Using The Pball As A Training Device

[rbrown]

I have been experimenting with the powerball and have been trying to decide how good of a grip trainig device it is. I wouldn't mind having a high score on the thing, but that is not the primary reason I do grip work. I want my hands to be strong as steel for strongman contests.

Two days ago when I first tried it, I had the pball in my palm so that the counter was basically touching my palm and my hand was around the ball fully. In this manner, I got it up to a little over 12,000 in my first few tries, but didn't notice that much of a strain on my grip--I have no doubt I could easily hold into it when it is going at 15,000 when holding it like this (If I had the speed and special coordination that is apparently necessary to get it to 15,000).

However, yesterday I tried it in the manner that Steve W. was talking about--holding it in your fingers like you are pinching a hub with your finger tips on the rubber band. Now we're talking. In that manner, even at 8,000 to 10,000 the ball was very difficult to hold onto. I felt that my thumb was being worked very well.

I think I will primarily be doing the ball like a hub pinch and finishing the workout off with a run or two with it in my palm. I think my grip strength will go up as a result.

[SqeezeMasterFlash]

So you think this method would do well to develop strength at the tips of the fingers and thumbs?

[rbrown]

So you think this method would do well to develop strength at the tips of the fingers and thumbs?

It is very similar in feel to a hub pinch, but is cool because you are also rotating your wrists around. It kind of makes your hands feel like talons.

Yes, I think it will help with strength in the finger tips, but you feel it all the way up in your entire hand. Once the hand is fatigued I move it into the palm and continue.

I have been doing the ball for like 5 minutes without letting it wind down. Just keep switching hands and positioning the ball in various ways squeezing as hard as I can and making it move as fast as possible.

[ulgrim]

I like to run it constantly at low speed (5000-8000) and make a fast run every once in a while. I stay warmed up that way and it helps coordination.

[milkbone]

I definitely can see this being used as a good warmup for the hands, wrists, and forearms before grip training.

[Zevich]

And a warmdown. Yesterday I used the powerball after a gripper workout. I couldn't hit high speeds but 4000-5000 rpms made the hands more relaxed.