@ABitRusty The reason I use this little squeezy penguin, I got it free at our state lottery booth at the state fair years ago, is because it is small enough that I can curve my little finger over it, as it would be over the strings, and push down with the fingertip the way it would be on the string. I don’t think a tennis ball would give those little muscles in the the little finger a workout, or any finger since I do it with other fingers, though not as much. The way I do it, gets those specific little muscles, not muscle used to squeeze a ball. You can feel the difference if you try both. I used a foamy ball and switched to the smaller little penguin when I spotted it on a shelf. Hope this makes sense to you.

I, also do what you described. I always have to remind myself to do it slow. The speed comes naturally as you perfect and comes when it is ready. If you are patient, which I am not, you will just work all the pieces slowly until the fingering in all the songs and scales you do are just natural, you will begin playing them faster without even trying. I just wish I could practice what I preach. In those few times I did, that is exactly what happened.

@ABitRusty Now, Greg, keep,in mind. That little finger, all your fingers, have muscles yhay are not used to being “fingered” out for exercising, so don’t go gung ho. Just loke exercising any other muscle, you have to take it easy and in baby steps. Don’t over work it and start with something that is really stiff and takes a lot of pressure. You can damage your little finger muscles. You can strain them. Just like beginning on an elliptical trainer, you start with the lowesr resistance and go slow. Gradually, work your way up. Seriously.

Sounds odd for a finger exercise routine. You have been playing a violin, but that still is not exercising those little finger muscles. It is not strength building specifiaclally. Hope this helps.

Here are some I do when not really doing anything else:

You can sit in the sofa. Put your fingers tip to tip together, while spread out. Push them into each other with resistance. It looks like that gadget ball you see that is spiky and pulls open and pushes tight. Again, watch the reistance, and do not overdo.

Put your hand on a table and do finger pushups using resistance. Your palm goes to the table top, push the finger tip into the table to raise the palm. After you are readym you can do it with a little resistance from your hand. But again, do not get gung ho and macho and resist too much and do too many. Just like any muscle and bone joint, you overdo, you can injure yourself. You can do all fingers at the same time, or a finger at a time.

I do the above two items in the car (not while driving), watching TV, when the penguin is nowhere to be seen. I swear that little penguin waddles around!

I am not a doctor or PT, use common sense and do not overdo and strain those little muscles. I suspect that once the playing improves, you will play more, use the muscles more, and these exercises will not be necessary. I was told about these by a cello instructor. The penguin was my idea. Makes more sense than a ball.