D'AddarioVarigrip Finger Strengthener with Fiddilink - Finger Exerciser & Guitar Trainer with Simulated Strings for Callus Building - Strengthening & Coordination Tool for Guitar Players

I'm not exactly sure what this does but I know only having a few hours a week (and if that) to learn the guitar means I'll have to exercise my fingers away from the instrument. My right hand grips the computer mouse daily so it's more worked up throughout the week; my left is living mostly a life of leisure so it's weaker.Thought this made sense as it's convenient, portable, and makes no noise. I can hold it while browsing the web mindlessly or while out for a walk outside. It's really neat that the grip part pulls away to reveal molded plastic "strings" to help build callouses. I've been pressing away for a little bit and realize how weak my pinky is. Haven't gotten to where I need that yet but will work it out for the future. A day isn't going to do anything: like lifting weights, give it some time to see results.Also should be good for the drums I keep putting off. Strengthening the back two fingers to use them to bounce the stick instead of excessive wrist motion.The fidget toy is strange, I need to see more videos on how to properly use it. If you want to try it, the combo bundle is only a dollar more for both and I think that's fair enough to give it a go. For the separate price, I would not buy the fidget alone.

as advertised

These are kind of fun and if you like a fidget toy this is a good one to get. Quality is fine and makes good noises. overall it is a good product

Pros: Compared this to the other types. I prefer this product due to the stability of each finger press. They sit in their own slot with their own adjustable spring. I feel more isolation of the finger being worked out, whereas the other types move around quite a bit with the shared spring. The adjustability makes this product more versatile. I think I could have spent 2-3x as much to cover the range this handles. Overall great comfort, well formed grip, fantastic value, and top tier performance for the product category.Cons: If you need a very light hand/finger exerciser you may want an extra light in the other design. If you hand very strong fingers/grip, you will probably be purchasing an extra strong version of the other type of product as this only adjusts to a certain amount of tension.Overall great product that covers what 3 or 4 individual hand exercisers would of the other brand's product, and great stability for focus in the exercise.

I bought my first Varigrip over 10yrs ago and didnt like it then. I thought it was useless. However, I started playing guitar again and realized that I couldnt get through some technical shredding the way I could when I was younger.Im in my 30s and I can already feel my hands starting to crap out. My fingers felt sore and weak after playing. I Came across a medical store that sold all kinds of arthritis and hand exercising equipment and saw these 2 products. Decided to give it a try again, and to my surprise, it actually worked at strengthening my hand.First few days, I didnt think It was helping at all. The Varigrip plungers where uncomfortable and very stiff. I thought I thought I needed a lighter version, but I just kept fidgeting with it. After 2 weeks, my grip felt stronger and I currently have the resistance cranked all the way high on the Varigrip. I might have to buy the stronger heavier version.At first, i thought that I had just loosened up the tolerances from wearing it out, but it wasnt until I saw my younger brother (7 yrs younger) struggling with the varigrip, that I realized that it actually helped strengthen my grip. Most people that use the Varigrip will struggle with depressing the pinky and ring finger plunger. Those of us that use the grip frequently will have no problem with that.My advice, is to just stick with it past the first week at least. Its annoying to use at first, but now it actually feels good to squeeze the varigrip. I find it kind of soothing.Now for the Fiddilink review. This thing sucks. its stiff the first time you try flipping it, but now its so loose and floppy. I really do not see any benefit in flopping the fiddilink around. I see it more as a fidgeting toy. I prefer to pump the varigrip instead.

Background: I bought this at the request of my fiance. He had recently undergone a hand procedure and thought the Varigrip would assist in his rehabilitative physical therapy. He says it is helping with his progress. He didn't care about the Fiddilink so I figured it would be a fun little toy that I could play with, (even though I'm not really into the whole fidget-spinner thing).I have to admit the Fiddilink is fun to play with and kind of relaxing once you get used to it. My only recommendation to D'Addario for version 2 would be to modify the shape of the six links that make up the Fiddilink so as to allow a cord to be threaded through the device. This is so that you could clip it to something (or wear it around your neck, if that's your jam). That would help it not get lost among one's clutter.As it is, the links line up so tightly that only the thinnest string could be threaded through it.Nevertheless, both items seem quite robust and do their jobs admirably. And that's not just because the company is 30 minutes away from me...or that the D'Addario family comes from the same part of Italy as my dad. :)

Great exercise. Use while walking or watching TV.

I found this really heled finger strength, especially my pinky. As an older player, I’ve learned to stretch for chords I couldn’t reach before.It’s not easy to push down the individual buttons all at once but you can use it to isolate individual fingers. Haven’t really used the side that helps builds callusesThe first one I got had a malfunctioning spring but D’Addario sent me a new one. Great customer service. I only buy D’Addario strings . Great company.