I had partial wrist fusion surgery and lost a lot of finger and hand strength. This item does a wonderful job of helping me regain that strength. It is, however, sticky, with no way to wash off the stickiness. I keep it in an old sock and it is now perfect.

I ordered the Extra Large Black Hand Exerciser, but initially received the regular size black one instead. The vendor (Medical Department Stores) immediately apologized, sent me the correct item, and even threw in a discout code for my next purchase. Excellent customer service!!!The product itself, however, is very inconsistent. The regular size ball is very firm, and is consistent throughout; but the Extra Large version is not. There is a seam from the mold it was made in. From the seam to one end of the Extra Large looks and feels just like either half of the regular size ball. The longer end of the Extra large is MUCH softer and stickier. I asked the manufacturer if it was supposed to be like this; and they told me that this is a defect -- but the replacement they sent me is exactly the same. Great Customer Service -- Terrible Quality Control.All of them are useable -- just not quite what I was expecting, and not as useful as they would be if manufactured properly.The only other issue I have with them is that they are always either sticky or dirty (or both). I wash them in the sink with mild hand soap (which makes them extremely sticky), and then roll them in corn starch baby powder. I keep them on plastic trays, to keep them from sticking to the table; but using them wears off the powder and makes them stick to my hands again within a day or two.The oblong shape of the Extra Large makes it much more versitle than the regular. It can be squeezed from end to end, making it larger and providing a greater range of motion; or it can be squeezed from side to side, giving a better tight grip exercise, with more surface area available than the regular ball.They work fairly well if you have the patience to maintain them; but would be much better if there were better quality control in the manufacturing process, and perhaps a cloth cover, or some other type of "skin", to keep them from sticking to everything.

Product ok but object to the high shipping charge. I should have been more alert to that.