QiYi 2x2 Gear Ball

QiYi 2x2 Gear Ball

QiYi 2x2 Gear Ball is a spherical gear puzzle based on the classic Gear Shift 2x2. The mechanism stays the same: the pieces are linked by gears, so a single turn moves several parts at once. The ball shape, however, makes the puzzle look and solve completely differently from the cube version. This version has a black base and coloured tiles instead of stickers.

How it works

The Gear Ball consists of 8 corners with interlocking gears. Some of them have three colours and some have only one. The ball has just 4 colours, which makes it easier on paper. Once it is scrambled, though, there are no clear edges separating the colours, so it is harder to see at a glance what is already in place. The gears have a different number of teeth than in the cube-shaped QiYi 2x2 Gear Cube, so the pieces rotate relative to each other in a different ratio. If you know the cube version, you won't be able to apply your solving method directly.

You can take the ball apart into halves and scramble only one of them, so you can start with an easier scramble. This sets it apart from the older Gear Ball by Meffert, which is easy to confuse with it because of the similar name. They are two different puzzles.

Hands-on impressions

According to customer reviews, the puzzle is well fitted and turns quietly, and the tiles have vivid colours. On a round surface, tiles have an advantage over stickers because they don't peel off at the edges. The surface is quite slippery and has no noticeable texture, so people with larger hands may need a moment to find a comfortable grip for turning.

Who is it for?

For people who collect unusual puzzles or have already solved the Gear Cube and want to try something with a similar mechanism but a different character. The difficulty is fairly moderate, so the ball also makes a good gift for a child who likes cubes. It is not a speedcubing puzzle or a WCA event, but a puzzle for relaxed figuring out and an interesting piece for your shelf.

Specifications

• Type: gear puzzle, ball based on the Gear Shift 2x2
• Manufacturer: QiYi
• Construction: 8 corners with interlocking gears
• Number of colours: 4
• Base colour: black
• Colour marking: tiles (stickerless)
• Diameter: approx. 69.5 mm
• EAN: 6948154220728