D’Addario Varigrip Hand Exerciser–Improve Dexterity and Strength in Fingers, Hands, Forearms- Adjust Tension Per Finger– Simulated Strings Help Develop Calluses- Comfortable Conditioning

I own a Blue (light tension) Grip Master and a Planet Waves Varigrip. Both are great and have helped my guitar fretting hand. I thought I'd give a quick summary for anyone considering purchasing one of these.I bought the Ruff Rider callus builder caps for the GM, and they really added a lot to the value I get from the GM. Calluses are critical to my being able to play well. If you are considering these, I found that it was a lot cheaper to order the Ruff Rider through Guitar Center and have them delivered for free to a local Guitar Center. I would suggest buying the actual PWV and the GM through Amazon.The PWV comes with the callus ridges on the opposing side (the palm side). So to work on your calluses you need to remove the callus cover and flip the grip over. The downside is that you can't work on finger dexterity at the same time that you are building your calluses. At first I considered this a disadvantage. However I've changed my mind and consider it a distinct advantage over the GM. There are times when you don't want to shred your calluses (show or important practice coming soon) but you still want to work your fingers. If you've put the callus builders on the GM, it takes a little time to pop them off and put them back on again, plus you run the risk of misplacing them, and removing them a number of times may loosen their fit. So I strongly prefer the PWV design for the callus option. I have permanently removed the callus cover from the PWV and it works great without it. Actually it works better for me because it makes it slightly smaller. (With the cover removed the callus builder side just harmlessly presses into your palm and you really can't feel it).I have a preference for the GM when it comes to building strength for bar type chords. This I do by holding the palm side with my thumb and running my index finger along the full set of buttons. I prefer the GM for this because it has two sets of springs in it which allow for a better and more natural (for me) squeeze.As far as exercising for finger dexterity, I much prefer the PWV for two main reasons. It's much easier (for me) to work fingers individually. It's very stable and allows me to isolate individual fingers as opposed to the GM which is kind of sloppy (too much movement) due to the double spring action which leads to unwanted movement/tilting and other fingers slipping off the buttons when trying to work a particular finger. Secondly the distance between the palm and the finger tips is about 1/4" shorter with the PWV (when the callus cover is removed) which allows me to use better form by really curling my fingers and bringing my fingertips in from the very top. I have big hands and still prefer the PWV. If my hands were smaller I would prefer the PWV that much more.The PMV also allows the tension on each finger to be adjusted individually. For me this isn't as big an advantage as the two previously mentioned because increasing resistance is not important to me. A disadvantage of the PMV is that after about 2 weeks it started squeaking which was a bummer for my wife and kids on a one week vacation when I didn't have my guitar handy and wanted to keep me fingers in shape. "Dad - enough already with that finger gadget". However this problem is easily fixed by an occasional shot of Triflo or any silicon spray (I don't recommend WD40). I recommend spraying while the fingers are depressed then wiping with a napkin.For me, finger strength is not as important as finger coordination and speed. I seldom press the buttons all the way down, and I seldom press all the buttons together. I slowly increase speed with partial pushes and various patterns that demand varying degrees of coordination (1234, 4321, 1324, 121314, 1414, 1313, etc.)If I had to pick one or the other I would choose the PWV without hesitation, but that is just my personal opinion. If you can afford both, I would do that and see what works better for you. But, again, both are great and have really helped my playing.Keep on pickin'-Mike

Works well, quality product

The D'Addario Hand Exerciser is a great tool for building strength and dexterity in your fingers, hands, and forearms. As a guitarist, I’ve found it especially useful for improving finger independence and endurance. I love that you can adjust the tension for each finger, which allows for customized workouts depending on your needs. The simulated strings are a clever feature—they effectively help develop calluses without the need for a guitar in hand.It’s also comfortable to use, with an ergonomic design that fits well in the palm. I appreciate how portable it is; I can practice anywhere, whether I’m on the go or just relaxing at home.The only reason I didn’t give it five stars is that the tension adjustment isn’t as smooth as I’d like. It sometimes feels uneven between fingers, which can be a bit distracting. Also, after extended use, the resistance could be a bit stronger for more advanced conditioning.Overall, it’s an excellent tool for musicians or anyone looking to increase hand strength and dexterity. Definitely worth the investment!

I’ve always been skeptical of gadgets that are supposed to help you play an instrument. I decided to try this project after a year long hiatus from playing while I recovered from multiple surgeries. I lost a lot of muscle mass and strength all over my body, hands included. I figured a little focused hand workout couldn’t hurt to help me start playing guitar again, so I decided to try this.After a week, I’m already noticing results. On day one my pinky couldn't depress the key halfway, even on the easiest difficulty. A week later I’ve actually been able to up the difficultly a few times and it’s getting easier still. I don’t know if it’s actually building muscle, so much as training my hand muscles to start working again. Playing my guitar I’m noticing less fatigue and more finger accuracy. I feel as though I’m playing with less effort and able to focus on the music, not how hard my fingers are struggling. As a result in sounding better and couldn’t be happier! I’m also experimenting with the right hand, but not sure if it’s making as much of a difference.I want to clarify that this product will not improve your musicality or technique by itself. You don’t need a ton of hand strength to get a good sound, play quickly, or anything like that. In fact, you should be pressing the string as lightly as possible when playing. In my experience this device is an incredible supplement to practice time and has been effective in my personal rehabilitation. I basically use it as a fidget toy throughout the day, but it’s one that supports my guitar playing so it’s a winner in my book. I’ll probably use this until it breaks, then buy a replacement. A+ product!

this is really good and does exactly what it claims to do. the build quality is good and it feels good in my small hands. I have grip strengtheners but I like that this strengthens all my fingers individually. I like having the option to remove the ergonomic grip if I want to. also I love that you can adjust the resistance on each finger piston. It’s a brilliant design!

Love it. Works great as a hand / finger exerciser and a fidget toy. I’ve had this thing by my side constantly since I got it. It absolutely helps with finger dexterity and more. If you’re thinking about trying it out, just do it.

I'm so happy I gave this a try! I play piano and am just learning violin. I am struggling with bow bounce because I am left handed and I am using my right hand for the bow, which is weak. This tool is helping strengthen my fingers, but also my forearm, which will help my wrist not shake when I'm playing (which causes the bow bounce). I am also shocked at how weak my pinkies are!