14 DAY TRIAL // I don't know exactly the reason why, but most people feel the need to keep their hands occupied at any given moment, so that when they don't have anything else better to do, they start fiddling around with whatever object they find nearer.
That's probably why, over time, toy manufacturers have come up with all sorts of crazy and cool devices exactly for these moments when the mind rests and the hands work, and one of the latest "artifacts" of this type is the Powerball, developed by the Nano-Second Technology company, which has taken the world by storm, becoming - according to the prestigious Financial Times - "another Rubik cube in the making".
But why has this apparently harmless and innocent device risen from zero to hero in almost no time, why are there all these people competing at world level to get the best scores and top record after record? The answer is far from being a simple one, but I'll try my best to offer a good explanation in this article, starting from the simple and obvious truth: the concept and use of the Powerball are so simple and addictive, that you simply can't help loving it. Actually, once you've started using the thing, it's quite difficult to stop, as it is fun, it's healthy, and it's cheap.
But what is this Powerball, you might wonder (at least those of you who have never heard of this device, let alone tried it for yourselves), so we'll give you a hint in.....
Powerball concept: Behind every great gadget there's a gyroscope
The gyroscopic grip-strengthening exercise devices have become quite popular over the past 2 years, especially those developed by the DynaFlex and NanoSecond companies, which are also the patent holders for these devices. They're all about wrist power, but that's not all, as you'll be able to read in the following excerpt from our source of "publicly shared knowledge", Wikipedia.
So, "at first sight, the physics of this device looks confusing, but is surprisingly simple. It can easily be understood with a little knowledge of gyroscopes. Their striking property is that the axis of a spinning gyroscope will resist a force applied to it and will start rotating perpendicular to the force applied.
The axis of the gyroscope in the gyro powerball is fixed to the spinning mass and it rests in a little groove inside the wrist exerciser device, which almost completely covers the gyroscope inside it, except for a small round opening on top of it, which is where you can manually start the gyroscope. Once the gyro is spinning, tipping the device will cause the gyroscope to start processing, with its axis slipping around in the groove in a circular fashion. The groove inside the device, is a little wider than the axis, and the gyroscope's evasive action towards the externally applied force will cause one end of the axis to push against the upper rim of the groove, while the other end of the axis pushes against the lower rim of the groove. While the axis is slipping around inside the groove, the friction between the axis and the groove rims will accelerate or brake the spinning gyroscope, with a maximum effect when the axis starts "rolling" inside the groove. Since this friction force is essential for the device's operation, the groove must not be lubricated. The acceleration of the gyroscope is best when the precession of the gyroscope is supported and amplified by wrist motion."
OK, to make a long story short, here's what happens. The faster you move your wrist (and thus the Powerball), the heavier the device becomes. And heavy is the least of your problems, since the device also becomes VERY, VERY difficult to control, and you need a very strong and steady arm in order not to drop it. After all, we're talking about 18 kgf of pressure on your limbs, generated by a device traveling at a speed of around 250 revolutions per second. Thus, the Powerball actually works on your muscles, making them a lot stronger.
The greatest innovation Nanosecond (the developer of the Techno Powerball, the actual test subject of this review) brought to the above equation is represented by the electronic rev counters and the generators with light-emitting diodes which made this toy and training tool more attractive for professional and educational use, and also gave people the possibility to compete against one another - a very important advantage over other similar products.
Now that you've understood the device's functioning principle, let's have a little chat about the....
Gyro-Looks: Powerball's Design Features
First of all, I must mention the fact that all Powerball models kind of share the same overall design. They have a sort of hemispherical shape as well as a translucent body (so you can actually see the gyro inside, as well as the light show generated by the LEDs) made of tough plastic and painted in various colors, depending on the model. The Powerballs also feature a very important rubber band/grip around the middle of the hemisphere, which is absolutely vital for using these device safely, as the user's hand gets really sweaty really fast when playing with this "gyro from hell" and there's a clear and present danger of losing grip.
As mentioned above, the NSD Powerballs have a line of LEDs inside, which generate the awesome lighting effects featured in some of the pictures we've taken for this review. Moreover, they're used for reading the score (the number of rotations per minute achieved by the user is read on the LEDs, although the operation is not at all an easy one, as you'll soon be able to read). The LEDs are powered by the wrist movement as well, so there's absolutely no need for batteries, a unique feature that sets apart the Techno model from all the other members of the Powerball family.
The internal gyroscope is made out of a tough plastic, and - most importantly - is perfectly computer balanced, so that the Powerball is capable of reaching huge rotation speeds, more than 16.000 RPM (the current world record holder is a Greek, Akis Kritsinelis, who has managed to attain a whooping 16317 RPM on a Neon Pro model).
That's it with the design. Now, before we go any further, I have just one piece of advice for you.....
Ask not what you can do for the Powerball, but what the Powerball can do for you
You might think that the Powerball is just a fun device to have around, which you can use from time to time to test your strength and compare it to that of your friends. Well, you'd probably be right, but just partially right. This device has a lot more uses than meet the eye. Thus, first of all, the Powerball is an excellent exercise device, that can help build substantial power and strength in the wrists, forearms and shoulders. Moreover, by changing the position in which you use the Powerball, you can work out even more muscles, achieving an almost complete work out of the upper body muscles. And trust me, after just a few hours of testing the device, I already felt my muscles getting tougher.
Another very interesting (and very important) feature of the powerball is its capacity to rehabilitate lower forearm and wrist joints affected by carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injury RSI, arthritis or previous breakage. So the device could actually be a very good remedy for some of the most serious afflictions faced by office workers nowadays, although that's not at all what you'd think when you first lay your eyes on it.
And since using the Powerball could prove to be an excellent method of strengthening one's wrist and forearm muscles, the device could be used for training by lots of athletes involved in such sports like, for example, golf, tennis, baseball, basketball, cycling, mountain biking, motocross, mountain climbing, fencing, hockey and so on, but also by some other people who need a lot of power in their wrist and forearms, as for example drummers.
Happy with what the Powerball is (theoretically) capable of? Well, if you're not quite sure yet, check out how....
Softpedia powerballed for a few days and, with some professional help, came to a very gyro conclusion
In this case, that professional help has been provided by someone who has had the opportunity of testing several Powerball models and getting used to handling such a device at full capacity (he's got a score of 11.129 RPM on a NeonRed Pro model), namely my colleague from Audio Software Reviews, Florin Tibu, who also happens to perform in a metal rock band and uses the device to exercise his wrists. He is actually the person who first showed me a powerball, and so I must thank him for not being able to move my right arm right now.
Here, there are some of the things he had to say about the Powerball (actually, quite an accurate transcript of a conversation via our IM client):
A guitarist's perspective on the Powerball
"The device is great for warming up the wrist and forearm muscles before a concert. It gets you ready to rock faster than classical exercises and is actually capable putting several muscle groups into motion, depending on the position in which you use the device. The learning curve is also quite short, since I got used to the correct way of handling the device and reaching higher rotation speeds in around 8 hours, and after 20 or 30 attempts, I was already capable of starting the device without the help of the cord. The thing is so good, that the drummer in my band got 2 of them, so that he'll be able to work out his wrists and also improve his coordination in the same time".
A gadget reviewer's perspective on the Powerball
This will be quite a short passage, as my right arm hurts like hell after playing with the Powerball for just 2 days. I have to admit that it's quite addictive, and once you've begun rotating it, it's quite difficult to stop, even if your hands hurt. However, after just 2 days, I already feel my wrist, as well as forearm muscles, a bit stronger, which is absolutely amazing. It's a great way of working out without ever leaving your desk, and I'm talking about a pretty serious work out here, sweat and everything.
These being said, I believe it's time to move on to the......
Powerball Techno review roundup
What's Cool: Almost everything about it. I'll give it a percentage of 99.5 % In.
What's not so Cool: The fact that this particular model doesn't have a built-in digital rev meter. However, adding one is quite easy, and there are several models out there which DO include such a device. So, for this reason and this reason alone, it's 0.5 % Out.
Conclusion
I wish I had more to say in the conclusion, but I've expressed my points of view on the Powerball Techno all over the article. It's a great device, that doesn't have any bad parts, really. It's not very expensive, it's a lot of fun, it's healthy, helps the user work out, and can even be used for friendly competitions. Moreover, besides their practical and serious uses, the device will surely improve certain "techniques" we men use in certain situations, especially while using some sort of XXX material.
The Powerballs are taking over the world as we speak, and, if you happen to live in Romania, you can check them out here, or buy them here.
Still Images from the NSD Powerball Techno review.
Photo: Tudor Raiciu
