Preseason training

[Bas]

I think the power bands are a scam but if you genuinely believe they work then they probably will. The mind is an incredibly powerful tool.

They were selling them in Melbourne last week at Equitana for $70 each. I declined to purchase.

[Jewels]

I think the power bands are a scam but if you genuinely believe they work then they probably will. The mind is an incredibly powerful tool.

They seem to be working OK for the Pommie cricketers!

[swansrob]

From a couple of weeks ago...

?Corrective Advertisement

Power Balance wristbands

In our advertising we stated without qualification that Power Balance wristbands improved your strength, balance and flexibility. We admit that there is no basis for our unqualified claims and therefore we engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in breach of s52 of the Trade Practices Act 1974.

If you feel you have been misled by our promotions, we wish to unreservedly apologise and offer a full refund.

To obtain a refund please visit our website Power Balance or contact us toll-free on 1800 xxxxxx

This offer will be available until [insert date six months after the commencement date of the Undertaking]. To be eligible for a refund, together with return postage, you will need to return a genuine Power Balance product along with proof of purchase in Australia.

This Corrective Notice has been paid for by Power Balance Australia Pty Ltd and placed pursuant to an undertaking to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission given under section 87B of the Trade Practices Act, 1974.

[BSA5]

I think the power bands are a scam but if you genuinely believe they work then they probably will. The mind is an incredibly powerful tool.

Of course. The Placebo effect, the power of suggestion, it's all very real stuff. But believing they'll work in the first place is not a particularly glowing endorsement of a person's intelligence. Then again, when you've got the money, might as well spend it.

Looking through the gallery, he's not the only one!

I saw a lot of wristwatches, and maybe LRT had one as well but it was difficult to tell. Jack's was the only one that definitely looked like power balance.

[Kirkari]

I think the power bands are a scam but if you genuinely believe they work then they probably will. The mind is an incredibly powerful tool.

Well, I don't know about the first sentence, but agree with the second. Maybe more like the fan rituals (to sing or not sing the song before the game, etc.) and how we think they influence the outcome of the game. They don't change the outcome but they change our enjoyment/engagement level. A wristband (or any amount of positive thinking) won't make Kizza better, stronger, faster, but the fact he bought it (especially given his reputation for being "careful" with his cash) means he's focussed on being better, stronger, faster, so no harm either.

If he wears the wristband and believes in it so much he stops training, let's see how effective it is...

[Go Swannies]

Of course. The Placebo effect, the power of suggestion, it's all very real stuff. But believing they'll work in the first place is not a particularly glowing endorsement of a person's intelligence. Then again, when you've got the money, might as well spend it.

A friend of mine is a senior immunologist working with NASA and the Australian Antarctic Division and from what he's told me the placebo effect is remarkable. Not only that it works but that is can even work if you tell people that it's a placebo. Give people pills and tell them these are the real thing and these are placebos and both groups react as if the pills were all genuine. So, in the case of the Powerband, you could sell it to someone telling them that it does nothing and it will have the effect for which it's sold. That's just weird.

[laughingnome]

Of course. The Placebo effect, the power of suggestion, it's all very real stuff. But believing they'll work in the first place is not a particularly glowing endorsement of a person's intelligence.

So what of the numerous people in competitions who have lucky socks, lucky undies, dress left-to-right, don't talk, do talk, get dressed at an exact time, and any number of other seemingly insignificant things that sportspeople do in the belief that it will in some way give them the edge? The belief that something works can give even the strongest mind a jolt, it has nothing to do with natural intelligence.

[Big Al]

They seem to be working OK for the Pommie cricketers!

Only if the sun was reflecting off the bands into the Aussie bowlers eyes. Would explain some of the crap bowling I guess.

[Go Swannies]

So what of the numerous people in competitions who have lucky socks, lucky undies, dress left-to-right, don't talk, do talk, get dressed at an exact time, and any number of other seemingly insignificant things that sportspeople do in the belief that it will in some way give them the edge? The belief that something works can give even the strongest mind a jolt, it has nothing to do with natural intelligence.

Isn't that rather "I didn't do this and lost" rather than "If I do this, I'll win"? The same reason that superstition says you don't carry bananas on fishing vessels.

[Bas]

Isn't that rather "I didn't do this and lost" rather than "If I do this, I'll win"? The same reason that superstition says you don't carry bananas on fishing vessels.

Very viscious those sea monkeys.

[Big Al]

Very viscious those sea monkeys.

[Primmy]

Isn't that rather "I didn't do this and lost" rather than "If I do this, I'll win"? The same reason that superstition says you don't carry bananas on fishing vessels.

I dunno. I keep thinking "if I only buy a jackpot lottery ticket after it reaches $3m then I'll win". Stupid superstition.....doesn't work.

[BSA5]

A friend of mine is a senior immunologist working with NASA and the Australian Antarctic Division and from what he's told me the placebo effect is remarkable. Not only that it works but that is can even work if you tell people that it's a placebo. Give people pills and tell them these are the real thing and these are placebos and both groups react as if the pills were all genuine. So, in the case of the Powerband, you could sell it to someone telling them that it does nothing and it will have the effect for which it's sold. That's just weird.

I suppose that if you are expecting to experience the placebo effect, you will....

So what of the numerous people in competitions who have lucky socks, lucky undies, dress left-to-right, don't talk, do talk, get dressed at an exact time, and any number of other seemingly insignificant things that sportspeople do in the belief that it will in some way give them the edge? The belief that something works can give even the strongest mind a jolt, it has nothing to do with natural intelligence.

What of them? There is a big difference between doing something out of superstition and paying $70 for dodgy sports science with no basis. If somebody happened to have a lucky Power Balance band, and they wore it for luck, then good on them, but most wear it because they genuinely believe it gives them greater core strength, when every single double-blind test has shown that it makes absolutely no difference.

[laughingnome]

My point is that none of these devices (including powerbands) are shown to have any noticeable effect on performance, yet people are ready to line up and say they feel and perform better with them. That the powerband cast money and the others were free doesn't enter the equation; it's still all in the mind as to it's effect. If someone grabbed Ed Barlow in his time at Sydney and said "Hey kid, this thing helps prevent physical injury and pain, guaranteed!" and Barlow swallowed it, I would have no problem if it helped him bore into the packs instead of sitting off them. I have no objection to anyone thinking something does them benefit when physical science says it won't (provided it doesn't hurt them). At the end of the day, it's their money and they can spend it how they wish.

And even in the face of science, I'll bet anything that at least once on the 4th-5th days of the 1st Test each Australian Bowler had the thought cross their minds that the English Batsmen were wearing powerbands. I'm not prepared to discount it's use as a psychological weapon given the memory's trick of exacerbating certain responses.

[aardvark]

I dunno. I keep thinking "if I only by a jackpot lottery ticket after it reaches $3m then I'll win". Stupid superstition.....doesn't work.

I have the same problem/addiction i'm afraid...