Please click below download PDFs with Powerball® instructions:
Cord Activated
Powerball Autostart
We currently offer 6 individual Powerball® models on the site. Each generates smooth, progressive, 100% non-impact resistance and are suitable for building
strength in the fingers, hands, wrists, arms and shoulders - with the exception of the 450 Diablo™ lightweight model which is recommended for rehabilitation or high speed spinning purposes only.
However, for specific strength training purposes, the 350 Diablo™ model sits head and shoulders above all the other models in the range in that it generates significantly more
resistance as a result of its heavier, solid zinc rotor engine and chromed stainless steel shell. 350 Diablo™ develops 18.6kg (41.45lbs) of inertial resistance/force at 10,000rpm as
compared to 11.3kg developed by the polycarbonate based 280™ models.
Additionally, and despite its considerably higher power output, Diablo's shell circumference is approximately 10% smaller in size when compared to the 280™ models, allowing it to
fit better into the hand, resulting in a firmer grip and consequently a higher spin speed overall, which in turn helps develop even more muscular strength.
The most powerful model in the current range is the 350 Diablo Pro™. With a solid zinc rotor encased in a chrome finished stainless steel shell, 350 Diablo™ is capable of generating almost 30kg (60lbs+) of inertial resistance and will develop 18.6kg (41lbs+) at just 10,000rpm. Despite it's immense power, 350 Diablo™ is also approximately 10% smaller than the other models, allowing it to fit really tightly into the hand for maximum grip-a-bility.
Powerball® is a tuned, precision strengthening and rehabilitation instrument which has been hand assembled using premium quality materials
and features an internal rotor on a hardened stainless steel axle which has been so finely and precisely balanced using advanced computerised technology that it can
reach speeds in excess of 18,000rpm without vibration of any description.
Because of the success we've achieved around the globe with the Powerball® product range, we've attracted a large variety of imitation gyro products, most of which
originate from China. Many of these bear a confusing resemblance to the genuine products sold on this website but fall far short in terms of build; quality of
materials used; performance; reliability and overall product safety resulting in;
It is recommended that Powerball® should not be used by those under the age of 12 years without adult supervision (more as a general precaution
rather than an actual insistence) to highlight the simple fact that these products can generate significant resistance (gyroscopic inertia), most of which is applied
directly to the wrist/arm. In younger persons, active bone development is still in progress and may be adversely affected by such potential forces, leading to possible
damage in the arm or wrist as a result.
(Powerball® produces localised resistance in a completely different way to conventional free weight - isotonic exercise workouts).
However, and given that Powerball® will only generate such resistance which is directly proportional at all times to the efforts expended by the user, it is highly
unlikely that any young individual will ever cause himself/herself harm through the use of this product - nonetheless it remains prudent that caution be observed and that
our younger users be fully aware of the potential for overuse that may arise as a result of the high power outputs of these highly addictive products.
Used in moderation, Powerball® will be an extremely beneficial tool for a budding young sportsperson (or aspiring musician... or fitness enthusiast... or martial arts devotee...
or gymnast... or....) and will not cause any harm; indeed, we receive many gracious testimonials each week from parents who are simply delighted with the effect that the shiny
sphere has had on their particular offsprings sporting achievements. The rules are therefore simple;
Our new Autostart™ range is the very pinnacle of Powerball® engineering, requiring no cords and offering instant, fuss free starts every time. While simple to operate, we nonetheless recommend you spend 60 seconds watching our recommended starting guideline video below. Additionally, please download this PDF guide which gives detailed information on how to activate Powerball® Autostart™ and also highlights the correct technique necessary to develop good, progressive spin speed.
While simple to operate, we nonetheless recommend you spend 60 seconds watching our recommended starting guideline video below. Additionally, please download this PDF guide which gives detailed information on how to activate Powerball® Autostart™ and also highlights the correct technique necessary to develop good, progressive spin speed.
In 99.9% of cases, a ‘non-starting’ Powerball® will be as a result of a poor starting technique as opposed to an actual product fault.
Please see the Getting Started section and watch the appropriate video showing the correct starting technique
for your own specific Powerball® model (cord or auto-start).
Additionally, you may find the information and tips offered in this downloadable PDF will
enhance your cord-activated Powerball experience further while this PDF is relevant for all Powerball® Autostart™ models, thank you.
Powerball® is fast...(very fast)...and in this case speed really does equal force - the faster the rotor engine spins inside the shell sphere, the
more gyroscopic inertial resistance it's generating - force that's being levied directly upon the arms and wrists in particular.
As one of the very best upper limb strengthening and rehabilitation devices available in the world today, Powerball® will be equally at home with someone nursing an arm or wrist
injury as it will in the hand of someone trying to build large, powerful forearms and grip strength - yet both users will have very different requirements and both will therefore need
to be spinning at very different speeds.
The general rule is:
Like the question 'how fast should I spin' above, the answer to this relates directly to the physical condition of the user and whether they are using
Powerball® to build strength or to rehabilitate an injured limb. With Powerball®, faster spin speeds generate higher inertial resistance from the sphere and require more
strength and muscle endurance to maintain control.
Powerball® is an isometric exercise device and the resistance generated is 'always on' while the rotor is spinning - there is no let up. It has been scientifically proven that
isometric exercise engages a higher percentage of muscle fibers than regular isotonic (weight) training and produces measurable results within a far shorter time frame.
As a result, someone with a case of wrist tendonitis could sit and gently spin Powerball® at a speed of 5000rpm for the entire 45 minute duration of their favourite TV show,
bringing soothing relief through enhanced blood flow in the inflamed tendon tissue, while a seasoned gym warrior who had never experienced Powerball before would likely struggle
to maintain a speed of 11,000rpm for a mere 30 seconds while their forearm flexor and extensor muscles burned like never before - your ideal Powerball® speed & spin duration
is a totally personal affair that will depend on age; physical condition; muscle endurance ability; whether the limb is injured or 100% healthy and strong; whether it's suffering
from fatigue as a result of over-training and you'll learn this over a period of 5-6 days of using the ball while your muscles acclimatise to what is a unique, efficient and highly
effective training solution.
Enormous forces are built up inside the sphere at high speed and the ball is always fighting hard to oppose your efforts to spin that inner rotor - therefore
it is always recommended that you maintain a firm, tight grip on your Powerball® during use to ensure you maintain full control.
Doing so also ensures minimum wear on the internal mechanism and ensures a long, maintenance free product life - in fact, treat it properly while you spin and your Powerball®
will still be spinning smoothly and going strong 15 years from now. As will your wrists and arms. (In fact, we often receive correspondence from customers who have purchased
Powerballs® from us as far back as 2001/2002; a testimony to just how useful you are going to find this unique product).
Once the rotor is spinning at a sufficient pace, it comes under the effect of what's known as gyroscopic precession where it effectively becomes suspended
inside the sphere, allowing it switch between clockwise and anticlockwise rotation with just a flick of your wrist.
Does this cause damage to the internal mechanism? Well, if the transition is made smoothly, at a moderate speed and by someone using proper spin technique then no... but, like
trying to change gears in your car without pushing the clutch down properly, some small wear will likely occur over time if you attempt to change direction at too high a spin speed
and too often so always try to perform nice, fluid clockwise - anticlockwise transitions as you spin and everything will be just fine.
Most people will have a dominant hand and this, by nature, usually tends to be the one which most often suffers from those repetitive strain
injuries that Powerball® loves to rehabilitate.
As a result, you might actually find yourself exercising / rehabilitating with Powerball® in your dominant hand almost to the exclusion of the other limb as you try to
moderate a tennis elbow or wrist tendonitis issue and this is something we'd encourage you to try and avoid if possible; prevention is always better than cure and even if
it's only 'a 1 minute spin in the left hand versus 5 minutes in the right' try to make sure you always include at least a quick session in the non-dominant hand each time
you spin to ensure a good balance in both strength and co-ordination across both.
Building progressive speed on your Powerball® demands proper technique to ensure that your wrist rotation is correctly matched and synched to the spinning rotor at all times.
While learning the correct technique at the very beginning, some users will either attempt to rotate their wrists too quickly or, make the circumference of
their turning circles too small; this results in them running out of sync with the spinning rotor and causes it to 'slap' or clack noisily in the shell every
few seconds - synchronising your wrist rotation speed so that it fully aligns with the rotor speed will solve this immediately and see your Powerball® spin quickly soar to 10,000rpm+.
From experience, you will see that a good, sharp pull on the starting cord or winding the rotor back 2-3 turns on your Powerball® Autostart™ and releasing will
activate the rotor to approximately 2500/3000rpm - this is the ideal Powerball® starting speed.
From that point, you'll need to begin ‘agitating’ the rotor by turning your wrist at a slow, steady pace so that it manages to sync perfectly with the spinning rotor
inside the shell sphere, which in turn helps to both sustain and build its speed.
This is actually easier to do than it sounds and is just like riding a bicycle; once you've 'got it' that first time, and felt the perfect resistance from Powerball®,
you'll 'get it' every time thereafter and won't need to think about it anymore, it'll all happen naturally.
If you're a beginner with Powerball®, we always recommend starting off with wide, lazy wrist turns, such as if you were stirring a pot, whisking eggs or swirling
ice cubes in a glass - each turn about 5/6" in diameter and between 1 to 2 turns each second, no faster.
It is all about feel - you will immediately know that you are at the correct speed as you will begin to feel a resistance to your wrist rotation efforts (when you
are out of sync, there will be no resistance, the rotor may ‘slap’ around noisily inside the sphere and it will feel as if you are simply turning your hand around
the wrist joint - when in sync however, there will be a pleasant, soothing opposition to your efforts and Powerball® will suddenly feel much heavier in your hand
as it fights against your efforts to build that rotor speed).
Once you feel this resistance (otherwise known as gyroscopic Inertia), slowly begin to increase the speed of your wrist rotations.
NOTE: it is important that ONLY the wrist rotates - your arm must remain steady, fixed and in the one position (unless you are specifically
following one of our recommended exercise video programs where some arm movement is required) - doing so will serve to increase the actual speed at which the rotor
is spinning which, in turn, will increase the resistance being inflicted on your hand/wrist/arm.
Once again, if you are trying to turn your wrist too fast while at these initial starting speeds or, if your turning circles are too small at the beginning, you will hear
(and feel) the rotor slapping noisily inside the sphere - again, if this happens, simply slow the speed of your turns or increase the circumference of each turn; this will
immediately help to bring you back in sync with the spinning rotor and the speed will build proportionally once again.
For further reference, please watch this video for a cord-activated Powerball® (PDF) or this video for Powerball® Autostart™ (PDF)
The latest range of Powerball® models are smoothest, fastest gyros we've ever produced and have been manufactured from premium materials
to ensure high performance and ongoing benefit for the fingers, hands, wrists and arms.
While your Powerball® has been designed to be maintenance free, you'll find that opening it from time to time and giving the surfaces of the internal components
a quick wipe down with a clean, dry cloth will be beneficial to its overall performance and keep it running smoothly and quietly.
Details on how to open your Powerball® can be found as follows:
Opening 280Hz model range (280 Pro, Autostart Classic, Pro, Fusion Pro) • Opening Diablo model range (350Hz & 450Hz)
The cord will sometimes become stuck fast around the rotor axle if a) it is either not wrapped tightly around the rotor surface before being pulled or b)
it is not pulled STRAIGHT OUT from the ball during the starting procedure (note: pulling at an angle during the starting process may increase the possibility
of the cord getting caught inside the mechanism).
You can learn the correct technique for starting your cord-activated Powerball® by watching this video:
Should the cord have gotten stuck in the mechanism however, then please follow this simple procedure to release it again;
All counters in the current Powerball® product range receive their power by induction directly from the spinning rotor - so it's "human power" all the way and no batteries required!
Your Powerball® is a high precision instrument which operates around the perfect frictional relationship between the rotor support band
(a special plastic ring which supports the rotor) and the circular platform inside the shell on which that rotor support band sits. The materials used on the support
band and shell have been specially chosen to ensure a perfect frictional harmony which converts your wrist action into pure rotor speed.
One drop of oil however... just one, single, tiny drop... placed anywhere - either on the internal shell platform or on the support band - will be
sufficient to completely destroy that perfect frictional harmony and ensure that the rotor flops around lifelessly inside the shell, unable to respond to
even the most perfectly synched wrist turn. Your Powerball® will be well and truly...dead!
The solution:
Starting Cord replacement packs are available for purchase in our online store here.
While you are waiting for your new cords however, please note the following details which should have you spinning again in minutes:
Powerball® is capable of developing significant force and inertial resistance as it spins and demands considerable grip strength to keep it firmly
seated in the hand at higher speeds. To help facilitate this, each Powerball® is fitted with a special, highly tactile silicone grip band which stretches
fully around the shell circumference and makes it easier to hold during the spin.
However, when used over an extended period of time, sweat and oils from your hand may sometimes permeate the band and cause it to lose its tactile grip over
the shell surface, resulting in it becoming slightly loose and moving up/down from the circumference of your Powerball® as you spin, particularly at higher speeds.
If this does occur on your Powerball® then the simple solution is to remove the band and put it into the washing machine with the next wash or into a basin
of moderately hot water with some washing up liquid - this will shrink the band fractionally and ensure that the sweat/oils are removed, allowing it to assume
the sticky/tactile characteristic it had when new.
(Remember, if there are oils on the grip band, there will also be oil on the shell surface too, so please ensure you use this opportunity to also give the shell
surface a quick clean with a baby wipe (or similar) and dry immediately with a paper towel).
280 Pro models
We currently offer 6 individual Powerball® models on the site. Each generates smooth, progressive, 100% non-impact resistance and all are suitable
for rehabilitation of any finger/hand/wrist/arm/shoulder based injury that you may be experiencing.
However, please be aware that the 350 Diablo™ model listed on the site is manufactured with a stainless steel shell and heavy, solid zinc rotor engine capable of generating
considerably more power than the other models in the range while spinning at similar speeds. As such therefore, while it can still be used at lower speeds to help rehabilitate any
upper limb related issues, it tends to be more suited to those customers seeking muscle building/strengthening as a result of the higher inertial resistance that it can generate.
For rehabilitation purposes therefore, we would specifically recommend any of the three Powerball® Autostart™ models listed on the site. Autostart means simple, fuss free
starts every time; you simply wind back the rotor 2-3 turns and release to spin - no starting cords required. This model range can be operated with a single hand, which is a significant
advantage to anyone suffering from limited mobility in their arm. All Powerball& Autostart™ models are also fully drop resistant - a feature that our customers suffering from weak
grip certainly find useful.
By means of quick reference, each of the 4 polycarbonate 280™ models generate approximately 11kg of resistance at 10,000rpm while 350 Diablo™ produces 18.6kg at 10,000rpm,
despite weighing less than 1kg when static.
There is a substantial difference in characteristic between the repetitive movement in the upper limb that leads to RSI based conditions
and the repetitive movement required to spin Powerball®.
Typically, RSI conditions in the upper limbs are brought on either by;
a) Thousands of repetitive, fine, low impact limb movements, carried out for multiple hours per day, several days each week. For example; typing, operating a computer
mouse, video gaming, writing, knitting, gardening, assembly line working, etc.
or;
b) Repeating identical high impact tasks multiple times each day (over-use) combined with excessive force applied from awkward position and/or with poor limb posture. For
example; mechanics using wrenches, driving for hours each day with wrists bent in un-natural angles, meat boners, machine operators, etc
One of the defining factors in most of the above tasks is that the body on the whole tends to remain sedentary - often for hours at a time - during these activities.
That is; the limb may be moving continuously on a local level during the course of the day while carrying out the particular activity, but the body itself tends to remain
seated and relatively immobile, with limited heart activity combined to limited overall limb movement.
This in turn leads to sluggish or slower blood flow throughout the body; blood brings oxygen and collagen enriching nutrients to your muscles, ligaments and tendons, both
of which help to keep the tissue supple and flexible and enable the limb to function efficiently as you go about your daily tasks.
Reduce that vital, lubricating blood flow while performing those repetitive or strenuous daily tasks therefore and all manner of things begin to happen under the skin;
The forearm muscles (flexor, extensor) literally begin to dry up (lose their suppleness and natural ability to stretch); microscopic tearing begins to appear on the muscle
tissue surface, ultimately causing knots; the muscles themselves begin to shorten in length (injured muscle tissue tends to contract) putting pressure on the tendons connecting
them to the bone at the elbow and wrist joints. And synovial fluid - the slippery liquid which lubricates the joints and inner walls of the sheaths surrounding the tendons all o
ver the body - that remains in a highly viscous state (thick like the oil in your car when you start it on a cold winter morning) and makes it difficult for the tendons inside
to slide and glide freely, causing excess friction.
The sum total of which results in growing inflammation, eventual muscle pain and overall reduced range of joint motion (RSI).
Using Powerball®, on the other hand, has the exact opposite effect;
The smooth, progressive, 100% non-impact resistance produced by a spinning Powerball® is directed across the entire muscle range of the upper limb, from finger to shoulder.
Unlike the tasks listed above, all of which actually contribute to RSI based conditions, using Powerball® is a form of isometric exercise and, as with any form of exercise, blood
flow through the tissue is changed dramatically, flowing at anything up to 15 times more than it might otherwise do through resting muscles (when resting, only 20-25% of the
capillaries are open, but during exercise, 100% of the muscle capillaries are open).
And this is all good news for the upper limbs and, in particular, the tendons connecting the muscles to the elbow and wrist joints. Tendons are made primarily of collagen and
nothing helps repair and rehabilitate damaged or inflamed collagen tissue more than nutrient and oxygen rich blood. A healthy muscle tends to stretch and lengthen easily by
its very nature and will do so freely once the tissue is filled with warm, viscous blood. And longer, supple muscles in turn help to put less pressure on the tendons which
anchor them to the joints, ensuring that the whole limb is more accommodating to those repetitive movements that are so prevalent in our lives today, both in work and during
leisure time.
Blood flow is stimulated, synovial fluid production increases, tissue becomes oxygenated, muscles become supple and stretch more easily, inflammation in the tendons reduces,
range of motion in the joint increases... and all of this can happen with just one 3 minute spin.
NOTE: While 100% non-impact in nature, Powerball® is nonetheless capable of generating substantial resistance/force if used at high speeds, all of which
can overload and further stress injured/recovering muscle tissue. Therefore, for the purposes of any recovery/rehabilitation, we ALWAYS recommend long, slow to moderate spins
(3-15 minutes in duration at no more than 6000rpm) as opposed to short, fast spins (less than 1 minute at 8,000 - 10,000rpm and above). Doing so will produce rhythmic, gentle
resistance from your Powerball with all of the rehabilitative benefits listed above and ensure prompt recovery of the damaged tissue.
Yes, it's one of the world's most effective rehabilitation devices for the hands, wrists and arms beloved of physios around the world. Yes,
it's a device which will build extraordinary strength in the forearm flexor and extensor muscles. But what you probably won't realise until you
actually feel a live Powerball® spinning in your hand for the first time is just how absolutely addictive it is to use as that exercise / rehabilitation
device and how everyone you hand it to for a quick spin will want one too. Rehabilitating a tennis elbow condition or broken wrist isn't meant to be fun
but this comes as close as it gets to actually making therapy enjoyable.
If your Powerball® has captivated friends, relatives and work colleagues, there is a strong chance they'll want to purchase one of their own and so we
offer the opportunity to make a group purchase of 10 or more units at a substantial discount to the normal product RRPs. If this is something that you might
wish to do, simply fill out your name, address and email details here, along with the models you're looking to purchase and we'll revert with a price,
including shipping to have any 10 piece+ order delivered to your door.
You may specify either post or courier shipping options while placing your Powerball® order with us.
Once you've selected a product(s) on the shopping cart, chosen the preferred shipping method and selected your destination shipping address; the system will
automatically provide details on the usual expected delivery time frame for your order.
We ship Monday to Friday (excluding public and national holidays) and all orders will tend to be shipped same day if the order is received on our system prior to 12.00 noon GMT.
If your order is urgent, please be advised that with some of our courier options it will possible to get a Powerball® from Ireland (the shipping country)
to, for example, the US or Australia, in as little as 2 business days and at a very competitive cost, so please visit the shopping cart and enter your
destination shipping address details for more information.
You should receive an automatic email notification as soon as our system receives your order, confirming what product(s) has been ordered, the address details
to where it is to be sent plus the shipping option you've chosen. Please ensure that you check this carefully to confirm you've entered the correct address
details for the delivery - if you've made an error with any of these or wish to amend them in any way, then please send a quick message with your new details to us here.
A second confirmation email will be automatically sent as soon as the order has been dispatched from our shipping warehouse; this will include tracking information
for all couriered and registered orders. Please note that tracking information is not available on standard postal service options.
We are always delighted to interact with our customers and welcome any questions/queries that you might have for us regarding Powerball®, whether you already have experience with the products or are brand new to the concept. You'll reach us on any of the following;