Cheap Beginner Poi

It's only very recently that I've discovered poi: those weighted balls on chains or ropes that are swung around the body for fun... and boy are they FUN. If not to try yourself, then at the very least for onlookers to watch :) I first saw these a couple years ago when I was being introduced to the rock climbing culture and quickly learned that such activities like poi, firesticking, slack lining, and the like are all commonly practiced around the world!

So enough dilly dallying, allow me to show you a nifty instructable in making your own beginner set of poi for very cheap! And for a limited time only, I'll be breaking down these steps into 5 very easy but unnecessary parts!

Here are the materials you need:
♦ 2 Tennis Balls (about $1 each)
♦ 1 Nylon Rope (50' for about $6)
♦ 1 Pocket Knife (If you don't already have a knife I feel sorry for you)

You don't need these next ones but then again you don't really NEED poi either... they're just nice to have :)
♦ 1 Lighter ($0.50 recommended)
♦ 1 Regular/Super Glue ($1-2, recommended)

Step 1 The Slit and the Ball

Let me first say that I think a smaller blade would be better rather than a large blade (like say a kitchen knife) because you want to minimalize the hole in the ball. Hold the ball firmly against something (NOT THE PALM OF YOUR HAND) and carefully push into the ball with your knife. You want to have the knife cut a slit about 3/4" long into ONE side of the ball.

With that, part 1 is complete. Go make yourself a cup of tea and procrastinate for a month.

Comments

[Rteen]

so what do you do with this

[parallelchild]

These are used as beginning trainer poi for stuff like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcUXzRKWg9w&feature=related

[modaawesome]

do not let your friends throw this at you will hit you in groin at some point.

[drbill]

They used to make them out of hard plastic balls attached the same way only back then we called them click clacks and sometimes the plastic balls would explode from the beating they would take.

These are really good, I might introduce them in Hawai'i where people are adicted to this stuff easily.

By The Way, Poi is made from Taro (Kalo in Hawaiian).
Kalo root is pounded into a purple paste and is a starch staple to Hawaiians.
I like to eat poi with Kalua Pig.

Very good Ib'le I give you a 5.0

[parallelchild]

Exploding ones huh? That sounds like it could be a humorous (albeit dangerous) prank on someone... perhaps stuff some strike-anywhere matchstick heads into the balls before stuffing the string in the hole... first time you mess up, you'll have an explosive consequence...

Hahahahahahaha... yeah I'm evil.
By the way, thanks for the Thumbs up :D