Akis Kritsinelis interview

Powerball is a gyroscopic exercise tool used to exercise the wrist as part of physical therapy or to strengthen the fingers, hands and forearms.  Powerballs have electronic revolution counters on them displaying the performance data.  Akis Kritsinelis is currently the world record holder for the Powerball, he has reached with a 250 Hz NSD Powerball 16,732 RPM peak and 14,091 rpm with a 350Hz Powerball.

Hi Akis, great to have you here, I have been using the Powerball myself for the last year or so, so it will be interesting to hear from you how I can improve my score.

Hi Robert and thank you for the invitation, it’s good to be with you as well. There are three ways to improve your score: Practice, practice and practice! Seriously though, there are no secrets or mystical formulas for this. All you have to do is keep on trying and be patient.

Where did you get your first powerball, and what did you think of it at first?

I got my first Powerball on September 2004. I was surfing on the net and coincidentally crossed by an advertisement of a spinning and glowing little blue ball, intended for arms training. I didn’t quite understand what that ball was or how it worked or how it was supposed to train my arms, however it seemed irresistible and I was very curious to find out about it. So I got my first Powerball, a Neon blue pro. When I firstly got it in my hands, I was excited. It was a superlative instrument, which exceeded my expectations and I just couldn’t put it down. And most importantly, it was doing what it was promising: it provided a great workout. Despite that I used to train my arms regularly, I was surprised to feel the burning even after a few minutes of spinning.

When did you start competing in powerball and why?

Practically, I started competing from the first day. I managed a 13k+ score then, which I knew it was quite decent, as it was only a few rpm off the Top-100 of that time. After a couple of days, I managed a 13735 score, which put me on the Top-100 for the first time, at the 75th place. After that, I was overwhelmed and inspired to improve my performance and try for higher scores. The Powerball community feeling, the friendly competition and the interest of other powerballers in my records were also very motivating.

What are your future goals in powerball?

At this point I know that it has become difficult to improve my scores, yet the effort alone is intriguing. I would love to see a 17k score of course, but in any case training with the Powerball at such intensity provides a great workout, so the effort, along with the healthy and friendly competition, is beneficial and rewarding. Furthermore, I would like Powerball to be more widely known and recognized in my country and see more Greek powerballers on the world scoreboard. I also hope to participate in more live competitions which will be hopefully organized in the future, and give my best self.

Do you train in the gym regularly other than training with a powerball?

Yes I train in the gym as regularly as I can. I’ve actually been training in the gym or at home with weights and other equipment since I was a kid, in order to feel fit and healthy. However, as we grow older, the quest of spare time and energy becomes a really hard task, therefore nowadays I can’t say that I train as regularly and as properly as I would like. Powerball training on the other hand is a lot easier. It can be done at home or while watching TV or during a break. Even five minutes can give an effective exercise in the arms.

How do you think powerball training has helped your workouts in the gym?

Powerball helps a great deal with other workouts, and also in sports which require wrist or forearm action, in many ways. It is remarkable that no matter how trained you are, or how well built you are, the first time you spin a Powerball your arms will be on fire. I have seen many well trained people who hold a Powerball for the first time, thinking that it is only a small ball which you simply have to rotate inside your hand, but when they manage to figure out the technique and do it, they are surprised not only about their low scores but also to feel their arms sore and tired. That happens because Powerball exercises your arm muscles in a way that they cannot possibly be exercised with other means. Furthermore, Powerball strengthens your grip significantly and also provides flexibility and agility. It also helps to prevent and aid recovery from various injuries, such as tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. I always do some Powerball spinning before any weight training and it has definitely helped me to enhance my workout and avoid injuries.

What advice would you give to anyone starting out with a powerball?

Powerball is an excellent exercising tool. It will help you tone and strengthen your arm muscles, it will give you a dynamic workout different than anything you’ve experienced before, it will improve your grip strength, it will reinforce your regular workout, it will help you prevent injuries and furthermore it is very entertaining. If you wish to hit high scores, practice regularly (there are many exercises at the Powerball site) and remember that the “no pain no gain” rule applies here. However don’t exceed your limits and don’t forget to rest in order to allow your muscles to recover. Time after time, your muscles will be adapting to the technique and you’ll find yourself getting higher scores naturally and more easily. Last but not least, take good care of your Powerball. It’s not a toy, it’s a precise tool designed to give you plenty of fun as well as exercise, so spin it properly and smoothly, don’t drop it on the floor, keep it in good condition. Well-maintained Powerballs always give better scores.

Thanks Akis for the interview and keep us updated with your new records when you reach them, good luck.

Thank you to Robert for giving me this opportunity. I hope to see you at the Top-100 one day!

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