The FuelBelt Helium has been widely used by some of the top Ironman Triathletes around the world providing a pretty good indicator about its quality in some of the most trying of conditions. If high level competitors are prepared to use the belt during important competitions it is very likely that the amateur like me is going to find it useful.

It has been shown in studies that consuming around 300 to 350 calories per hour while performing continuous exercise will help the athlete’s endurance and intensity. Having immediate access to carbohydrates and electrolyte drinks is important in maximising your training efforts as well as minimising the possibility of running out of fuel.

The review below joins my other reviews as I continue to consider which hydration belt I should buy.

Belt Features

• Control-stretch waistband with wider Velcro closure means a secure and custom fit
• Choice of 5 colors
• Four 8oz bottles are ergonomic, leakproof, dishwasher safe and made of recyclable BPA-free LDPE (No.4) plastic
• Breathable therma-foam keeps you cool when things heat up
• Each Helium belt comes with a removable race pocket, perfect for salt tabs, gels, keys or cash
• Four sizes: Small (27-29”); Medium (30-32”); Large – (33-35”); X Large (36-38”)

Buy A FuelBelt 4 Bottle Belt Here

Click for pricing and buying details

Bigger Range of Sizes

One of the first things I noticed about the FuelBelt when compared to both the Nathan and Amphipod belts is that they are available in a wider range of sizes. This might be because the belt is not quite as adjustable as the other two but it certainly means that you should be very careful in choosing the one you want to buy or else risk ending up with one that doesn’t fit. This appears to be at the core of a few complaints about the FuelBelt with the lack of adjustability coming into issue.

The sizes that they are available in are Small (27-29”); Medium (30-32”); Large – (33-35”); X Large (36-38”).

Bottles and Positions

The molded shape of the drink bottles have been slightly bent in order to allow them to sit low in the holders. It also means that they will be easy to grab while running and should then snap quickly back into place when you’ve had your drink.

There have been some reports by some runners that the position of the bottles interferes with the swinging arms that form part of the natural running motion. Although every running style is different it is a little concerning that there is a chance that contact can be made.

There is no option to change the position of the bottles on this belt. The holders are fixed in place on the belt. The option you do have is in the position that you wear the belt – either low around the hips or higher on the waist. This, too, can cause problems because it appears that the belt tends to ride up if it is placed around the hips until it has reached the waist making it prone to jiggling about.

Flask Holders

As mentioned earlier, the bottles are positioned around the body with two at the front and the other two in the back. They are made from lightweight recyclable plastic and can be sealed tightly to avoid leakage on the run. The positions are not as easily accessed as one might hope and it is invariably necessary to use two hands to get the bottles back into their holders.

Belt Material

The belt itself is made from a breathable therma-foam that prevents the area from heating up too much. The waistband provides a small amount of stretch giving you some measure of being able to custom fit it within a small range and the closure is a wide Velcro seal that makes it secure once it has been closed.

Storage

The amount of storage space is one area where the Helium 4 tends to fall down a little when compared to other fuel belts. Although it comes with a removable zipped pouch, the pouch is particularly small making it difficult to store some of the items that some people might find essential such as a cell phone.

Also, apart from the water bottle storage, the pouch is the only opportunity for additional storage meaning that everything extra that you want to carry will have to be placed in the same space. This means keys, money and MP3 player will have to share room with chews, gels, pills or lollies needed for refuelling.

Other FuelBelt Models

There are a number of different styles and configurations of FuelBelt Bottle Belts for those who are looking for slightly more or slightly less hydration storage.

FuelBelt Revenge 2 Bottle Belt – 2 x 7oz Bottles
FuelBelt Revenge 4 Bottle Belt – 4 x 7oz Bottles
FuelBelt Revenge R30 – 3 x 7oz Bottles
FuelBelt Terminator 6 Bottle Belt – 6 x 8oz Bottles

You might also like to read the review of the Amphipod RunLite 4 Hydration Belt or the review of the Nathan Speed 4R Waist Pack.

So it’s time to nominate the races that I am planning on taking part in for the first half of the year. I’ve found that my training tends to drift along aimlessly and the weekend runs are non-existent if I don’t actually have a race or two to train for.

March ?? – Mini Marathon (23km)

March 18 – Port Macquarie Half Marathon

May 20 – SMH Half Marathon

Port Macquarie Half Marathon

Among these three runs there is a new entry for me. I have never run the Port Macquarie Half Marathon before. Heck, I don’t think I have ever been to Port Macquarie before. So I guess I had better do a little bit of a recce to get the lay of the land as well as an idea of the course.

The Port Macquarie Half Marathon is actually part of the Port Macquarie Running Festival with a number of shorter events lined up for those who are not quite as serious about their running. As well as the half marathon it is possible to enter either a 10km run or a 5 km run. For the walkers there is a 4km Walk and Talk event as well as two children’s fun runs, a 4km and a 2km fun run.

It is possible to enter the event online with the Port Macquarie Running Festival website quite extensive and able to answer just about any questions you might have. Check out the site here.

Looking at the map of the course I have noticed that it is a 3 lap course of 7 km each lap running hard along the waterfront virtually the whole way. This is going to take a little time to get my head around this concept given that I have never really been a fan of races with 2 loops, let alone 3.

SMH Half Marathon

This remains an annual event for me and I must admit I do enjoy running around the City of Sydney on a May Sunday morning. The only thing about this particular race is the constant changing of the course from one year to the next. I must have run this race something like 12 times and the course has probably changed around 10 times.

One year it goes in a clockwise direction, the next a counter clockwise direction. It used to start down under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, then on Hickson Rd, now in Hyde Park. I just wish the organisers would come up with a course that met all the needs: the ability to get large numbers of runners through without dangerous areas of congestion, minimal impact to traffic and few twists and turns.

Last year’s course (yes, another radically different course change) came pretty close. The single loop (it used to be two loops) worked well and extending the course to Pyrmont seemed to work pretty well.

Checking out the website and I notice on the Course details that “The course is currently under review for 2012 and updated maps and information will be posted as soon as it is available.” Surprise, surprise!

Entries to this event won’t be opening until February so there is still a little time to wait. In the past you had to be pretty quick to get your entry in or you could have risked missing out. This has changed with the new course allowing more entrants and less chance of missing out.

The introduction of the Nathan Speed Waist Packs have changed all of that with a range of different belt sizes as well as a variety of bottle numbers that may be carried. Training over longer distances, the use of the Nathan Speed 4R Waist Pack is ideal because it allows four 8oz drink bottles to be carried in comfort. There is also a zippered pocket that provides added storage for gels, chomps or personal items.

It has been shown in studies that consuming around 300 to 350 calories per hour while performing continuous exercise will help the athlete’s endurance and intensity. Having immediate access to carbohydrates and electrolyte drinks is important in maximising your training efforts as well as minimising the possibility of running out of fuel.

Belt Features

• Streamlined (to reduce weight) Molded Holsters for quick, one-handed Flask access
• Four 8 oz. (235 mL) Nutrition Flasks; two with Race Cap
• Race Cap with high-flow, one-way valve opens and closes automatically and offers a quick shot of fluid
• Dimensional Power Stretch Mesh pocket expands to hold items snugly in place
• Zippered Power Stretch Mesh front pocket for small essentials
• Interior flat pocket
• Waterproof pocket
• Identity card / emergency card holder
• Canted, limited-stretch elasticized Velcro-fastened waist belt
• Airmesh moisture-wicking backing
• Silicone grips inside holsters prevent Flasks from popping out
• Reflective detail
• Three sizes: Large – 36-42”; Medium – 32-36”; Small – 26-32”

Buy A Nathan Speed 4R Waist Pack Here

Click for pricing and buying details

Common complaints about various types of hydration belts or waist packs include their tendency to move and bounce around when running leading to chafing or to the belt slipping from the hips up to the waist. Runners have also complained that the positioning of the flasks interfere with the natural swing of the arms as part of the running motion. The Nathan Speed 4R Waist Pack deals with both of these problems.

The Waist Pack Stays Put

Thanks to the elastic waist band and Velcro closure the belt can be easily adjusted to the size that you need and when you place it around your hips and tighten it, it stays in place throughout the run. This is key for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, if the belt starts to move during the run, the place it will move to is the waist and this means the pack will start to bounce around. Not only will it feel uncomfortable with water sloshing around but it will start to chafe and become even more uncomfortable.

Secondly, and I don’t know if others are the same, but when I’m running with some kind of pressure around my waist I find it very difficult to breathe. A hydration waist pack that has slipped up and around my waist would virtually stop me in my tracks as I gasp for breath.

Finally, if the belt moves you are going to become distracted as you fiddle around trying to get it to a more comfortable position again and this will simply ruin the run. You don’t want to be worrying about your equipment for the majority of the run as it moves from place to place around your body.

Flasks and Positions

One of the key features of the Nathan Speed Waist Packs is the construction of the flasks. They are not shaped like a regular water bottle with vertical sides leading to the drinking spout. Instead, they have been bent, or canted, at an angle so that the spouts point away from the body. The reason for this is to ensure they do not interfere with the swinging arms of the runner.

There is nothing worse than continually flicking solid objects with your arms as you are running along and it would rapidly move from annoying to downright painful should it happen on a regular basis. The shapes of the flasks ensure they sit down low to the tops of the holsters and stay clear of the arms.

Another thing to note about these flasks is that there have been no reports of the bottles leaking while running. This has been a problem that was reported with bottles from other brands but the Nathan flasks are reliable in their seals. Two of the flasks with the 4R Waist Pack have Race Caps which means the flow is greater giving you faster access to the contents.

Flask Holders

The flask holders are positioned at the four “corners” of the body and provide you with easy access to the flasks. They are made from a flexible molded plastic and allow the flasks to slip in and out so that you only need to grab them one-handed. The holders are also lined with silicon grips to stop the flasks from jiggling about and falling out when they are empty.

Breathable Material

I’m sure we’ve all used products that appear to be quite sound when we’ve bought them only to find that when wearing them during a run they don’t allow sufficient airflow and become extremely uncomfortable. The mesh at the back of the belt promotes moisture wicking to draw the sweat away from the body to prevent chafing.

The material used for the Nathan Speed Waist Packs is breathable and so it remains comfortable throughout the entire run. Sure, it will become sodden just like the rest of your clothes as you progress into the second and even the third hours of your run but it will still feel comfortable around your hips or waist.

Storage

These belts are more than simply a way of carrying your fluids with you. The pockets can be used for other nutritional items such as gels, chews and bars. There are a number of different types of pockets too. The larger external pocket sits at the front and can be accessed on the run if you need an energy gel or a chew. This is also a great place to store your keys, MP3 player or phone if you like to carry those items.

Carrying some form of identification is recommended for all runners, particularly those who run alone and who are training over long distances. Should an accident happen or the runner finds themselves requiring medical assistance, carrying identification or a medical card could prove to be vital. There is a holder for these details to be kept safe and available if needed.

Some people like to take tablets with them on their runs too. Things such as salt tablets must be kept dry or else they will simply disintegrate and so the waterproof pocket is very useful for holding these pills.

Other Nathan Waist Packs

There are a number of different styles and configurations of Nathan Waist Packs for those who are looking for slightly more or slightly less hydration storage.

Nathan Speed 2 Waist Pack with 2 x 10oz Flasks
Nathan Speed 4 Waist Pack with 4 x 10oz Flasks
Nathan Speed 2R Auto-Cant Waist Pack with 2 x 8oz Flasks
Nathan Hydration Trail Mix Hydration Belt

You might also like to read the review of the Amphipod RunLite 4 Hydration Belt.

The Amphipod RunLite Hydration Belt offers the runner a number of huge reasons why you should choose this belt ahead of some of the others. For the marathon and half-marathon runner who is putting in significant mileage each run the RunLite 4 Hydration Belt will provide the ideal amount of fluid and will do so with a comfortable and customizable way.

Belt Features At A Glance

• SnapFlasks™ “click” in and out with one hand
• 100% leak-free 8 oz. bottles (4) with hi-flow spout
• Fix bottles anywhere on belt for optimized comfort and access
• Bounce-free, 360º stretch-limiter belt
• User moveable Rapid Access Pouch (5″ x 3″ x .75″)
• Built-in front stretch pocket (5″ x 2″ x .25″)
• Single handed bottle access with secure click-in system
• Easily add additional modules / accessories

Click for pricing and buying details

An important aspect with any running hydration belt has to do with comfort and the most uncomfortable experience occurs when the belt bounces around with every stride you take. The RunLite belts feature a bounce-free Stretch Limiter belt. This allows the belt to be adjusted so that it fits snugly to ensure it will not move while running.

The bottles, or SnapFlasks, snap onto the belt with a minimum of fuss and can be taken off and returned to the belt single-handed so you won’t have to break stride when getting a drink. The SnapFlasks are available in either 8oz or 10oz sizes and they feature hi-flow spouts that are promised to be leak free.

A big advantage that this belt has over some of the competitors is that the belt is fully customizable meaning the bottles can be positioned anywhere on the belt. This is important to avoid the hands or arms from coming in contact with the bottles when swinging as part of the running motion. It also means they can be positioned in the easiest to access places on the belt. These bottles may even be stored horizontally on the belt to give greater clearance for the arms.

If you are only planning a shorter run, you can remove a couple of the clip holders and convert your 4 bottle belt into a two bottle belt. This is such an adaptable system that you can use the larger 10.5oz bottles instead of the 8oz ones.

This hydration belt is not limited to carrying the bottles that can be clipped to the outside. It also contains a pouch that allows you to carry a gel or two, keys, money, your MP3 player or other small items that you would rather not leave behind while running.

Customer Reviews

There have been some very interesting comments on Amazon.com by runners who have used the Amphipod RunLite 4 Hydration Belt and provide some astute insights into how they have gotten the most out of them. It is worthwhile reading through these customer reviews. Read the Amphipod RunLite 4 Hydration Belt reviews

The RunLite 4 is only one of the range of quality running hydration belts that are available from Amphipod. Also available is the RunLite 2 (with 2 x 8oz bottles), the RunLite 2+ (with 2 x 10.5oz bottles), RunLite 3 (with 3 x 8oz bottles).

You might also like to take a look at the review for the Nathan Speed 4R Waist Pack.

These balls can be utilized in a number of different ways in exercises designed to increase range of motion, strength and endurance. They may be used during yoga, pilates and aerobics and they can be helpful for stretching exercises.

Something that must be understood right from the start, when you buy a Thera-Band Exercise Ball it does not come with a pump. You must buy one separately to inflate your exercise ball – for convenience a very good pump made by Isokinetics has been displayed below.

Types of Thera-Band Exercise Balls

Thera-band Exercise Balls are available in 5 different sizes and have been color coded to help you determine which one you require. They are also available in two different models, the original Standard Exercise Balls and the newer Pro Series SCP Exercise Balls. The size/color combination is the same regardless of whether you use the Standard or SCP balls.

This handy color/size/body height chart has been provided above to give you a guide as to which exercise ball to buy.

Thera-Band Standard SDS Exercise Balls

These balls are the original inflatable balls that were first brought out by Thera-Band. These balls are made from durable PVC and have been described as having a Slow Deflation System (SDS) which means they will not burst if they are punctured. This is the original exercise ball that is easy to clean and able to be used indoors and outdoors.

These exercise balls come with two plugs and an inflation adaptor. You also get an Exercise Ball Guide Poster explaining 24 exercises.

The original SDS exercise balls are available for sale and can be bought slightly cheaper than the newer Pro Series balls.

Buy A Standard Thera-Band SDS Exercise Ball

Thera-Band Pro Series SCP Exercise Balls

The newer version of the Thera-Band Exercise Ball is the Pro Series SCP Exercise Ball and this features a thicker surface that provides a number of added benefits to the original. The Pro Series balls will provide even more support without feeling overly soft. The Pro Series balls provide increased elasticity which will improve performance as they want to bounce back into position. This reduces muscle fatigue as you are working out. The final improvement comes down to the safety of using the balls because they are even more burst resistant with slow deflation capabilities.

The Pro Series exercise balls come with two plugs, a plug puller an exercise guide poster and a measuring tape that contains color codes marked at 80% and 100% inflation positions to help you gauge when the ball is properly inflated.

Buy A Thera-Band Pro Series SCP Exercise Ball

Inflating the Thera-Band Exercise Balls

A lot of the negative comments hat have been noted about the Thera-Band Exercise Balls have been to do with claims that the balls do not inflate to their advertised size and that the balls were too soft to be useful. In just about all of these cases the problem has actually been that the correct inflation process was not followed.

The Thera-Band Exercise Ball comes with instructions but for your convenience here are some tips for the correct inflation methods.

• The ball should start off at room temperature.
• Use a two-way air pump, a manual pump or an air compressor to fill the ball. (Note: a bike pump is not going to provide the required air pressure).
• Inflate the ball until it reaches the 80% filled mark. (The Pro Series Balls come with a measuring tape that will tell you the size of the ball when it is 80% inflated).
• Leave the ball at this point for at least 24 hours.
• Complete inflating the ball until it reaches the optimum inflation size.

If you are looking for a cheap but effective two-way air pump you might like to use the Isokinetics Exercise Ball Air Pump. This is a heavy duty pump capable of generating up to 14.5psi and it pumps on both the up and down stroke to make the process particularly quick. The pump stands 18″ tall and it is available in three different colors, black, gray and yellow.

Click here to get more details about this pump

Exercises Using the Thera-Band Exercise Balls

The Thera-Band Exercise Balls can be used in many different ways and will help with working your abs and strengthening the back. The following couple of videos provide demonstrations of a few simple exercises based around these balls.

This first demonstrates 3 exercises for the abs.

The next is a longer video that covers 10 more exercises.

Regardless of whether you need to perform balance, strengthening or core exercises there are a number of different ways in which the various balls may be put to use.

A simple process of kneeling on top of the ball will give you a good balance test. As a variation you can shift your weight from the knees and slowly move it back to the shins. This may need to be performed by leaning against a wall as you become accustomed to the process. When you become more proficient your might be able to perform the balancing process with your arms held at your sides.
Core exercises are going to work the abdominal and back muscles. The plank exercises where you place your feet on the ball and walk slowly out on your hands until you are only supported by the ball with your hands directly beneath your shoulders is a great starting point. There are numerous variations such as push-ups, walking backwards until the ball is under the knees and then walking forward again until the ball reaches the shins.

The exercise ball may be used as part of your strength program by placing the ball against the wall and leaning back into it until it sits in the small of your back. Lowering yourself until the thighs are parallel to the floor and then rolling back up is a simple but effective exercise.

Thera-Band is also responsible for more products that are trusted by doctors and physiotherapists for treatment of injuries and chronic conditions. Take a look at the comprehensive review of the Thera-Band FlexBar.

Easton Tracer Nock

Simple concepts, when they are correctly created and achieved, can be tremendously valuable and the concept of lighted nocks is undoubtedly one that is getting growing approval among hunters. The idea is that the back of the arrow is fitted with a small led light that enhances the visibility of the arrow when it is released from the bow.

There are several things to like about having an arrow which has a light attached, the most obvious is it is simpler to see the arrow while it is in flight. Therefore the shooter is able to see precisely how his or her arrow travels through the air and the light trail which is created will indicate the path of the arrow clearly. If modifications are necessary it is going to quickly become evident and this will help on upcoming shots.

The light will also provide a secondary benefit to the archer and that’s to stop arrows from getting lost. In the event the target be missed for some reason, depending on the thickness of the undergrowth, it is extremely easy to lose your arrow. In most cases these arrows are quite high-priced and the last thing you want to do is to replace all of them each time you go out. The led light inside the arrow nock will enhance visibility of the arrow as it sits in the undergrowth ensuring that it will be found without a lot of searching.

While these nocks have a tendency to cost more than the regular old plastic nocks they can be thought of as providing good value for money, especially if you bag more game or retain all of the arrows every time you shoot.

Equipment you might add to your bow includes a bow sight to ensure your aim is assured, a bow stabilizer to help balance the bow and reduce vibration, a bow sling to assist with carrying the bow, an arrow rest to fire the arrow on a straight path. You might also like to use a bow release which is something that many archers prefer to use to ensure a minimum of movement at the time of release.

Not using these pieces of equipment will still allow you to shoot a compound bow without any trouble at all. To get the greatest performance from your bow, these items will certainly be of great use.

The only real danger is that once you start to get to know about the various types of bow sights and bow releases it is very easy to become fanatical about them. A 3-pin bow sight will not be enough, you’ll simply have to have the 7-pin and the bow release with a manual trigger won’t hold a candle to the more sophisticated Carter back tension releases that are available.

Piling you bow with the latest fancy equipment is not a guarantee to successful shooting but it will certainly help you to improve and enjoy the sport even more.

The 1K discuses available for sale below are ordered from the rubber practice discus through the range of rim weights from lowest rim weight to highest.

1K Discuses For Sale

Click link to get more information about each discus for sale

Black Rubber Discus – Practice	Indoor Rubber Discus
Nelco Rubber Practice Discus	Champion Sports Wood Practice Discus
Laminated Olympic Wood Discus 60-70% Rim Weight	Nelco Super Spin Olympia Discus 80% Rim Weight
Nelco Ultimo Discus 83% Rim Weight	Nelco Black Orbit Stainless Rim Discus 85% Rim Weight
Gill Athletics Pacer Gold Discus 84% Rim Weight	Nelco Gold Discus 87% Rim Weight
Pacer Carbon Discus 90% Rim Weight	Nelco Odyssey Discus 91% Rim Weight

The 1kg discus is the size of the discus thrown by women at the highest level. It is also the discus that is used in US high school track and field meets in the girls events. Boys aged 11-14 throw the 1k discus before they move up to the 1.6k discus as 15-18 year olds while girls throw the 1k discus from 11 to 18 years of age. Moving into the Masters competitions the 1k discus is thrown by men aged 60 and over while Masters women throw the 1k discus up until they are 74 years old.

General Information About the Discus

The competition discus is made of plastic, fibreglass, wood or carbon fiber with a metal rim around the outside. It also has a metal core to provide it with the required weight. A rubber discus may be used by high school competitors and it is also a good, cheap training discus to aid with the learning process.

Generally speaking a discus that has the greater weight distribution towards the rim will attain a greater spin rate giving it greater momentum. The trade-off being that these discuses are more difficult to throw correctly. The rubber discus, because of the evenness of the weight distribution is easier to throw but will not fly as far.

Not only will this type of exercise equipment give you a stronger grip, it will help anyone suffering from hand or wrist injury to rehabilitate through daily exercises that can be controlled without the risk of straining and causing further injury.

The Gripmaster Hand Exerciser allows the fingers to be isolated and exercised independently from one another. The pistons are spring-loaded and there are four of them, one for each finger. Whereas other hand exercisers will allow the stronger, more dominant fingers to do most of the work, this exerciser can be used one finger at a time ensuring that every finger gets the same workout.

The Gripmaster Hand Exerciser is available in four different tensions from the extra-light yellow (3 lbs), light blue (5 lbs), medium red (7 lbs) and heavy black (9 lbs). It is recommended that those who have not worked out before should start on the lighter grips, either the yellow or the blue.

They are available for sale below, simply select one of the Gripmaster Hand Exercisers in a tension that will suit your strength level.

Buy A Gripmaster Hand Exerciser

3-Pounds

5-Pounds

7-Pounds

9-Pounds

It is important that you take into consideration the condition of your hands and the amount of weight they are capable of pushing. Also important is the reason why the hand exerciser is required. Those who are using it for rehabilitation after an injury will only require a minimum of resistance making the extra-light model perfect until some strength returns.

Sportsmen aiming to tighten their grip for holding such equipment as tennis racquets, baseball bats or even golf clubs may already have a strong grip that will enable them to start on a heavier hand exerciser such as the blue or red model. As well as being able to use the Gripmaster Hand Exerciser finger by finger it is possible to use it with the whole hand which means it will be of benefit for those playing these types of sports.

As well as the four hand exercisers offered above there is an extra extra light model that comes at 1.5 pounds of tension per finger. You can buy this one too if you feel you will need to start off at a particularly light model.

Guitar players or anyone taking up a stringed instrument will find their fingering will be improved after using the Gripmaster Hand Exerciser. It would be used with the tips of the fingers and would help to build up the dexterity and strength of the fingers as they are required to move over the strings. Similarly a keyboard player will also find benefit from using this type of exercise equipment with the fingers getting a great strengthening workout.

There are a number of different ways in which the Gripmaster Hand Exerciser can be used to provide various different types of workouts for the fingers, the hand or the wrist. The first is to individually work the fingers by pressing down a piston with the tip of each finger one at a time. It may also be used to exercise the fingers together by placing all fingertips on the pistons and working them together. The thumb may be exercised by holding the exerciser end-on and squeezing a piston with the thumb tip. Gripping the hand exerciser in the palm of the hand and hooking the fingers over the pistons will provide a strengthening workout for the entire hand.

When you take a look at the Gripmaster website you will find 6 exercises detailed along with a graphic illustration of how the hand exerciser is to be used in each exercise. The exercises are called gross grasp, hook position, key pinch, trigger pinch, tip-to-tip pinch and wrist flexion.

Browse through a selection of quality jig heads here

So how to fish using jig heads? Well, jig heads are basically designed to be tipped with a bait or plastic lure. Despite their weight, they need bait or lure in order to catch fish. Baits are preferred by many anglers because they can easily catch fish. But then again, anything plastic lasts longer than organic materials.

So plastic lures are easier to use and are, in the long run, cheaper than baits. Whether it be bait or plastic, proper tipping your jig head is very essential when you want to have a good catch. How you tip your jig head provides action to your bait or lure. When everything’s well-tipped, it is already time to, well, jig your jig head. Jigging this weighted terminal tackle is simply about the lifting and lowering of your bait or lure. Upon casting your line, you should allow your jig head to go as deep as it can, preferably hitting the bottom. You may also lift your jig head a few feet from the bottom before letting it drop again; repeat until jig head hooks unto something.

Proper ways to fish jig heads depend on the body of water that you will actually fish in. They also depend on the bait or lure that you will use. These two factors will determine the right kind of jig head that is fit for your fishing. A little imagination of how your bait or lure will move under water will also help you in choosing the right kind of jig head. Once you have chosen your jig head you can learn how to catch snapper or striped brass.