Anyone here use Gyro balls ?

joel

Yip dh , i've been looking at these for a while now too and in Sandton City theres a sports goods shop thats selling this pull string type gyro ball (per pic above) for R199.00 , whereas a camping/hiking type shop diagonally opposite is selling the exact same one for +- R400 . There are other types too i've seen elsewhere that cost more than R600 ? .....so I was wondering if these are actually worth buying , or not. :-\

V8

How about a simple squeezable stress ball? I've had a few issues recent, particularly noticing that my grip (both hands) is a bit weaker - using a few simple resistance exercises and squeezing a stress ball I've definitely regained some grip strength in the past week and the arms and shoulders arn't as 'tight' as they were before.

I've been doing the 'forearm streches' in this link (http://www.livestrong.com/article/305366-carpal-tunnel-pain-relief-exercises/) - they seem to pop the traps (trapezius) and loosen the forearms somewhat - along with the stress ball I'm feeling a bit more comfy on the guitar.

Although, if it's a recurring physical issue, I'd consult a professional - I'm a regular visitor to a skilled chinese accupuncturist, which has helped no end.

domhatch

forgot to mention - i have two of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Ja-Ru-Jaru-Big-Putty-Ea/dp/B001BLXENC

got mine in oz, unfortunately, but i'm sure if you shopped around you'd find some at a toy store here. really good for loosening up strengthening the old muscles. i put one in each hand and alternate fingers - starting from pinkie and moving inwards, then just squeezing with the whole hand. plus they're great to keep the kids quiet - they love 'em. just a word of caution - keep this stuff OFF THE FURNITURE. it leaks colour...

it's also fun just to sit and absentmindedly stretch and pull in front of the tv
dh

DonRoos

I own one but have not used it for a while now. They are great for strength training and really give your wrist a workout as you have to rotate your wrist to keep it moving and you have to counteract the gyroscopic effect. I can work it really well with my right hand but find that I lack a bit of dexterity in my left so have to get it started with my right and then pass it over for a while to my left. If it starts loosing speed I have to pass it back.

I would not think that it would be the right kind of exercise for guitar. For that I would think one of those springs with two handles might be better. Certainly something that will allow each finger to be individually trained.

V8

domhatch wrote: it's also fun just to sit and absentmindedly stretch and pull in front of the tv

Grin, me too - I tend to bounce the ball off the walls, doesn't make me popular around the house...But niether does watching test cricket :?

Tried one of those gripmaster's, but since I do the diy I didn't like the marks it left on the walls (heh).

deefstes

Joe Moore wrote: Are you satisfied with the results ?.
Did it really work to strengthen your hand muscles ? Waste of money ?

http://www.gyroballs.net/

A colleague of mine has one that he uses fairly regularly and he swears by it. I grab it from time to time just to play a bit and I can say that it makes your hands and forearms proper moeg so I'm sure it must be good exercise. That said, as with all other exercise devices, it will only work if you use it and I know I am particularly bad on that count. I would buy one, use it three times and then forget about the thing.

IceCreamMan

The idea of using one of these to build strength and ergo improve ability to play guitar has never occurred to me so thanks for this post. i looked into this and quite honestly a lot of claims being made but i cant find any research to actually back it up although instictively this would help seeing as there are forces at play which you conteract in your hand. not sure this would be any better than an old tennis ball etc but ntil research is done i am not convinced this is of any benefit. could be another power band thingymabob >☹

http://www.dynaflex.com.au/flash_site/whatisit.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyroscopic_exercise_tool

http://ezinearticles.com/?Powerball---The-Benefits-of-Using-Powerball&id=935950

deefstes

IceCreamMan wrote: The idea of using one of these to build strength and ergo improve ability to play guitar has never occurred to me so thanks for this post. i looked into this and quite honestly a lot of claims being made but i cant find any research to actually back it up although instictively this would help seeing as there are forces at play which you conteract in your hand. not sure this would be any better than an old tennis ball etc but ntil research is done i am not convinced this is of any benefit. could be another power band thingymabob >☹

http://www.dynaflex.com.au/flash_site/whatisit.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyroscopic_exercise_tool

http://ezinearticles.com/?Powerball---The-Benefits-of-Using-Powerball&id=935950

I can't speak from any scientific basis but I am convinced this isn't anything like the Power Balance rubbish. This thing works the muscles in your hand and forearm properly and you can't keep going for too long so I have no doubt that it exercises some muscles. Whether or not an improvement of those muscles' strength will benefit your guitar playing I don't know but there can be no doubt that the gyro ball does indeed exercise your muscles.

nick

Friend had one here at the office we used to get going then pass along. Cant say it ever did anything..

IceCreamMan

deefstes wrote:
IceCreamMan wrote: The idea of using one of these to build strength and ergo improve ability to play guitar has never occurred to me so thanks for this post. i looked into this and quite honestly a lot of claims being made but i cant find any research to actually back it up although instictively this would help seeing as there are forces at play which you conteract in your hand. not sure this would be any better than an old tennis ball etc but ntil research is done i am not convinced this is of any benefit. could be another power band thingymabob >☹

http://www.dynaflex.com.au/flash_site/whatisit.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyroscopic_exercise_tool

http://ezinearticles.com/?Powerball---The-Benefits-of-Using-Powerball&id=935950

I can't speak from any scientific basis but I am convinced this isn't anything like the Power Balance rubbish. This thing works the muscles in your hand and forearm properly and you can't keep going for too long so I have no doubt that it exercises some muscles. Whether or not an improvement of those muscles' strength will benefit your guitar playing I don't know but there can be no doubt that the gyro ball does indeed exercise your muscles.

exercise yr hand , sure exercuise yr wrist sure , but is it the kind of exercise that is A) beneficail and B) benefical to actualyly playing guitar ...well that i am not sure of and is it any better than a squash or tennis ball.

my spelling is atrocious thats for sure but i am always sceptical when claims are made and ppl want to lift some green from my wallet

Squonk

I bought one of these and used it once

http://www.gripmaster.com.au/index1.htm

deefstes

IceCreamMan wrote:exercise yr hand , sure exercuise yr wrist sure , but is it the kind of exercise that is A) beneficail and B) benefical to actualyly playing guitar ...well that i am not sure of and is it any better than a squash or tennis ball.

I see what you mean, and yes, I share your scepticism.

joel

nick wrote: Friend had one here at the office we used to get going then pass along. Cant say it ever did anything..

:-\ , Well thats not a suprise is it ?

Like any excersize , one has to follow a disciplined regimen of regular use , and over a period of time it should show favourable results . 8)
In my case , I'll be getting one , just because my regular day to day activities don't include much excersize to my left hand ☹

epictring

I have one, and it really works well. Although I think if you get one you should get a good one, some of the cheaper models are.. cheap and might not work as efficient.

I have a NSD Powerball, really really well made.
http://www.powerballs.com/

I actually played with it a while ago (my fault), gonna spin her up again.

Edit: BUT I can assure you this thing will work a lot more efficient than a squash or tennis ball, after one run you're immediately too tired in the arms and wrist to get to the same speed goal again. Most of them also tracks the RPMS so you can actually track your strengthening progress which adds to the motivation.

I believe they will benefit in guitar, when it gets up to speed my fingers get tired as well, so something is happening.

Attila

I bought a mate of mine one when he tore some ligaments in his arm, the Doc said even if he operated it would take a very long time to get the muscle to be normal again, and suggested that through excise he could develop other muscles to compensate .... I remember he used it for a while and swore that it helped a whole heap

Wizard

I nearly bought one years ago ... then had a vision of it being in the same cupboard as similar toys which were bought and used once.
I then remembered another good exercise ... it's called "using your left hand for life"

For those of us who are right handed, we naturally do most stuff with our right hand ... leaving our left hands to get weaker and weaker ... which we then suddenly expect to perform when we pick up a guitar.

So ... start doing stuff with your left hand.
Like:
... holding your tea / coffee cup when drinking
... when you reach for anything on your left hand side
... when you open a drawer on the left hand side
... rubbing stuff off a white board
... opening doors
... etc

I did this under advice from my drum teacher.
You'll be amazed at how quickly it delivers results.
Because we tend to live and do stuff quite a lot of the day ... and the diversity of daily activities are large.

It had another unexpected benefit too, by helping my back.
In my workshop I now stand straight and fetch things with my left and right hand, without swiveling my back around.
Previously I would swivel to get my right hand to do the work - A bit like a tennis player running around the ball to play a forehand.

Wizard

Arbitrary trivia:

"Dexterous": comes from the Latin word meaning "right"
"Sinister": comes from the Latin word meaning "left"

And I have no idea what relevance this has to the topic ...

Squonk

Wizard wrote: Arbitrary trivia:

"Dexterous": comes from the Latin word meaning "right"
"Sinister": comes from the Latin word meaning "left"

And I have no idea what relevance this has to the topic ...

Good stuff

I wonder where Ambi comes from then. It should be sinister dextrous.

Bob-Dubery

Wizard wrote: I nearly bought one years ago ... then had a vision of it being in the same cupboard as similar toys which were bought and used once.
I then remembered another good exercise ... it's called "using your left hand for life"

For those of us who are right handed, we naturally do most stuff with our right hand ... leaving our left hands to get weaker and weaker ... which we then suddenly expect to perform when we pick up a guitar.

So ... start doing stuff with your left hand.
Like:
... holding your tea / coffee cup when drinking
... when you reach for anything on your left hand side
... when you open a drawer on the left hand side
... rubbing stuff off a white board
... opening doors
... etc

There are reasons for doing this other than to keep the left hand in shape. It can also be about taking strain off the right hand and arm. I tend to use my mouse with my left hand these days - which went a long way to sorting out nerve entrapment in my right elbow (what used to be called "tennis elbow" is increasingly called "moused elbow").

I read that Martin Carthy does stuff left handed whenever possible to protect the nails on his right hand.

Wizard

Squonk wrote: I wonder where Ambi comes from then. It should be sinister dextrous.

"ambi" from Latin for "both".
So ambidextrous = as if you have two right hands