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tomberghan - Posted - 11/16/2009: 15:54:16
REVIEW of Clawhammer picks made from ping pong balls, designed by John Balch:
I was just on the road for a couple of weeks. About half way through my trip I broke about half of the tip of my clawhammer finger nail.
I managed to shape the nail with an emery board well enough to play but I realized that having no backup was foolhardy. Sure I can play with no nail, but I prefer having the nail.
So, last weekend I made my first John Balch Clawhammer pick from a ping pong ball and it works GREAT!
The ping pong ball material can be easily shaped with an emery board just as you would a finger nail. The material actually behaves very similar to a finger nail. It isn't like playing with a metal pick or plastic pick at all. It produces a sound nearly identical to your natural fingernail. And I am told that ping pong picks last for years.
I tested the sound out on my family and they say they are hard pressed to tell the difference in an A/B comparison. I agree with them too! I can tell the differance but being the banjoist, my ear is probably more sensitive in this regard.
So if you are like me and basically detest finger picks, and don't want an acrylic nail (because you like your natural nail best) but, you need to have a backup in case of an accident, I really believe this is probably the closest solution with regard to simulating the sound and feel of your natural nail. And it is comfortable to wear too!
Here is the link to John’s instructions:
http://www.johnbalchmusic.com/picks.html
Here is my CH pick:
Paul Roberts - Posted - 11/16/2009: 16:05:45
Nice job, Tom. I looks like you shaped the ball to go around your finger - like a regular pick - with the tape over that, so you can use it just like a regular pick. Is that correct? How long does it take to make? I'd like to try some of these. The price is right on these "ping picks." What kind of tape is that? What kind of knife, to cut the ball in half?
Ah, I see that John's have wings too - it was just more obvious in your model.
Paul
http://www.banjocrazy.com/ Gold Tone Banjos - Lowest Prices
http://www.youtube.com/user/strumstering Paul's YouTube Channel
Edited by - Paul Roberts on 11/16/2009 16:16:19
oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 11/16/2009: 16:17:58
That doesn't look like medical tape, but I believe John recommends medical tape. It is hypo-allergenic nd won't cause a rash even on my skin. I've gotten rashes from off-brand medical tape so now I only use Johnson & Johnson (I also own J&J stock but I've been Strictly a J&J buyer for most of my life - so I don't think I'm biased.
Actually I suspect any BRAND NAME medical tape is hypo-allergenic, but brands like Buy-Mor, Wal-Mart, and Krogers usually are made in places where the rules are (to put it mildly) laxer.
http://www.rocketsciencebanjo.com
Rocket Science Banjo - Advanced Clawhammer Techniques for beginners and long time players alike. Plus videos and 25-40 EZ Clawhammer Tunes.
& check out "How To Mold A Mighty Pinky" at:
http://www.pricklypearmusic.net
banjo brad's great banjo site
billyshake - Posted - 11/16/2009: 17:05:11
Aren't there different hardnesses to ping-pong balls? I read that TSP White Star balls are preferred by a lot of table tennis players because they last longer -- could we assume this would have an effect on one as a pick?
From http://ttpioneers.ping-pong.com/BallInfo.php, a table tennis site:
Ball Info
Better balls are harder (within reason), rounder, more uniform (no soft spots), and last longer.
Stars
Balls are classified from zero to three stars. Three-star balls are tournament quality.
____________________________
billyshake: The #1 Banjo Player on the Sub-Continent!
(of course, that's assuming I'm the ONLY banjo player on the sub-continent)
tomberghan - Posted - 11/16/2009: 17:08:18
Thanks Paul,
It took me about 20 minutes, but now that I know how to do it, and now that I have the first pick to use as a pattern, I could probably knock them out in about 7 minutes each!
The instructions are on John’s site . . . but here are my answers:
• I used a box cutter knife to cut the ball in half. Cut along the seam. Be careful and cut in the direction away from your hand. (Wearing a leather glove, on the hand you are holding the ball, would probably be prudent)
• You can print the pattern right from John’s web page. It comes out of the printer in just the right size! Smart man that John!
• Trace the pattern onto the half ball with a pencil
• Cut the shape out with a pair of scissors (I used a small pair with very pointed blades)
• Smooth the edges with an emery board
• Place it over your finger and fold the “wings” around your finger for a fit that seems snug but comfortable and tape the wings together. Now you have the basic pick.
• What kind of tape? Well, you know guys and their duct tape right? I love the stuff and use it for everything . . . but I do one better . . . I have cloth gaffer’s tape, which is waaayy better than ordinary duct tape. I don’t know about John’s picks, but on my pick the tape does not come into contact with my skin. I don’t have to tape the pick to my finger. I just slide the pick on, and viola, I am ready to clawhammer . . . just as you see in the photo. So, I would use any kind of tape you want . . . medical tape is OK too.
• Then, using the scissors or emery board, trim any places that might be pinching your finger. Customize it to fit your finger.
• Finally, using an emery board, shape the pick exactly like you would your own natural nail. (Just like you see in my photo)
• Lastly – go play banjo for hours and hours! 
Here is a photo of the pattern after it has been cut from the half ball. (Courtesy of John's site)
To answer Billyshakes's questions - Yes, you can get ping pong balls in three diameters: 38mm, 40mm, and 44mm. And, they are graded from one to three stars . . . three stars being the most expensive. I am not sure if the stars are an indication of hardness. I believe they are simply an indication of quality in the material. John says he buys the three stars. Not knowing the difference, I bought a small pack of one stars . . . and this pick I made sounds fine to me. However, next time I think I will get the 44mm. 40mm is the standard Olympic size. But I want less curvature. The larger diameter will result in a flatter surface over the finger nail.
I have discovered that 44mm ping pong balls are available all over the place. Even Amazon sells them. Apparently they are for beginners. Since they are larger, they travel (fly) more slowly (pushing more air) so they are good for people just learning to play (ping pong that is . . . not clawhammer!)
Edited by - tomberghan on 11/16/2009 17:27:28
tomberghan - Posted - 11/16/2009: 17:58:51
Thanks again Paul! One last picture - I wanted to show you and OWC that the tape does not contact my skin. This photo is looking down the inside of the pick. So as you can see the wings fold in and thus form the body of the pick. It simply slips on and off. (But it fits snugly)
jbalch - Posted - 11/16/2009: 18:01:30
Hey Tom & everyone. I'm very pleased if the picks work for you. I've used them for several years with great results.
As for the tape...I use thin strips of filament-reinforced strapping tape. The tape does not contact my skin.
Also...I have recently revised the design that I'm personally using. I simply elongated the "wings" to lengthen the pick about 1/4". I find the new style to be more comfortable and stable.
I've used different kinds of balls. The ones I prefer are a tournament-quality (3-star) ball I bought from an ebaY seller. These better balls are a little thicker than some I tried.
I make these in batches of five or ten at a time. From each batch, I always have one or two that are outstanding. They become my favorites. I encourage experimentation and patience.
My web page needs to be updated...but in the meantime, here are photos of the new style:
I hope this is useful!
www.johnbalchmusic.com
www.myspace.com/johnbalch
tomberghan - Posted - 11/16/2009: 18:51:26
Strapping tape . . . Nice! I like the longer body of your newest design. I'll experiment with that.
OK, so now I can make a pick like John! . . . but I still can't pick like John 
jbalch - Posted - 11/16/2009: 18:52:02
The shape of the pick itself is not deliberately different. Mine are all usually a little asymetrical. But as Tom said...the great thing is you can shape the tip easily with nail files to as profile that sounds as you like it.
The change is that The wings are elongated so that my finger fits further in the pick for more stability and comfort.
One more tip...I usually polish the edge with extremely fine sandpaper (800-1200 grit). That improves the feel of the pick and helps eliminate burrs that can cause it to split and fail. A well-made pick can last me for several years.
www.johnbalchmusic.com
www.myspace.com/johnbalch
Edited by - jbalch on 11/16/2009 18:54:17
jbalch - Posted - 11/16/2009: 18:58:57
Tom:
Your music on the lute is far more sophisticated and beautiful than my simple banjo stuff. But...I really appreciate the encouragement! Thank-you.
BTW here is the link to Tom's music for anyone who migth have missed it: http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/tom/
I shared some of your music this weekend with my friend David Emery (Owner of the famous Dan Knowles ebony & Goshen banjos). Like me...he is now a fan.
www.johnbalchmusic.com
www.myspace.com/johnbalch
Edited by - jbalch on 11/16/2009 19:35:15
billyshake - Posted - 11/16/2009: 23:24:37
quote:
Originally posted by jbalch
BTW here is the link to Tom's music for anyone who migth have missed it: http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/tom/
Gorgeous stuff. Because I have the time and I'm a little geeky, I have a big box of ping-pong balls and a big box of silly ideas -- I'm using an exacto knife to cut interlocking, "cereal box" style hooks on the edges of the wings to see if I can make them fit in a firm, comfortable fashion without (or with very little) tape. I also have a big roll of black duct tape and I have a feeling...yeah, I'm sure I'll end up using the tape! ____________________________ billyshake: The #1 Banjo Player on the Sub-Continent! (of course, that's assuming I'm the ONLY banjo player on the sub-continent)
Paul Roberts - Posted - 11/17/2009: 06:05:51
Do I foresee a new cottage industry in the making? Or, do we all just hang out on our individual mountain tops, carving up ping pong balls in our spare time? Happy ping picking to all. What a great idea exchange this is.
Paul
http://www.banjocrazy.com/ Gold Tone Banjos - Lowest Prices
http://www.youtube.com/user/strumstering Paul's YouTube Channel
billyshake - Posted - 11/17/2009: 07:18:38
I can't believe how much I love this ping-pong-pick! I'd been using a metal bluegrass pick just turned around and I had no idea what I was missing in tone and feel. Fantastic. And ugly. Somehow, "ugly" just seems preferable to "purdy" when it comes to old time banjo. And, of course, it's a completely individual thing -- my fifth try is the keeper and it looks nothing like those in the posts above. (and it's orange, dangit...all I could find)
Thanks for the help, fellas. I'm gonna be grinnin' more than usual for a few days.
-----
Forgot to mention earlier -- anyone else get a strong whiff of the gas let out when you cut a ping pong ball open? Phew. Nasty.
Edited by - billyshake on 11/17/2009 09:05:33
tomberghan - Posted - 11/17/2009: 07:54:45
Hi Billy, that is great news! It is like a ground swell . . . a grass roots movement! Pretty soon there will be maybe a dozen of us in the world. THEN they will listen to us! (not)
Hey, take a picture of your best design and post it for us to see. I REALLY like your idea of cutting a lock into the wings (cereal box style).
Your balls must be 44mm (sorry ladies, I apologize in advance for any misinterpretation of that statement). I believe the orange color is for ping-pong-beginners so the ball can be more easily seen. So the 44mm is both slower and more visible.
billyshake - Posted - 11/17/2009: 09:28:47
Well, Tom, the interlocking idea sounded good, but with just the tiniest rip or thin slot, the material tears when I put pressure on it. I'd need to be able to reinforce it somehow.
This is the one I finally decided fit best -- and boy is it ugly! Shiny black duct tape -- which I thought would get sweaty and slide but it hasn't so far. I'm very limited on materials. These balls, called "GKI 40mm Dragon" may have been sitting in that shop for 15 years. But I could not be happier with the sound this thing is making. So crisp and clean. And I can really feel the string almost like the pick is a nail.
My next pick project, however, will be to cut the striking surface off a bluegrass fingerpick, then super glue the same ping pong pick in Mr. Balch's original design over the wings of the pick (wings over wings). That way, I have an easily formed and rebendable pick with the sound I now dig.
The pick doesn't hang over my finger quite this much -- this is before I clipped it down to size.
 
____________________________
billyshake: The #1 Banjo Player on the Sub-Continent!
(of course, that's assuming I'm the ONLY banjo player on the sub-continent)
stringbeaner - Posted - 11/18/2009: 00:52:30
I just broke my pickin' nail this afternoon and Dang! Not a ping-pong ball in the house. I live about 50 miles from a ping-pong ball store so i guess I'll have to wait 'til thursday. DANG!!
Stringbeaner
billyshake - Posted - 11/18/2009: 03:34:03
quote:
Originally posted by stringbeaner
I just broke my pickin' nail this afternoon and Dang! Not a ping-pong ball in the house. I live about 50 miles from a ping-pong ball store so i guess I'll have to wait 'til thursday. DANG!!
Stringbeaner
I know the frustration there, amigo. Luckily, when I accidentally set my thumb pick afire, I realized I could use the time to learn clawhammer and I haven't looked back. Do you have any bluegrass finger picks around? You can bend the heck out of one and turn it around to use temporarily. ____________________________ billyshake: The #1 Banjo Player on the Sub-Continent! (of course, that's assuming I'm the ONLY banjo player on the sub-continent)
FretlessFury - Posted - 11/18/2009: 04:45:57
quote:
Originally posted by billyshake
Better balls are harder (within reason), rounder, more uniform (no soft spots), and last longer.
I think I can say that I've just about read it all on this site now.  This is a very timely post for me since I recently broke my nail and was toneless for about two weeks. I was going nuts. I'm going to make a couple of these and keep them in my case....just in case! Great stuff! Tom Collins --------------- www.newhottimes.comElements of Round Peak Banjo videos: http://youtube.com/profile?user=FretlessFury
Edited by - FretlessFury on 11/18/2009 06:18:54
tomberghan - Posted - 11/18/2009: 07:59:10
I have watched Tom Colin’s videos many times! Nice work Tom. I have learned a lot from listening to you and watching you. Thank you Sir!
So we are all (or were) in the same boat!
We like to play with our natural finger nail, but, once in a while we displease the banjo-gods (my theory) and the ol’ nail breaks (maybe they do this us to strengthen us like tempering steel in fire . . . or, maybe they are just taking a little pleasure in watching us squirm . . . you know, like they did to Jason and the Argonauts . . . the banjo-gods are very hard to figure out).
So now we have two more players joining our ping pong ranks. John Balch will be very proud.
So, Tom . . . after you have whittled yourself a new ping pong pick, how about making a video of it!?
Seriously . . . this seems to be a big issue for CH players (as is evidenced by people continually asking about it on the BHO). You would be doing the CH community a big service! They might even name a street after you! (Well, maybe just a dirt road just south of some strip mine . . . but it would still be cool!)
FretlessFury - Posted - 11/18/2009: 10:02:45
Thanks for the kind words! How come folks who play the banjo are so nice? I'll take a dirt road south of a strip mine as long as John Balch gets a green country lane!
I'd be up for making a video featuring John's ping-pong-pick, but I would want John's 'ok'. He's the originator of the idea after all. If our community could be said to have a "crisis", it would be the problems originating around the striking nail. I can say that at least 98% of my students are plagued by nail problems, and some of them aren't able to grow solid striking nails to begin with let alone maintain them.
Before I do anything I have to figure out if these picks will work for me. I just have to get some pingpong balls and have at 'em to figure out the right shape. I've got some gaffer's tape (flourescent orange!!) that I think I'll use.
Great stuff, guys. And a big thanks to John who not only is a world-class picker but a man who is generous with his ideas. I'll give this a shot this weekend and report back!!
Ya know, I think these picks need a flashy name. Balch's Baffling Ball-Claw? JB's Pong Pick? Johnny's Magic Tape'n'Ball? The possibilities are endless!
Tom Collins
---------------
www.newhottimes.com
Elements of Round Peak Banjo videos: http://youtube.com/profile?user=FretlessFury
Edited by - FretlessFury on 11/18/2009 10:08:12
bvh - Posted - 11/18/2009: 15:08:26
Hi Tom and John and all..............I made one of John's picks today, after purchasing some good 40MM ping pong balls, at Dick's($6.00 for six). This is the first pick, that I've used, that will stay on my finger, without tape or glueing to my finger. I will have to play, with a slightly lighter touch, but it seems to work well. Thanks John.
bvh
P.S. How are the webcam lessons going, Tom?
majikgator - Posted - 11/18/2009: 16:04:06
Toberghan. i just wanted to comment that in your opening you said you shaped your nail with an emery board, although emery boards are ok (i guess) for rough shaping ,an industrial diamond or saphire nail file is best to use for your nails, emery boards can have big chunks in their sandpaper like coating and can cause nicks in your nails (and sound) they are cheap and last a long time and are (and should be) washable, they usualy have the two sides just like an emery board one for shaping and one foe finishing, as they last longer they are really no more expensive, good luck with your pick, my nail hardner (essie millionails) is still hanging in there happily so i don't need them.
jbalch - Posted - 11/18/2009: 16:18:21
Tom Collins:
Thanks for the kind words. This idea came to me when a friend said that Chet Atkins glued ping pong ball pieces to his fingernails for playing. All I did was eliminate the glue...
It never seemed commercially viable to try to develop this into a marketable product (I thought about it). I decided I'd rather lose money making CDs than picks. So from the beginning, I have published free photos and instructions on my website.
I hope you find the perfect solution to any fingernail issues you (and your students) may have. I'm very happy if this pick is part of the solution. It has worked very well for me.
Please feel free to use them in your videos.
tomberghan - Posted - 11/18/2009: 18:29:20
Thank you for the correction Majikgator. You are right emery boards are too rough and not actually what I use. I buy these four sided boards at the drug stores. I don't know they are called but they are always right there in the same section as the emery boards. They are really inexpensive and work great. They don't last very long (but then they don't cost much either).
I'll have to try a industrial diamond or saphire nail file as you suggest. They are probably best just as you say. Where do you get those anyway? Is that something you can find in a drugstore? (Chemist . . . Apothecary store, whatever)
Solo - Posted - 11/19/2009: 13:39:51
Thanks for this John. It's nothing shy of a brilliant solution to a huge problem. I've tried to maintain proper picking nails on my right hand for years, and the topic of damaged nails has been constantly bashed about on finger-picking guitar forums for ages. Not only is this a revolutionary solution for banjo, but guitar as well.
My nails are pretty strong, but a damaged nail has grounded me in the past. I'm going to keep a few handy. Leave it to a talented professional to figure this out.
Thanks again.
Pine Cone - Posted - 11/20/2009: 11:54:10
Another "Thanks John" from another ping pong pick maker. I managed to smash my frailing finger with a sledge hammer last August while beating on my log cabin project and the damaged part finally grew out to the point where last weekend the damage left me missing about 1/3 of my nail. While using my middle finger is an option, the ping-pick on my index works great.
A great idea that works well!
Old Chorizo - Posted - 12/22/2009: 11:26:04
I have some disposable cutting boards (plastic sheeting that you can find in the kitchen utensils area of stores like Walmart and such) that are pretty thin and flexible and are probably as thin as what I think a pingpong would be.
I am just getting started with this whole clawhammer banjo thing but I will probably try to make a pick similar to these ping pong ones with this material as I have some laying around.
I figure I should try it as generally like to keep my nails almost bleeding cut close and it doesn't seem to work out well for me. Might also help with using the middle finger. I like the feel of using the middle finger a bit better I think but it just doesn't sound as good as when I use my first finger.
Anyway, if I go ahead with this I will post back and let you know what this newbie thinks of the picks made out of cutting mat material.
oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 12/22/2009: 16:14:45
I have tried a coupe of those Freedom Picks (formerly known as French Picks?) of late and intend to order some up from Elderly real soon - just waiting for the rush to end since I waited so long I failed to get an order in before it began. I got a pile o stuff to order, and hope they aren't out of too much stuff in Jan.
At any rate I've never done a ping pong ball pick - lack of balls, and allergy to some polishing materials, but the Freedom Pick seems to work for me.
majikgator - Posted - 12/22/2009: 20:12:41
Tomberghan, sorry i haven't got back to this thread sooner. yes the industrial diamond and/or spahirre nail files are available in most drugstores probably Walmarts as well and are probably located near the emery boards and clippers just look for nail files and then read the label to se how they are made and you shouldn't have any trouble, they ususualy are about 2 - 5 bucks each and last a long time so in the end they may actually be cheaper than emery boards, just wash out the build up from the filing. One make was called Diamond Deb and that was the best but haven't seen those in a while, there are a lot of manfactors of them. it's also good to avoid clipping the nails and just try to keep on top of the filing, clipping can inadvertently cause hairline fractures (or worse) of the nail. I've been doing this for a long time as i use nails to plick guitar as well and got this nail thing from Classical guitarists about 35 years ago, length shaping and care.
Old Chorizo - Posted - 12/24/2009: 07:47:33
So I made one of these picks using John Balch's pattern and a disposable cutting mat as the material. I got it all taped and shaped up to match my fingernail. It fit comfortably and snug enough to stay on my finger.
However, I seemed to be more inaccurate with it, and I had the tendency to want to actually pick with it, instead of use it like it was my fingernail. I did not enjoy using it. At this point since I am just starting out learning clawhammer, I am afraid that if I try to train myself to use it, I will hurt my journey to learn the banjo.
Maybe I'll try it again after I become more proficient with the basic strokes.
August - Posted - 12/24/2009: 17:28:15
I never could get used to any kind of finger pick for clawhammer. Using one always felt unnatural and I never felt that I knew where the pick was in relation to the strings. Accuracy suffered. However, having broken my middle finger nail I had to file it down. I was desperate, so I made one of the ping-pong picks, filed it and fitted it and filed it some more. It took a day but it now feels, and sounds, better than the nail. I really hate to admit this, and I will use my nail when it grows back but if you need it try it, it works. Get the tip as close to the top of the finger as you can.
-August
jbalch - Posted - 12/24/2009: 20:09:34
Richard:
I'm happy the pick works for you. You are right. It takes a bit of patience and plenty of file work to get it right. But when you make a pick that fits well and is shaped right it is hard to beat. I usually make them in batches of five or six. I select the best among them and work until I've got it just right. Fortunately, the last a good long time. I've had picks that held-up for several years of regular use.
I've used them for a long time. Personally, I can't maintain a fingernail that gives me the same reliability and quality of tone.
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