Our initial conclusion was that Power Balance bracelets have no discernable effect when the wearer doesn’t know whether or not he or she is wearing one with a hologram. In other words, the bracelet itself doesn’t seem to be doing anything. These results are consistent with work done by Richard Saunders for the Australian Skeptics (see “Power Balance Down and Out,” SI, News and Comment, September/October 2011) and by John Porcari at the University of Wisconsin at Lacrosse, both of whom conducted blinded tests of Power Balance’s efficacy and found no difference between Power Balance products and dummy stand-ins used to blind the user.
The IIG at CFI–Los Angeles has now added its findings to the growing pool of Power Balance’s negative test results. Although the bracelet might have some value as a sort of rabbit’s foot meant to boost one’s confidence, Power Balance bracelets are a bust as a boon to one’s athletic prowess.