can achieve with it on, but the problem is, at one stage it will lose its benefit, i used to wear a glove ( protection from blisters ) but could only get to 12.4k without glove i achieve 13k. But whatever floats your boat really..

GILPI :)

[MrPowerB]

Have a look t the videos of the top 10 there is basically no wrist movement at all

That's kinda what I am thinking, if you can get all the power of your arm into the ball it will go faster, as your wrist is moved by the ball it is loosing torque, keeping it stiff helps.

Someone try it, and see what happens, see if you can add a significant ammount on, 500RPM+

As for the grip, it isn't on my hand, just round my thumb, basically just taking as much movement out of the wrist as I can without cutting off blood flow.

[Physioblue]

Spoiler Alert!!!!

There isn't a bandage on the market that can withstand the power of your forearm muscles. When you are spinning a powerball at 12k + , the muscles have to work beyond the constriction of the bandages.

However.....
Bandaging your wrist does provide your skin with a sensation which tells your brain when your joint is in neutral. In other words, the point at which your muscles don't have to work against the pull of the bandage, and when there is least pressure on the skin.
For a multi directional exercise like powerballing, your joints and muscles are at their most efficient when the joint is in its neutral position.
For an example of how joint position affects how your muscles work, try this- Grab a pencil so your are holding it like you would a javelin. Grip tight. Note the position of your wrist. It will be slightly cocked back. Now try to bend your wrist the opposite way (towards your palm) as far as it goes and try to grip the pencil. Harder?
The first position is the most efficient gripping position.

I would guess that when powerballing and moving the wrist around, the sense of where neutral is may become distorted as you get tired. Especially if one muscle is slightly stronger than another.
Strap the wrist and you regain this insight into the neutral and efficient position.

So you are both right.
Strapping helps, because your technique improves.
(I would argue that the 14k+ guys would notice very little difference because you have to have a pretty efficient wrist position to get to those speeds any way.)


OK my head hurts now. Going for a lie down.:p

[One-Eye]

Meh, could be worth a try.

But long and short of it is, if it works for you then go for it.

PS - on an unrelated topic Physioblue, would it be ok to pm you about a problem my gf has been having with her arm?

[Physioblue]

Meh, could be worth a try.

But long and short of it is, if it works for you then go for it.

PS - on an unrelated topic Physioblue, would it be ok to pm you about a problem my gf has been having with her arm?

Sure, no probs.

[MrPowerB]

Maybe I have a weak wrist?

[petemayhew]

Maybe I have a weak wrist?

Powerballing is not really to do with the strength of your wrist.

It involves Forearm, Bicep, Tricep, Pectorals and other muscles around the arm are. Not necessarily do you have weak 'wrist/arms' it's maybe a technique problem, your not spinning the ball right at those higher speeds. I've seen someone who's muscle are huge and they only achieve 10,000 tops. So technique plays an important part. Look at the technique forum, if you can find a good thread, it's well worth looking at

Pete

[Physioblue]

Powerballing is not really to do with the strength of your wrist.

It involves Forearm, Bicep, Tricep, Pectorals and other muscles around the arm are. Not necessarily do you have weak 'wrist/arms' it's maybe a technique problem, your not spinning the ball right at those higher speeds. I've seen someone who's muscle are huge and they only achieve 10,000 tops. So technique plays an important part. Look at the technique forum, if you can find a good thread, it's well worth looking at

Pete

Wrist strength has a huge role to play, Pete. Sure the pectorals, biceps and triceps are involved, but after a heavy powerballing session, it hurts your forearms. And that's where your wrist muscles are.
But, Mr Powerb, you don't necessarily have weak wrist muscles, but you may have unbalanced wrist muscles.
Either way, powerballing will help, so keep it up!

[Adrena1in]

I can imagine it might help a bit. Those who are relatively new to Powerballing will tend to move their wrist in circles. (It is, after all, the technique which is recommended to make Powerballs work.) However, at higher speeds the wrist will tend to lock still, and the drive will come from the forearm, or upper arm, or, (as in my case), the shoulder.

Having a tight strap around the wrist might engage the forearm/upper arm/shoulder muscles sooner, and it may enable you to hit a better technique sooner rather than later.

However, it's probably just coincidence. ;)

[lhnova]

I can imagine it might help a bit. Those who are relatively new to Powerballing will tend to move their wrist in circles. (It is, after all, the technique which is recommended to make Powerballs work.) However, at higher speeds the wrist will tend to lock still, and the drive will come from the forearm, or upper arm, or, (as in my case), the shoulder.

Having a tight strap around the wrist might engage the forearm/upper arm/shoulder muscles sooner, and it may enable you to hit a better technique sooner rather than later.

However, it's probably just coincidence. ;)

Im not entirely sure that my wrist locks completely when im getting to higher speeds and using my shoulder and arm for power. I think it still moves quite a bit, just in much smaller circles, and this movement is quite important I think, to maintain the circular motion which is definitely required to keep the rotor accelerating. I know that my shoulder and arm movement is generally a pretty linear up/down pulsing which, on its own wouldn't get the powerball anywhere. I think the wrist plays the most important role in that it converts this linear motion into a circular motion thats is synced to the rotation of the powerball and therefore accelerates it.

This is how I see it anyway, but I might be wrong. :p

Linus