WTF is an orbital massager and do I need one?
You’ve probably seen the title of this article and asked yourself that very question.
It’s the same way I reacted when I first saw Rally. As MyGolfSpy’s resident expert on all things recovery (a fancy way of saying my body hurts more than it should at age 27), I’ve tried a number of different massage devices, from guns to tables and everything in between.
What I had never tried was an orbital massager. Most massage guns, like the ones I love from Hyperice, are percussive in nature. Meaning, they hit you constantly at a fast pace.
Rally’s orbital massage gun aims to provide deep muscle recovery and stimulation through various means. Instead of constantly “hitting” you, Rally’s orbital massager head spins at high rpm, similar to what you’d see on an orbital sander.
It is a unique approach to recovery. And after using it on and off for the past month or so, I can attest to its benefits.
I won’t say it’s better than the typical percussive massage gun. But I will say it’s just as good, in its own way.
After all, there are things it does better than any Hyperice, Theragun, or Amazon you can buy. Likewise, there are reasons why some would prefer the stroke over Rally’s orbital massage.
Let’s discuss.
What I liked
There are two things I really liked about the Rally Orbital Massager. First of all, the orbital motion of the massage head creates a good amount of heat.
Seemingly instant warmth.
As someone who prefers heat massage, I found it great that I didn’t need an extra attachment or extra electronics to create heat. The movement of the Rally Orbital Massager creates it naturally…and, boy, can you feel it.
After using the massager on my forearms, they continued to feel “warm” for 10 minutes after my recovery session.
The other thing I loved about the Rally Orbital Massager was how quiet it is. Massage guns can get quite noisy. This guy isn’t cool, but he’s pretty damn close. For what it’s worth, it’s the only massage gun that doesn’t scare my toddler to death.
What could be better
My two main complaints about the Rally Orbital Massager are the ergonomics. I find the “stick-like” construction was a bit difficult to manage, especially when working on hard-to-reach areas like my back compared to the typical “gun” style.
The design also makes the massager feel heavier than it is. It can be tiring to use for more than 10 or 15 minutes because so much of the weight goes towards the head.
So who is it for?
Are you better off with an orbital massager or a traditional percussion massage gun? The answer lies in your needs.
If you want something that’s lower impact, creates natural heat, and you plan to use it in public (where quiet operation is necessary), then the Rally is a no-brainer.
But if you want something that feels more, for lack of a better term, penetrating and deep, a traditional, percussion weapon is probably the right move.
Let me say if this way. I will be using Rally for the daily pain in my forearms, legs, etc., and my Hyperice for the deep joints in my back.
That sums it up.
Have you tried an orbital massager? How was your experience?
Let me know below.
