I laughed at this tennis ball crochet hack but now I swear by it

There’s nothing I love more than curling up on the sofa with a crochet project and a good TV show. But when wrist pain strikes, my evening of stitching is over. Sometimes it happens in just two hours, even with breaks. I normally use a metal crochet hook, but then I saw a TikTok where someone used a tennis ball to make it easier to hold – and I had to try it.

Here's the video which inspired me to give it a try:

@callmenic444 #stitch with @Haberlin’s Hobbies to all my fellow #crochetaddicts get yourselves them tennis balls NOW!! The way this has revolutionized the way I crochet!!! And its such a cheap alternative to buying ergonomic hooks as well! 10/10 I would recommend #callmenic #fyp #crochet #crochettok #crochetersoftiktok #crochetaddiction #crocheter ♬ original sound - Callmenic

First up was getting the tennis ball on the hook. So here's what I did:

1. Used a pair of scissors to push a hole into the tennis ball. This is quite difficult; the best way I found was to twist the scissors so that you aren't applying too much pressure, just be careful!
2. Pierce another hole on the opposite side of the ball.
3. Push your metal crochet hook through the ball until it comes out the other side.
4. The hook should be held firmly in place, so don't make the holes in the tennis ball too big.

That's it! The hook is ready to go, so the only thing left to do is test it out! I'm working on a crochet vest at the moment, and I'm currently creating the back panel.

I've found holding onto the ball rather than the small hook helps with straining my hand; my arm still aches after a while, but I think that's the nature of any repetitive activity.

Why does crochet cause wrist pain?

Any repetitive movement can cause injury or strain, known as RSI. It can affect any area of the body, but particularly hands, wrists, neck and even your back. The best thing you can do to avoid injury is to stop doing the activity at the first sign of any pain. Also, be sure to take regular breaks and allow your wrist to rest and recover.

8 signs you might have RSI

Tips for avoiding wrist pain while crocheting

Here are a few tips which I find helpful to avoid pain in my wrists and hands:

• Stop crocheting for the day at the first sign of pain
• Take regular breaks (every 20 minutes)
• Support elbows and wrists using a cushion to avoid extra pressure
• Use an ergonomic hook (or this tennis ball hack)
• Don't grip the hook too tightly, try and keep your hand relaxed
• Compression gloves can help, but it's better to rest your wrist than to power through
• Make sure you are holding your hook and yarn properly: How to hold a crochet hook
• Do hand and wrist stretches before you start crocheting

Try out the tennis ball crochet hack with a new project

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